Whom do you idolize?

[Connemara]

We often cite our style icons on SF, but what about people in the "real world" (we're living a fantasy here

)? They can be business leaders, politicos, musicians, etc.

One of mine is Cathal Brugha. He was the Irish Republican Army's Chief of Staff from 1917-1919, and sided with the anti-treaty forces in the Irish Civil War. A prime example of standing up for what you believe in, as well as respect for your foes; he proposed submitting terms of surrender to Crown forces prior to ambushes. He was shot to death by former IRA men who sided with the pro-treatyites and signed up with Irish Free State armed forces.

I should also mention Benjamin Franklin. The last true Renaissance man.

 

[Stu]

Franklin was great. Thomas Jefferson was quite the intellectual and must have run a very interesting White House. I believe one year he spent something like $2,000 on wine, which would have been a fortune.

Martin Luther, Abraham Lincoln, Churchill.

 

[jpeirpont]

Marcus Garvey, the first person who promoted being Black in positive manner, also his vision for a self sufficient group was much better than the affirmative and assimilationist reality we live now. Also J.P Morgan and Steve Biko.

 

[Bandwagonesque]

I don't idolize anyone; however, there is a lot of people I have great respect for.

 

[Kent Wang]

David Rockefeller

Well if you're blind as Helen Keller
You could see I'm David Rockafeller
So much cash, up in my bathroom is a Ready Teller
I'm outragous, I work in stages like syphills
Keep my hoes in check, no rebellions, if your ass occur
****, it wouldn't be the first time I done made a massacre
***** please, how you figure these
Motherfuckers like me got stocks, bonds and securities
No impurities, straight Anglo Saxon
When my family got their sex on
Don't let me get my flex on, do some gangster ****
Make the army go to war for Exxon
Long as the money flow, I be making dough
Welcome to my little pimp school
How you gonna beat me at this game I make the rules
Flash a little cash make you think you got class
But you really selling ass and ho, keep off my grass
Less you cutting it, see I'm running ****
Trick, all y'all motherfuckas is simps
I'm just a pimp

 

[Chris "Italia"]

Jack Nicklaus.

 

[odoreater]

Originally Posted by Bandwagonesque

I don't idolize anyone; however, there is a lot of people I have great respect for.

+1

 

[globetrotter]

I don't know if there is anybody I idolize, but the figure that I have the most admiration for is probrably Wiliam Tecumsah Sherman.

a person who came from modest roots, served his country as needed, didnt' seek higher office, didn't seek fame, spent much of his life in the business world in operations jobs. when he thought that there was a good chance that war would come, he prepared for it better that any other military leader in the war. he had no hatred for his enemy, no love for war. he did was he needed to do to bring an end to a war, and he probrably did more than any otehr individual to end the war in a timely manner.

once the war was over, he was more than willing to slink off and live a modest life.

coined two very good sayings - "War is hell" and "if nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve".

was all band and no flash - in an age where all sorts of idiots were wearking fancy hair styles and useless sabres and then going out and getting their soldiers killed, WTS got more done with substantially fewer casualties (ono his side and the enemy side) and never bothered to wear a sword (or a pistol, by most accounts) and even would only wear one spur.

 

[flashback]

tony wilson, guy debord, patrick nagel, eero saarinen, lenny bruce, woz, kenneth anger, herzog, kinski, plimpton, THE DUDE jeff dowd, dawkins

just to name a few

 

[Mr. Checks]

I'll join the objection to the foundation.

Having said that, Dean Acheson, George Washington, George Marshall (for having the rare combination of vision and effectiveness).

RKT: for being an officer and a gentleman

RGW: The Lawyer

SJW: An NCO as solid as the Midwestern bedrock from which he came

 

[designprofessor]

Some I admire and learn from:

Artists: Ad Reinhardt, Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, Maya Lin

Authors: Albert Camus, David McCullough

Sciences: Steven Hawking, Linda Schele (Mayan scholar)

I also found 60 Minutes recent tribute to Ed Bradley to be
quite inspiring.

 

[Mr. Checks]

Originally Posted by designprofessor

Some I admire and learn from:

Artists: Ad Reinhardt, Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, Maya Lin

Authors: Albert Camus, David McCullough

Sciences: Steven Hawking, Linda Schele (Mayan scholar)

I also found 60 Minutes recent tribute to Ed Bradley to be
quite inspiring.

+1 on the Ed Bradley stuff. He even looked good in the circa 70s stuff.

 

[rnoldh]

Sean Hannity and GWB

2 great Americans

 

[RJman]

Marcello Mastroianni, whom his friend and frequent collaborator Sophia Loren called "the laziest man I ever met."

50 cups of coffee a day.

A fantastic, relaxed, elegant dresser.

Ultimately, a modest man.

 

[mikesduc]

Churchill because his personal philosophies have influenced me greatly

In a nutshell,when he was reelected PM during the depths of WWII he stated that a great weight was lifted from his shoulders because he was now in a position to do something about the situation. Most people would carry that responsibility as a burden, but his confidence was so great that it relieved him of the burden of impotence in the situation. A great way to look at our lives in general.

It is also shown in his letters to his mother as a child that he was determined to achieve greatness and he didn't let anything divert him from achieving greatness. The obstacles he overcame were tremendous. I reccomend reading his life story to anyone who wants to improve their outlook and situation in life. His story is inspiring and I refer to it often.