The Buddha, Jesus, Dr Johnson, Sidney Smith, John Woolman, Paul Robeson and the Mahatma, for a start.
Yeah- I checked it out- including the virus on the link. And sorry- Jesus was not white. Deal with it.
Jesus obviously, or someone closely associated to him in that time period. Lazarus, Peter etc. Herman Melville, Cassius Clay, Stephen Hawking.
Why does anyone care whether Jesus was black, white or green. It's supposed to be about what he said and stood for. Those things have just as much meaning regardless of his skin color. Sheesh!
You know I like and respect you a great deal subbie, so don't take my small criticism the wrong way, but why? Is George Washington really comparable to your mother in your esteem? I can't imagine how he could be!! There are historical and current politicians, actors, comedians, athletes, etc that I like. However, I wouldn't put any of them in the same category as my father. He is my favorite, and it is so far beyond where any historical politician could be, that it would be unfair to mention them together!! And after my father, comes my mother, my nephew, my sister, my girlfriend, my best friend, etc!! I may like FDR and Thomas Paine, but they are hardly among my favorite people in comparison to those people!! PS. This is not meant as a dig at you, as many others in this thread have done similar things as you. Your post was just a convenient example, and I figured you wouldn't take offense at my small criticism!!
The point is that almost no-one on here is likely to know our close friends and family, so 'public figures' is sort of assumed, surely?
That is a legitimate point. Also the OP(which I never read until just now) asks who you would want to have a conversation with. I have conversations with my family and friends all the time, but have never had the honor of speaking to Michel Foucault!! That would be pretty nice. My comment came from me making the silly decision to respond to a thread based on the title of the thread, and not based on what is asked in the OP!! I only did that because this is the off-topic section, but I should still know better!!
Darckriver , cudos to you for this most excellent thread , your OP was well stated and clear . . good job . If I could have one hour to sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk , , I'd like to spend an hour beside a campfire and fry up some speckeled trout & fried taters & onions & pbeans alongside the 'Deep Creek' camp and talk with my Daddy , , we drew sparks off each other all our lives , and just when we were starting to become friends , he up and died . he taught me how to fly fish , how to live off the land , how to ride a horse and how to handle a gun , where to make a safe campsite , grow corn and crops & such , , and the hard work it takes to be a real man , to work hard and support my Family , , and to stand up for God and to stand proud for what I believe in , , and never back down from anybody .. fight if need be , walk away if I could , , but my Dad told me to be sure I was in the right of things , and if I was , then knock as many teeth out as I could , and make that first punch count . . and and for all that , I'd just really like to thank him for that , ya know ?
Teddy Roosevelt, one of the greatest presidents and one of the most legendary people ever born. He was a war hero, read tens of thousands of books (apparently 3 a day on average at least), kicked the bought congress's ass then kicked the asses of the stock yard owners and trust owners who had bought the congress, took a bullet to the chest yet still gave his hundred minute speech before going to the hospital then didn't even get the bullet removed, and was also one of the greatest big game hunters of all time. the man was epic
Also William Marshal the greatest and most honorable knight of all (*)(*)(*)(*)ing time. This man started as a hedge knight with absolutely no possessions other than the clothes on his back, his sword, and a bitter ass horse and by the time he died... Well (*)(*)(*)(*) I am going to have to make a list for this... Saved England from 3 separate invasions by France. saved England from 2 coos. Saved Queen Elenor from being captured by the French by holding them all off with the help of his uncle while she and her retinue escaped (his uncle was killed, and after he had killed 3 of the french he was wounded and captured, then held prisoner for 9 months until Eleanor payed for his ransom). Eleanor then basically had him raise the 3 princes of England; Henry II, Richard I (AKA Richard the Lionheart) and John. Lived through the reign of 5 kings and served all of them with untold chivalry, loyalty and honor Is believed to have been the greatest tournament champion in the history of Europe, having gone over 20 years (age 19-44+) years undefeated and having personally unhorsed and taken the ransom of over 500 knights. Had 1 wife with which he never cheated on and actually took political and financial advice from in front of other lords (which at the time was unheard of oc). He also had 9 children with that wife and when he died she was so depressed she died less than 2 years afterwards from sadness. got banished by a jealous Edward II yet came back after a year upon request without even demanding an apology. Went to Jerusalem to serve with the Templars for a whole year of his life to atone Edward the second of his sins after being asked to do so by Edward II on his deathbed. Spared Richard the lionhearts life after killing his horse from under him because he knew Richards father Henry I (whom Richard was rebelling against) was going to die from sickness soon, and so spared Richard so there would be an heir to the throne. Later on him and Richard became friends. Single handedly organized the ransom for Richard the Lionheart when Richard was captured in Germany. He went to ever lord in the land, raised taxes, and emptied the treasury to get the guy back (giving the Germans an amount of loot for Richard that would be over one TRILLION dollars today) Was still charging over the ramparts and leading from the front of the battle well into his 50's and even 60's. His political opponents at court were often overly cautious when plotting against him because even with the guy's age pretty much no one wanted to get into a duel with him. Put up with King John through thick and thin. (King John was on of the biggest (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*) bags to ever sit on the English throne, so its a credit to anyone who didn't abandon the guy) Ensured the Thrones security after King John died. Oh, and the last time he saved England from France, most of the English lords were not contributing to the defense because John had pissed all of them off so William marshal came out of Retirement and at age (*)(*)(*)(*)ing 70 lead his force, which was out outnumbered by over 2 to one, to the town of Lincoln, where he personally led the cavalry charge that broke the french line and also killed the french commander in single combat (the french commander btw was considered one of the 3 best fighters in France at the time as well). By the end of his life he had carved out a chunk of land for himself and his sons that including a massive piece of northern Ireland (where he paid for the construction of a seaside town that is still there today), Normandy, all of Pembroke (of which he was the first earl of) and several other locations. He became so legendary during his own lifetime that his name was known from Portugal to Italy, from Poland to Egypt. And most simply referred to him as "The Marshal". ... Also He is the direct ancestor of George mother (*)(*)(*)(*)ing Washington. The guy was so freaking awesome its hard to even contain his achieves all in one list. You could fill multiple volumes with his life story (of which several historians have). Which is made easy because he was also one of the first people to ever have his biography written only a few years after his death, which includes many first hand accounts form his sons, friends, soldiers, and servants. Very possibly the only true "white knight" not from a fairy tale.
No , my Dad was a hard-fisted man . . but a Godly man as well ... He never apologised for that , and I don't either . I am my Fathers son . and I will stand.
Not sure I would want to have an hour with that person....the first 59 minutes would be wasted with gaped mouth marvel at someone with such strength of character. And no surprise George Washington is in the gene pool.