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I thought it'd be kinda fun, for the 4th of July, to ask everyone to identify an American from today or in our past that they especially admire. It could be a politician, celebrity, humanitarian, anyone.
This is not an argument thread! If someone chooses Reagan or Obama, please don't criticize it. Just tell us which American you most admire and why. I'll start.
I really admire Franklin Roosevelt. His optimism and some of his policies during the Depression helped boost American spirits and probably kept the Depression from getting worse. Also his leadership during WWII was stellar--along with the generals and our soldiers on the ground. Say what you want about his politics, but he got things done, was a great visionary and a great leader through two of our most difficult crises. Kudos to FDR.
My grandfather. A person of little notoriety, he surpasses anyone I can think of. No one in the political arena even comes close to touching his personal integrity.
My grandfather. A person of little notoriety, he surpasses anyone I can think of. No one in the political arena even comes close to touching his personal integrity.
My father. He didn't have an enemy in the world and although he was a very proud Democrat all his friends were conservatives. I used to love being in the coffee shop when he came in the day after a presidential election asking all his buddies for their thanks. That was always because he said they tell us that there are more of us than you so we must have elected that REpublican candidate. Everybody knew he was always trying to get a laugh with things like that.
for me it would have to be americans, as one just wont do.
1: nikola tesla. the man was a true genius.
2: patton. if it were not for him, the american effort in world war two would have been less effective in many ways. he knew how to motivate the men serving under him.
3: jimmy doolittle. he could do things with a B25 that were never thought of by the designers of the aircraft.
4: chuck yeager. even though he was in severe pain, he still got into the bell X-1 and broke the sound barrier.
5: scott crossfield. flew many sorties in the X-15, garnered many altitude and speed records, and even though he could have disobeyed orders and pushed the aircraft to its limits, he did what he was told to do.
there are many others, but these are the most notable for me.
I thought it'd be kinda fun, for the 4th of July, to ask everyone to identify an American from today or in our past that they especially admire. It could be a politician, celebrity, humanitarian, anyone.
This is not an argument thread! If someone chooses Reagan or Obama, please don't criticize it. Just tell us which American you most admire and why. I'll start.
I really admire Franklin Roosevelt. His optimism and some of his policies during the Depression helped boost American spirits and probably kept the Depression from getting worse. Also his leadership during WWII was stellar--along with the generals and our soldiers on the ground. Say what you want about his politics, but he got things done, was a great visionary and a great leader through two of our most difficult crises. Kudos to FDR.
Okay, who's next?
Martin Luther King Jr, for his moral and physical courage, and his sacrifice.
The pawns of our Presidents who actually fought in wars because they were told too even if disagreed with the war. Plus those who did fight because they held firmly that they were protecting our freedom.
Why John Quincy Adams? I like his fight against slavery in congress myself. Probably one of the best congressmen we've had.
Ohmygosh, I am so embarrassed! I was in a rush when I posted earlier and did not mean to say "John Quincy" It just flowed off my fingers though, lol. I MEANT to type:
JOHN ADAMS
He was the most brilliant of all the founding fathers!
He believed in American independence with a fierceness that inspired all around him. Jefferson may have physically written our constitution, but Adams authored it.
He was also the "father" of the Navy, and insisted on having one when all around him thought it a silly idea.
He was extremely intelligent, a successful diplomat, the main negoiator for peace with England, believed in living within your means (as an individual and as a nation). He had a reputation for being extremely honest and virtueous.
To quote another source: "his influence emerged through his work as a constitutional lawyer and his intense analysis of historical examples, together with his thorough knowledge of the law and his dedication to the principles of republicanism."
I don't have time to list all his amazing accomplishments, but will say I sure wish we had politicians like him around today.
Sure, Jefferson was an amazing man himself, but he was weak in so many ways. He just could seem to make himself practice what he preached - though what he preached was all very worthwhile stuff (live life simply, live without debt, slavery is wrong, etc...)
Without some of our incredible leaders as a young nation like Adams, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington - the list could go on, we would not be the nation we are today. Thank God for these early Americans!
Why John Quincy Adams? I like his fight against slavery in congress myself. Probably one of the best congressmen we've had.
ps - John Quincy was a pretty good president himself
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It just flowed off my fingers though, lol. I MEANT to type:
