One historical figure you find inspirational

[Seagull kimchi]

Mohondas Ghandi

 

[Nibble]

I know a man who landed on the Beaches at Normandy. Him.

 

[Norman Potting]

Veering ot somewhat but this guy was definitely of the "mad as a badger and they don't breed them like that anymore" genre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill

He was 89 when he died of old age!

 

[mrhairy]

Sitting Bull still a very humble man to the end. Despite all the many lies told to him he remained true to his people. If he had stayed in Canada he would have lived. The changes and things he saw in his lifetime.

 

[LargeHadronZugzwang]

Recent Melvyn Bragg doc on telly was pretty amazing, titled Most dangerous man in Tudor England .

Yes indeed, saw that. There is also an engrossing book 'Book of Fire' by by Brian Moynihan.

a moment in time
seek and you shall find
eat, drink and be merry
judge not that you not be judged
the powers that be
my brother's keeper
the salt of the earth
a law unto themselves
filthy lucre
it came to pass
gave up the ghost
sign of the times
scapegoat

All of these come from Tyndale and it has been argued 'No Tyndale, no Shakespeare'

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

James Whyte Black (invented propranolol and cimetidine, had no time for all the bullshit that operates in medicine in the UK). RIP Jim.

Good call! He was me mum's cousin. She only told us about it a couple of years back, just before he died. Won the Nobel prize and remained a quiet and humble bloke. Was on a set of stamps last year or the year before.

 

[shaunslats]

someone im sure hardly anyone in England has heard of... Herd Brooks

 

[Mowgli37]

Honorary mentions certainly for Alan Turing, Gandhi and Martin Luther King

 

[highway61]

Yes indeed, saw that. There is also an engrossing book 'Book of Fire' by by Brian Moynihan.

a moment in time
seek and you shall find
eat, drink and be merry
judge not that you not be judged
the powers that be
my brother's keeper
the salt of the earth
a law unto themselves
filthy lucre
it came to pass
gave up the ghost
sign of the times
scapegoat

All of these come from Tyndale and it has been argued 'No Tyndale, no Shakespeare'

Spot on mate

 

[Dandyman]

Go read about his time in the ANCYL and views on armed resistance, violence and African nationalism. Yes, the apartheid was a brutal regime that had to be bought down, but his youth wasn't sparkling clean. Perhaps my comment regarding his nationalist views being on par with the apartheid regime aren't accurate, but I standby questioning his beliefs which I believe are completely overlooked.




Orwell for me too, he'd be spinning in his grave if he knew how the world has become. I'm also interested in the International Brigade, particularly the anarchists point of view.

The ANC was a non-violent organisation from 1912 until 1962/3. They also had to be convinced of the need for the MK by comrades from sister organisations.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Reading about the acts of heroism carried out by recipients of the Victoria Cross since its inception have always filled me with admiration, but this one to me, is simply astonishing.

NORMAN CYRIL JACKSON
No. 106 Squadron

Sergeant Norman Cyril Jackson, R.A.F.V.R., No. 106 Squadron.

I read a little history of the awarding of the VC, and of course it is handed out very rarely, but was astonished to read that there are two holders 'and bar' no less! They got it twice That is some courage shown there

 

[life on mars 73]

Lord Byron.

Like most heroes, he was deeply flawed, but I find his life story deeply moving and his poetry utterly inspirational.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

I know a man who landed on the Beaches at Normandy. Him.

Too simple,for so many on here. That took GUTS.

 

[Two Professors]

Sir Peter de la Billiere

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Top 3 for me;

Jeff Tracy
The Baby Jesus
The guy with the "Shirley" gag in Airplane.

Any order, doesn't matter too much.

 

[LargeHadronZugzwang]

Reading about all those inspiring war heroes jogged my memory concerning this chap.

Leslie Coulsen

One of my Grandfathers died at the Somme so this entry adds resonance. During the appalling carnage of WW1, they found this chap with a poem in his pocket; it really is quite an extraordinary lesser known poem...
http://allpoetry.com/poem/8540811-Who_Made_The_Law__-by-Leslie_Coulson

 

[pastafarian]

I know a man who landed on the Beaches at Normandy. Him.

seconded,even though i dont know him + the countless others from all campaigns i will never have the opportunity to read about.

 

[pastafarian]

It has to be Charles Darwin for me.
A man that helped start the process where common sense and scientific reason would finally have through evidence the facts to question the lies of religion.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

Ho Chi Minh