As a kid I used to idolize the All Blacks. When I was young I met a giant of a man called Peter Whiting.He was 6'6" and as tough as teak.I was in cloud nine.My father had a way of putting things in perspective though.I can still remember his words.."His farts still stink, just because he's an All Black means that he's a good rugby player..nothing else!

So right or wrong, whenever I see a rock star,politition or any famous person, I think the same thing..they all do smelly farts.

As a kid, it used to be Bruce Lee. Fantastic physical conditioning and able to do things like no one else.

Ghandi and Mother Teresa were (are) great role models, but I don't think of them as Heroes (personally).

I can't really think of any athlete, musician or politician that would qualify as a Hero.

The men and women of the Military, as well as Police Forces and Fire-Fighters would be a better choice for Heros.

People that are willing to put their own lives on the line to help others, those people are heroes.

I doubt you'd find too many athletes, rock stars or politicians willing to do the same. (Now adays at least. Cpl Tillman, the former NFL athlete that died in Afganistan is one of the only examples)

Any and all of the Beatles, but Lennon and McCartney in particular.

My hero on the political side has to be Ronald Reagan.

Best President since Abraham Lincoln, hands down!

My hero on the political side has to be Ronald Reagan.

Best President since Abraham Lincoln, hands down!

Could he still remember his name when he was in his second term?

...I can still remember his words.."His farts still stink, just because he's an All Black means that he's a good rugby player..nothing else!

...

I think your Old Man must have gone to the same school as my Mother. She said, and still does, "But their shit smells just like everyone else’s."

She used to particularly revel in the phrase when talking about the soft porn divas that decorated my bedroom walls.

Interesting psychology these phrases remembered from influential adults in our childhood.

We had a Sister (Nun) at school who gave us her version of sex education.

As we were approaching puberty she impressed upon us the importance of sleeping with our hands outside the covers, so as to resist temptation.

But, she said, should we ever be tempted by "evil" thoughts about any young women "dressed in all her finery", we should just imagine how they would look in football kit with big "dirty football boots and socks covering their knees".

The result of this pedagogical advice was that for at least the next 20 years I was not able to watch a women's soccer match without a permanent hard on.

Even now, over 40 years on, the thought can make the old todger twitch.

For me the heros of our society are the 'carers', not necessarily the ones who get paid for it (although them as well). Carers who take care of the sick, the infirm, the elderly etc.

I agree that our society venerates sports people and rock stars and those in the public eye, but for me it's the people behind the scenes that hardly ever get (or want) overt praise.

Terry Fox - A 23yr old who lost a leg to cancer, then decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He never lived to complete the run, as the cancer came back with a vengence, but I see Terry Fox runs happening all over the world 25yrs later, even in Thailand.

Gandhi - Won a nation it's independance and averted a civil war without so much as raising his voice.

120,000 people who died in the service of our country last century, even though hollywood and the history books tend to forget them.

Sir John A. MacDonald - Without him I probably wouldn't even have a country.

Sir Winston Churchill - He may have been a drunk, but he was a real leader who wouldn't back down.

Dr Martin Luther King jr - Just cross Gandhi's peacefulness with Churchill's strength and this is what you get.

cv

"No more heroes anymore, whatever happened to the heroes?" -The Stranglers

Let's face it: most 'heroes' are idealised figures from the past.

They're all dead, except Marilyn Manson's Brian Warner, but some would dispute this. All I have to say is: he's definetely undead.

Not sure if Monster Magnet's Dave Wyndorf or Ministry's Al Jourgensen are heroes, but Jim Morrison was one.

Well my heroes are:

Scaramouche

Lagardere

El Zorro

Captain Blood

Robin hood...

Well i suppose they hold values that are important for me like honesty, friendship, fight for something you believe on, gentleman-like manners...

I know that they are fictious characters but they are my heroes...actually i want to marry one of them....

My heroin is Scarlett O´hara...

Jim Morrison was one.

Say no more!

Leave it to the zzaper to idiolize a guy who's lyrics espoused how he wanted to <deleted> his mother!

For me the heros of our society are the 'carers', not necessarily the ones who get paid for it (although them as well). Carers who take care of the sick, the infirm, the elderly etc.

I agree that our society venerates sports people and rock stars and those in the public eye, but for me it's the people behind the scenes that hardly ever get (or want) overt praise.

...and if only every carer could earn a tenth of what these "celebrities" earn.

Every time I hear, or see a Metallica type person, complaining from the side of his swimming pool, of the loses made by mp3 sharing or the "illegal" copying of computer programs, I think if only we could change the copyright laws so that, for example, after two years of sales all copyright revenues automatically went to care organisations such as Oxfam and the Red Cross, or funding for health services that would offer free care and treatment.

I might even stop copying myself.

Well my heroes are:

Scaramouche

Lagardere

El Zorro

Captain Blood

Robin hood...

Well i suppose they hold values that are important for me like honesty, friendship, fight for something you believe on, gentleman-like manners...

I know that they are fictious characters but they are my heroes...actually i want to marry one of them....

My heroin is Scarlett O´hara...

Nice post Glauka. You are a hopeless romantic! So am I!

For me the heros of our society are the 'carers', not necessarily the ones who get paid for it (although them as well). Carers who take care of the sick, the infirm, the elderly etc.

I agree that our society venerates sports people and rock stars and those in the public eye, but for me it's the people behind the scenes that hardly ever get (or want) overt praise.

...and if only every carer could earn a tenth of what these "celebrities" earn.

Every time I hear, or see a Metallica type person, complaining from the side of his swimming pool, of the loses made by mp3 sharing or the "illegal" copying of computer programs, I think if only we could change the copyright laws so that, for example, after two years of sales all copyright revenues automatically went to care organisations such as Oxfam and the Red Cross, or funding for health services that would offer free care and treatment.

I might even stop copying myself.

Good post TM. Radical! Maybe you should be in politics? I'd vote for you. (Except I don't vote - forgot that for a min! )

For me the heros of our society are the 'carers', not necessarily the ones who get paid for it (although them as well). Carers who take care of the sick, the infirm, the elderly etc.

I agree that our society venerates sports people and rock stars and those in the public eye, but for me it's the people behind the scenes that hardly ever get (or want) overt praise.

...and if only every carer could earn a tenth of what these "celebrities" earn.

Every time I hear, or see a Metallica type person, complaining from the side of his swimming pool, of the loses made by mp3 sharing or the "illegal" copying of computer programs, I think if only we could change the copyright laws so that, for example, after two years of sales all copyright revenues automatically went to care organisations such as Oxfam and the Red Cross, or funding for health services that would offer free care and treatment.

I might even stop copying myself.

Good post TM. Radical! Maybe you should be in politics? I'd vote for you. (Except I don't vote - forgot that for a min! )

I never can understand that.

Because some day, Some One, is going to ask you, what did you do?

And I'm not so sure whether, "Couldn't be bothered" or "Couldn't choose" or "They are all as bad as each other (aren't we all?)" are going to be satisfactory answers.

If heroes are to be idolized then I have none. Heroes to be admired and respected for their achievements and qualities? Too many to list and possibly misleading to place one before another in terms of value.

Besides the many notable heroes I have - those who have been publized and made famous - I recognize the millions upon millions of unknown heroes. Those who live ordinary lives and have never, and never will, receive recognition by the world at large.

My parents, my family, my friends, and my wife will always be at the top of my list.

I agree,

I would go for my late, beloved, missed dad. He had his faults but don't we all. And he knew ours.

And me and my family thought the world of him. (and he of us).

Well my heroes are:

Scaramouche

Lagardere

El Zorro

Captain Blood

Robin hood...

Well i suppose they hold values that are important for me like honesty, friendship, fight for something you believe on, gentleman-like manners...

I know that they are fictious characters but they are my heroes...actually i want to marry one of them....

My heroin is Scarlett O´hara...

Nice post Glauka. You are a hopeless romantic! So am I!

Thank you suegha, what are we gonna do? being a romantic cause so many problems...

how you getting on with this romanticism of us?

Yes my parents are one of my biggest heroes...

But Fathers aside (well, not to aside)

I am not politically inclined even though I love reading all that you say about politics etc. So I was and am still for the more musical or filmnographical heroes of my time which starts like this:

David Cassidy (5 years old)

Donny Osmond (7 years)

Bay City Rollers (12 years)

Then it got better

Led Zep

Bad Company

Lynard Skynard

Rolling stones

etc.

until (Ta da)

Bruce (the BOSS) arrived on the scene

And a few more too much to be mentioned until

RHCP

And now im back at Donny's comeback....

SAVE Me....

Yes my parents are one of my biggest heroes...

And that's the way it should be (all things being equal).

What's RHCP?

Btw, Dave Wyndorf has been in hospital with an overdose since end of February.

And the guy is 2 years older than me, some never learn...

Jim Morrison was one.

Say no more!

Leave it to the zzaper to idiolize a guy who's lyrics espoused how he wanted to <deleted> his mother!

Wow, no politics in this post!!!

I think I am doing a great job here.

Jim Morrison was one.

Say no more!

Leave it to the zzaper to idiolize a guy who's lyrics espoused how he wanted to <deleted> his mother!

Wow, no politics in this post!!!

I think I am doing a great job here.

Not quite, zzap.

My hero on the political side has to be Ronald Reagan.

Noticed that he couldn't think of anyone outside of the political arena? I thought for sure he'd mention me.

Willie-John McBride. Captain of Ireland and the Lions. An absolute giant in terms of character, determination and sheer guts. He lived in an age where the 3 great international captains were also great second rows - him, Frik Dupreez and the great Colin 'Pinetree' Meads. As a kid, I didn't know who to idolise most, but WJ had to get it as he was closest to home. Sadly, I didn't come close as a player or as a captain.

Never had any heros. Always believed that the peoeple were always hiding something. I respected many people, but only for their accomplishments and that was it. If I had an opportunity to meet any of these people I would pass on it. I like waht they do not who they are and I don't want to know them just because they are good at something.

Geoffrey Hurst!!!

Well my heroes are:

Scaramouche

Lagardere

El Zorro

Captain Blood

Robin hood...

Well i suppose they hold values that are important for me like honesty, friendship, fight for something you believe on, gentleman-like manners...

I know that they are fictious characters but they are my heroes...actually i want to marry one of them....

My heroin is Scarlett O´hara...

Nice post Glauka. You are a hopeless romantic! So am I!

Thank you suegha, what are we gonna do? being a romantic cause so many problems...

how you getting on with this romanticism of us?

Thank you Glauka. Remember there's nothing wrong with romanticism!!!

Teddy R, on Hyphenated Americans

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Robert James Lee Hawke a great Prime Minister and South Australian.