C'mon guys (and gals), women you admired?

[Checkerboard Strangler]

I was thinking about Anne Frank but not sure if there is a lot to admire other than she kept a diary.

Because of what her diary represents and because she was just a young girl trapped in a crime not of her own making, I suggest that's enough.

 

[ataraxia]

I was thinking about Anne Frank but not sure if there is a lot to admire other than she kept a diary. She is a symbol of anti-Semitism, that is for sure, but other than that, she never accomplished anything one could point to.

I am amazed at the level of maturity, courage, intelligence, compassion, and introspection this 14-year old was capable of. Many old men today would do well to be where she was at 14.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

I am amazed at the level of maturity, courage, intelligence, compassion, and introspection this 14-year old was capable of. Many old men today would do well to be where she was at 14.

I agree. But there are many girls like that. She got recognition because of what happened after her life ended. As I posted to someone else:

Don't get me wrong, her diary did set a landmark. And as I stated, she has become a symbol. And my comment was by no means a put down of her character.
But that had more to do with historians, publishers (of her diary), and activists who wanted to highlight the horrors of the Holocaust through her name.
But none of this was accomplished by her herself. Nor did she have any inkling of what her legacy would be. My choices were for ones who set out on a mission and accomplished their missions through determination and grit.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Because of what her diary represents and because she was just a young girl trapped in a crime not of her own making, I suggest that's enough.

Seems many disagree with me. I can only repeat:

Don't get me wrong, her diary did set a landmark. And as I stated, she has become a symbol. And my comment was by no means a put down of her character.
But that had more to do with historians, publishers (of her diary), and activists who wanted to highlight the horrors of the Holocaust through her name.
But none of this was accomplished by her herself. Nor did she have any inkling of what her legacy would be. My choices were for ones who set out on a mission and accomplished their missions through determination and grit.

Many young ladies became victims. Most are never known about. Because they didn't keep a diary. Historians didn't focus on them. No one went out of their way to make them figure heads. They were just forgotten. And many of them would have been just as brave and deserving of recognition.

 

[Allan]

View attachment 67575604

If we're feting Mahalia Jackson I'd like to add Re-Re...Aretha Franklin blew everyone's mind when she did Nessun Dorma at The Grammys.

Voices of angels.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

The anti pollution and clean air legislation of the 1950s and 60s in the UK had absolutely nothing to do with the 'climate change' cult which hs nothnig to with cleanliness or health. Are you one of those who thinks that carbon and carbon dioxide are pollutants?

The sheer ignorance of the Greta groupies neevr ceases to amaze me.

You can't call them pollutants however these elements have to be in proper balance in the atmosphere if we want the planet to continue to be hospitable.
And so while they cannot be classified technically as pollutants, WE the human race are indeed playing a role in affecting that balance.

To pollute means to contaminate and carbon and CO2 in excess proportions in our atmosphere does contaminate the environment at least as far as many mammalian species are concerned, particularly ours.
There's absolutely no question that life itself overall could continue apace in a world with way too much of these elements in our atmosphere but eventually the kinds of species that could thrive might increasingly make life difficult for a number of them.

The term "ecological balance" refers to the stable state of an ecosystem where the interactions between living organisms and their environment maintain a relatively constant condition.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Seems many disagree with me. I can only repeat:

Many young ladies became victims. Most are never known about. Because they didn't keep a diary. Historians didn't focus on them. No one went out of their way to make them figure heads. They were just forgotten. And many of them would have been just as brave and deserving of recognition.

So it's only because your criteria for this thread is too stiff to include victims of circumstance?

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

So it's only because your criteria for this thread is too stiff to include victims of circumstance?

Oh lord. I don't care if you have different criteria. Your choices are your choices. Unless you were to pick Melania or MTG, I would respect your choices and not be looking to get into a pissing contest.

 

[ataraxia]

Here is an interesting woman, the Empress Theodora of Byzantium. I heard a documentary about her life a few years ago, and found it absolutely fascinating. She rose from being a prostitute scrambling to survive, to becoming empress of all Byzantium, with huge power and influence over the emperor and state affairs. Not sure this is necessarily "admirable", but certainly a very interesting rags-to-riches story:

Theodora (wife of Justinian I) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Oh lord. I don't care if you have different criteria. Your choices are your choices. Unless you were to pick Melania or MTG, I would respect your choices and not be looking to get into a pissing contest.

I'm just asking because I think I "get" where you're going here.
I'm just one of the kids in the peanut gallery who would like the criteria stretched a little to also include women who reacted to their situation WITH grit and determination, and the fact that not all of them
wrote down their reactions, while a valid concern, does not cancel out the fortunate happenstance of Anne's diary being found.

A lot of people, even I daresay many members of this forum, will leave behind a written legacy of sorts when they die and as much as "the internet is forever", the fact is, a large part of that legacy will never be found if it winds up on the hard drives of a retired server taken offline if the server sat behind a membership wall or paywall. There have BEEN flashes of brilliance in this forum, and maybe in other forums as well.

I do not want to drag the thread off in too many directions though, because I think I DO "get" where you're going here.

 

[Fearandloathing]

Emilia Earhart
Ann Murray
Marie Curie
Laura Secord
Angela Davis
Margaret Singer
Margaret Trudeau
Grace McCarthy - BC politician 1950 to 1998
Linda Lovelace
Coco Chanel
Joan Beaz
Jane Fonda
Lucile Ball
Harriet Tubman
Kim Campbell - cdn prime minister
Elizabeth Taylor
Eleanor Roosevelt
Hedy Lemar
Indira Ghandi
Elizabeth II Queen of England
Halle Berry
Rosa Parks
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Sandra Day Oconnor
Christie Clark - BC Premier
Aretha Franklin
Dianna Ross
Meryl Streep
Florence Nightingale
Jean Sauve - Quebec journalist
Christine Jorgenson

 

[Fearandloathing]

Why Queen Elizabeth I?



Yuck.

The longest reigning Monarch in the history of mankind with an astonishing record of service beginning as a pre teen, rolling bandages in the war, and holding shit together with a spoiled brat of a son and his money grubbing wife.

I have shaken hands with her, her husband, her oldest son and now king as a lowly reporter. What was different with "Liz" was her eyes. Unlike other celebrities ho have to put up with adoration, her eyes were alive,communicating with warmth and kindness.

Can't say the same for her husband who was brief and brisk or her son, the semi warm dead fish.

I like the "old broad", the new 'sonny boy" is a waste of skin

 

[Fearandloathing]

Meh...that's a bit harsh, but maybe you haven't had your coffee yet.

Greta is not someone that would make my list though so we agree on that.

I prefer someone that can deliver their message with a bit more courtesy.

Greta is what I call a single cell celebrity.

Oh, she will attempt to broaden her appeal. But she will always be known as alarmist teen ager.

 

[ataraxia]

Here is an interesting woman, the Empress Theodora of Byzantium. I heard a documentary about her life a few years ago, and found it absolutely fascinating. She rose from being a prostitute scrambling to survive, to becoming empress of all Byzantium, with huge power and influence over the emperor and state affairs. Not sure this is necessarily "admirable", but certainly a very interesting rags-to-riches story:

Theodora (wife of Justinian I) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

View attachment 67575613

Actually, one other interesting thing about her: she was the one who commissioned the famed Hagia Sophia cathedral in Constantinople (with the largest freestanding dome in the ancient world)- still standing today in what is now Istanbul:

 

[Fearandloathing]

Actually, one other interesting thing about her: she was the one who commissioned the famed Hagia Sophia cathedral in Constantinople (with the largest freestanding dome in the ancient world)- still standing today in what is now Istanbul:

View attachment 67575620

How many slaves were involved?

How many people died in its construction.

I love Christians for their ability to 'unknow' the bad part

 

[Lovebug]

Actually, she is merely attempting to hold onto her 15 minutes of fame. The war in Gaza is a distraction from the climate change gig, so she hops on a boat to Gaza with regular broadcasts along the way. Then after she and the boat crew were arrested by the IDF and ultimately deported, rumors are she is headed to Los Angeles to join the anti-ICE protest/riots. She must be wearing out her passport.

That's a lot of focus on one person.

 

[Boots]

Don't get me wrong, her diary did set a landmark. And as I stated, she has become a symbol. And my comment was by no means a put down of her character.
But that had more to do with historians, publishers (of her diary), and activists who wanted to highlight the horrors of the Holocaust through her name.
But none of this was accomplished by her herself. Nor did she have any inkling of what her legacy would be. My choices were for ones who set out on a mission and accomplished their missions through determination and grit.

Perhaps that's the best kind of person to admire. Once whose fame is not of their own doing, but do to a reaction to their existence and character. The most noble of humans, in my opinion, didn't worry about the fame, they acted as they thought they should act. And their notoriety came because they used their talent in a way to help others. Madame Curie...science; Helen Keller...forging a life despite, or perhaps because of, her disabilities; Mother Theresa, eschewing her wealth to live her passion to help others; Rosa Parks...taking her place and accepting the punishment so others could do so...

Sometimes existing in spite of it all is the choice that really matters. Anne Frank did that.

 

[Demon]

Phyllis Schlafly.


Kidding.

My list:

Helen Keller
Anne Frank
Harriet Tubman
Rosa Parks
Marie Curie
Margaret Sanger
Sandra Day O'Connor
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Agatha Christie (not because she did anything particularly noteworthy, just because I love her books)

I'm sure I've forgotten a ton, so there will probably be another post.

 

[MAGAnificent]

That's a lot of focus on one person.

Just like anyone else who seeks publicity, she is fair game for criticism.