Harriet Tubman, born Araminta Ross, could have stayed away from Maryland after she escaped her violent bondage in 1849. She could have found a new life of freedom and never turned back. But this fierce and indomitable woman of no more than five feet did go back, again and again, perhaps 13 times in all, risking her own life to rescue others. “I was free, and they should be free,” she said.
Famous in her 20s, she refused literacy, dying illiterate at 91. She dodged the bloodhounds for 100s of miles claiming Divine Guidance... she feared literacy would have interfered with that Guidance. The Founders, Tubman, Einstein, Scientist Inventor of CBT, Quakers, all claimed Divine Guidance(in the Philadelphia area). But we Americans HATE TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO🤔🙄😏🕵😝🤦🙉😶....so we default to being "driven by our egos."....
...aka...We are"Hard Wired" to get Defensive when questioned... or told what to do by someone outside of our Tribe. For my Thesis on the Evolutionary Origins of the Ego DM Direct Message me to join our Focus Group
My mother was the eldest of 13 children, on the N. Dakota prairie. She had to quit school after the eighth grade to help care for her siblings. But she continued to educate herself throughout her life. She married to Pastor that served in rural parishes. They never had money. But they did amazing work. And she made sure that all of her daughters had a college education or more.
My hero? My father. His own father died in 1932. He quit school in 9th grade at 15 to go to work to support his mother and 5 year old brother. Was a waist gunner on a B-24 out of England. Came home, married my mother, had me. Never talked about the war except to tell me a few big bombing runs he went on. And to say “anyone who says they weren’t scared is a liar”. Was fascinated by NASA and the moon landings. Adored me, his daughter and only child. Taught me to fish and shoot a rifle. Lived a life of dignity. Never raised his voice or his hand to me or my mother. He died at 81 in 1998. He was and is my hero.
Jonas Salk: who developed the polio vaccine and then donated the rights to it to the public.
Jackie Robinson: who did just break baseball’s color barrier. He broke society’s barrier and helped most of us understand that we should judge our fellow human by their acts and not their looks.
My childhood next door neighbor: a Polish immigrant who escaped the Nazis, made it to America, joined the U.S. Army and helped liberate one of the death camps. “Don’t let anyone tell you it didn’t happen! I saw it with my own eyes.” I have never forgotten his words and I honor what he and others did who fought and defeated fascism.
Jackie Robinson was a U.S. Army 2nd Lt. with the 761st Tank Battalion (‘Black Panthers’) at Fort Hood. After he refused to move to the back of a segregated bus, he was court-martialed—and acquitted. Reassignments and a medical discharge kept him from deploying while the 761st fought in Europe. The same steel that faced down Jim Crow helped him break baseball’s color barrier. (I Never Had it Made by Jackie Robinson)
My first heroes were my parents who were Holocaust victims. I truly did not appreciate them and their plight until recently. My daughters, my sister, and I are applying for dual citizenships from Germany and Poland. I have all of their original documents and when I saw my mother’s “foreigner’s” passport with the Nazi symbol stamped all over it, I broke down. Then… I rose up and have vowed with my very being, to fight back against this regime.
My second heroes are Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm. Rosa, for her tenacity and Shirley, for her courage and brilliance to try and run as the first woman president, against all odds. One of her quotes: “We must reject not only the stereotypes that others hold of us, but also the stereotypes that we hold of ourselves.” “I don't measure America by its achievement but by its potential.” "In the end, anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing - anti-humanism."
All the first responders on 9/11… fighting to rescue EVERYONE in the towers, regardless of race, creed or citizenship. They sacrificed themselves for humanity.
Thurgood Marshall is a hero for me as well. My Dad had a case that went before Scotus on appeal. He lost 5-4. The vote was unusual and not along party lines. All I can recall is that "Thurgood Marshall voted in favor of Dad."
I wish he'd won the case. Blackmun, Burger, Brennan, White and (then recently appointed by Nixon) Rehnquist voted 'against' Bannercraft Clothing Company. (Dad). Douglas filed a dissenting opinion; Stewart, Marshall and Powell joined in that dissent.
My Dad was the eldest son in a family of 10. He helped to support the whole family. He never went to college: born in 1905. Many years ago, I spoke to one of the attorneys on the case about his memories of my Dad: it was amazing.
My heroes are the unnamed people who quietly work behind-the-scenes to help other people. Living in Western North Carolina, I saw this up close in the aftermath of hurricane Helene. Tens of thousands of people poured into our area and work for months to help us get back on our feet. They weren’t paid, they came with supplies, they worked to clear debris, prepare hundreds of meals a day for other workers, etc. etc. Then when the work was done, they quietly left and went back home. We will never know their names, but they are my heroes.
I saw that after floods in Eastern KY. A group from Louisiana came with their own boats, drones & equipment, the Cajun Navy. Some of them stayed to help with removal of debris.
My dad is my hero. He was 17 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He joined the Navy. He went to the Great Lakes Naval Base. He was trained to repair and assemble guns on the Navy ships. He rarely talked about WWII, but he said he was in the South Pacific. A girl dad, he was even tempered, loyal, solid, and was instrumental in promoting a good work ethic to his 3 daughters. The only time I remember him ever “scolding” us was when my sisters and I were out of the house, living our own lives. He said he was selling the house, downsizing to a condo, and if we didn’t “come and get all these prom gowns and bridesmaids dresses out of the basement”, he’d give it all to the Goodwill. He died in 2010, and I miss him every day.
Quintessentially contemporary American novelists like Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Toni Morrison, and Russell Banks: all dead now, but whose words live on in challenging us to confront both the ideals and sins of our American identity and its complicated history.
Edward R Murrow. He set the standard for speaking truth to power and became a beacon for anyone - journalist, politician and everyday American - who believes in democracy. His legacy should inspire us all to work tirelessly against the onslaught of the current rendition of McCarthyism.
Yes, often overlooked leaving a lot of people unaware. Unaware both of his large influence on McCarthyism & the irony of Cohn being at the helm of the “Lavender Scare.”
in my life today… YOU are one of my heroes… one of the incredible writers who DARE to speak & write the truth we’re all living through right now, with our democracy in serious danger. Thank you so much ! ! !
Thank you for reminding us. I follow a number of writers here who are my heroes, in addition to Mr. Beschloss: Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, Dan Rather, Jay Kuo, Robert Hubbell, and others.
All of the women who have stood up against trump. They are all my heroes. 🦸♀️
Brilliant! All the women who stand up to Trump Crime Family. I think it's worth repeating.
We need a lot more of those!
Harriet Tubman, born Araminta Ross, could have stayed away from Maryland after she escaped her violent bondage in 1849. She could have found a new life of freedom and never turned back. But this fierce and indomitable woman of no more than five feet did go back, again and again, perhaps 13 times in all, risking her own life to rescue others. “I was free, and they should be free,” she said.
Famous in her 20s, she refused literacy, dying illiterate at 91. She dodged the bloodhounds for 100s of miles claiming Divine Guidance... she feared literacy would have interfered with that Guidance. The Founders, Tubman, Einstein, Scientist Inventor of CBT, Quakers, all claimed Divine Guidance(in the Philadelphia area). But we Americans HATE TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO🤔🙄😏🕵😝🤦🙉😶....so we default to being "driven by our egos."....
...aka...We are"Hard Wired" to get Defensive when questioned... or told what to do by someone outside of our Tribe. For my Thesis on the Evolutionary Origins of the Ego DM Direct Message me to join our Focus Group
They warned us.
Even the ones who voted for him?
My mother was the eldest of 13 children, on the N. Dakota prairie. She had to quit school after the eighth grade to help care for her siblings. But she continued to educate herself throughout her life. She married to Pastor that served in rural parishes. They never had money. But they did amazing work. And she made sure that all of her daughters had a college education or more.
My hero? My father. His own father died in 1932. He quit school in 9th grade at 15 to go to work to support his mother and 5 year old brother. Was a waist gunner on a B-24 out of England. Came home, married my mother, had me. Never talked about the war except to tell me a few big bombing runs he went on. And to say “anyone who says they weren’t scared is a liar”. Was fascinated by NASA and the moon landings. Adored me, his daughter and only child. Taught me to fish and shoot a rifle. Lived a life of dignity. Never raised his voice or his hand to me or my mother. He died at 81 in 1998. He was and is my hero.
How incredibly lucky you were to have such a father, Claire. But you obviously know that.
He was the best!
It certainly sounds like it. Fathers like him aren't as common as we'd like to think. 😉
Jonas Salk: who developed the polio vaccine and then donated the rights to it to the public.
Jackie Robinson: who did just break baseball’s color barrier. He broke society’s barrier and helped most of us understand that we should judge our fellow human by their acts and not their looks.
My childhood next door neighbor: a Polish immigrant who escaped the Nazis, made it to America, joined the U.S. Army and helped liberate one of the death camps. “Don’t let anyone tell you it didn’t happen! I saw it with my own eyes.” I have never forgotten his words and I honor what he and others did who fought and defeated fascism.
Good list! Thanks.
Jackie Robinson was a U.S. Army 2nd Lt. with the 761st Tank Battalion (‘Black Panthers’) at Fort Hood. After he refused to move to the back of a segregated bus, he was court-martialed—and acquitted. Reassignments and a medical discharge kept him from deploying while the 761st fought in Europe. The same steel that faced down Jim Crow helped him break baseball’s color barrier. (I Never Had it Made by Jackie Robinson)
My first heroes were my parents who were Holocaust victims. I truly did not appreciate them and their plight until recently. My daughters, my sister, and I are applying for dual citizenships from Germany and Poland. I have all of their original documents and when I saw my mother’s “foreigner’s” passport with the Nazi symbol stamped all over it, I broke down. Then… I rose up and have vowed with my very being, to fight back against this regime.
My second heroes are Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm. Rosa, for her tenacity and Shirley, for her courage and brilliance to try and run as the first woman president, against all odds. One of her quotes: “We must reject not only the stereotypes that others hold of us, but also the stereotypes that we hold of ourselves.” “I don't measure America by its achievement but by its potential.” "In the end, anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing - anti-humanism."
Another of her famous quotes....
"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair"
Yes, my favorite!
All the first responders on 9/11… fighting to rescue EVERYONE in the towers, regardless of race, creed or citizenship. They sacrificed themselves for humanity.
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall is a hero for me as well. My Dad had a case that went before Scotus on appeal. He lost 5-4. The vote was unusual and not along party lines. All I can recall is that "Thurgood Marshall voted in favor of Dad."
Kudos to your dad.
I wish he'd won the case. Blackmun, Burger, Brennan, White and (then recently appointed by Nixon) Rehnquist voted 'against' Bannercraft Clothing Company. (Dad). Douglas filed a dissenting opinion; Stewart, Marshall and Powell joined in that dissent.
Hey, he tried. Thurgood Marshall was on his side. It matters if Thurgood Marshall was on his side.
My Dad was the eldest son in a family of 10. He helped to support the whole family. He never went to college: born in 1905. Many years ago, I spoke to one of the attorneys on the case about his memories of my Dad: it was amazing.
Heroes come in both the large & small people
Yes, there have been outstanding national leaders as you have mentioned
My first true hero was John F. Kennedy as I was a child when he became president
I can only imagine how our country would be how he survived
The women who helped secure birth control & legalized abortions have empowered women for over 50 years
The LGBTQIA community that stood up at Stonewall in 1969 opened the door for their long overdue rights
John Lewis & Black Americans led the fight for voting rights and true equality - which, of course, continues to today
The ACLU & others fight to protect our immigrant communities
We must always stand up for each other and in that way
We are all heroes
I agree completely, Sue, especially about JFK. He'd have been a noted "peace President," had he been allowed to live.
Mark Twain, Ben Franklin, Abe Lincoln and James Baldwin.
My heroes are the unnamed people who quietly work behind-the-scenes to help other people. Living in Western North Carolina, I saw this up close in the aftermath of hurricane Helene. Tens of thousands of people poured into our area and work for months to help us get back on our feet. They weren’t paid, they came with supplies, they worked to clear debris, prepare hundreds of meals a day for other workers, etc. etc. Then when the work was done, they quietly left and went back home. We will never know their names, but they are my heroes.
I saw that after floods in Eastern KY. A group from Louisiana came with their own boats, drones & equipment, the Cajun Navy. Some of them stayed to help with removal of debris.
Yes, exactly.
My dad is my hero. He was 17 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He joined the Navy. He went to the Great Lakes Naval Base. He was trained to repair and assemble guns on the Navy ships. He rarely talked about WWII, but he said he was in the South Pacific. A girl dad, he was even tempered, loyal, solid, and was instrumental in promoting a good work ethic to his 3 daughters. The only time I remember him ever “scolding” us was when my sisters and I were out of the house, living our own lives. He said he was selling the house, downsizing to a condo, and if we didn’t “come and get all these prom gowns and bridesmaids dresses out of the basement”, he’d give it all to the Goodwill. He died in 2010, and I miss him every day.
Quintessentially contemporary American novelists like Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Toni Morrison, and Russell Banks: all dead now, but whose words live on in challenging us to confront both the ideals and sins of our American identity and its complicated history.
The practitioner of “each one, teach one. “. Nelson Mandela, Jose Andres, Dr. Paul Farmer. Even Bill and Melinda Gates. Dr. Fauci.
Edward R Murrow. He set the standard for speaking truth to power and became a beacon for anyone - journalist, politician and everyday American - who believes in democracy. His legacy should inspire us all to work tirelessly against the onslaught of the current rendition of McCarthyism.
And what connects these? Roy Cohn.
Yes, often overlooked leaving a lot of people unaware. Unaware both of his large influence on McCarthyism & the irony of Cohn being at the helm of the “Lavender Scare.”
in my life today… YOU are one of my heroes… one of the incredible writers who DARE to speak & write the truth we’re all living through right now, with our democracy in serious danger. Thank you so much ! ! !
Thank you for reminding us. I follow a number of writers here who are my heroes, in addition to Mr. Beschloss: Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich, Dan Rather, Jay Kuo, Robert Hubbell, and others.
All these writers that are showing me how you can just describe the Trump presidency