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People we do actually admire? Are there any?

(42 Posts)
Cossy Tue 23-Jun-26 10:31:46

I’m fed up with us, including myself, slating and moaning about all and sundry, even though some of our choices/victims might deserve or warrant the criticism.

So, today public figures only, from all walks of life, who we actually admire/respect and why? Alive or dead.

Here’s mine!

(In no particular order)

The Obamas - always publicly very polite, professional and gracious. Worked their way up in less than perfect circumstances. Seemed to really care about all their citizens, whether democrats or not.

Meryl Streep - simply because I think she’s a world class actress and I’ve never not enjoyed a film with her in.

Maggie Thatcher - not for her politics or decision making, but for her rise from humble beginnings, to become our first female PM. I won’t go on to the much longer spiel about what I didn’t like about her!! Not on this thread?

Aneurin "Nye" Bevan - NHS and spearheading welfare reform. Thank you!

Darcy Bussell - for her beautiful dancing and managing to be nice about everyone as a judge on Strictly.

Nelson Mandela - work on abolishing apartheid and never giving up amongst his many many achievements.

Rosa Parks - for her stance on equal rights and her bravery in refusing to give up her seat on the bus.

Enmeline Pankhurst and all suffragettes who fought tirelessly, fearlessly and courageously to win us women our voting rights.

Maya Angelou - for her beautiful writing, prose and poetry, and for sharing her extremely sad yet uplifting life events with us all.

Finally, last but certainly not least, all those brave men and woman who joined the French Resistance, giving up so much, including for many, their lives and who played such a large part in the freedom we enjoy today.

I know sometimes having a good moan and rant, especially with good cause, is the right thing to do.

But, today, I ask for no vitriol, no spite, no sarky responses, if you don’t wish to join in, simply scroll on by.

Today, let’s remember and celebrate all those people we admire and respect flowers let’s feel good about them and ourselves.

Have the best day you can and thinking of those on here not having the best of times at this moment thanks

Janiepops Tue 23-Jun-26 15:31:19

Professor Sir Chris Whitty
Alexander Graham Bell
Leonardo da Vinci
Michael Angelo
Winston Churchill
Florence Nightingale

Bridey Tue 23-Jun-26 15:33:41

J.k. Rowling for her support of womens rights.

Nell82 Tue 23-Jun-26 16:06:36

The courage of Frank Gardner, the BBC journalist, who was shot and paralysed in both legs by Al-Qaida gunmen. After many operations he has returned to journalism despite needing to make use of a wheelchair and colostomy bag.

Mollygo Tue 23-Jun-26 16:07:35

Many already mentioned, plus
J K Rowling
Mary Seacole
Winston Churchill
Dorothy Coates a lady who devoted her life into her 90s to helping children learn.
David Lloyd Griffith - whose work meant children could walk.
Anne Frank
Katherine Johnson
Rosa Parks
Queen Elizabeth II

What an amazing thread.

Madgran77 Tue 23-Jun-26 16:24:10

Rosa Parks
Bowel Babe
Erin Pizzey
Malala Yousafzai
Mary Seacole
Irena Sendler
Martin Luther King
Jesse Jackson

I'm sure there are more though and certainly plenty in my every day life who are not well known

Cossy Tue 23-Jun-26 16:35:19

Amazing!! I’m truly uplifted by all these lists. Thank you flowers

BoggledMind Tue 23-Jun-26 16:35:52

This is a great thread. I probably agree with around 90% of the people already listed, so I won't repeat them.

I will add

Margaret Aspinall
Harriet Tubman
Simon Weston
Keanu Reeves

Elusivebutterfly Tue 23-Jun-26 16:49:53

Dame Cecily Saunders

SpinDriftCoastal Tue 23-Jun-26 16:52:03

The ophthalmologist at our local eye hospital who has given the gift of sight back to so many older people who have cataracts. He is calm, serene, supportive, and very knowledgeable. He has given people back their lives in a very human, modest, and quietly assured way.

blossom14 Tue 23-Jun-26 16:59:17

Sir Alan Bates for his leading the Post Office scandal campaign.

Fallingstar Tue 23-Jun-26 17:01:03

blossom14

Sir Alan Bates for his leading the Post Office scandal campaign.

Oh yes. Another I should have put on my list.

fluttERBY123 Tue 23-Jun-26 17:06:21

Top of head, Ben Wallace, Kemi.

MissAdventure Tue 23-Jun-26 17:09:53

I can't think of anyone I actively admire, certainly not not any famous people.
I was very taken with Rosa Parks' story when I heard it, though.

Galaxy Tue 23-Jun-26 17:15:54

My late mum
JKRowling
Alan Johnson ex labour MP
Martina Navratilova
Alan Turing
Michael Palin
Badenoch

Nice thread!

hollysteers Tue 23-Jun-26 19:38:56

Helen Keller. I can’t imagine anything worse than being blind and deaf.
How she lived her life is truly amazing.

CocoPops Tue 23-Jun-26 20:26:14

Keir Starmer
Mark Carney