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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

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

Keir Starmer
Mark Carney

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.

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!

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.

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

Top of head, Ben Wallace, Kemi.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Dame Cecily Saunders

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Maremia Tue 23-Jun-26 15:30:08

Fabulous lists.
May I add Jane Goodall?

kittylester Tue 23-Jun-26 15:03:23

Aren't they great, Jaxjacky

kittylester Tue 23-Jun-26 15:02:25

Currently, I have huge admiration for Jordan and Cian Adams. Living with the gene that means they will succumb to the disease in their 40s and raising awareness of Dementia and raising money for research.

A young chap called Sam Perkins, sadly no longer with us, who was a friend of 2 of my daughters and also a fellow Forest fan, who won many iron-man races but who was diagnosed with MND at 37. He said that there is a cure for MND, we just haven't found it yet. He lived the rest of his life raising awareness and funds and making people smile.

Jaxjacky Tue 23-Jun-26 14:41:09

Jordan and Cian Adam’s, brothers who ran 33 marathons in 33 days for dementia research. They both carry the gene meaning they will get dementia at a very young age, 1.5m raised, their Mum died from FTDementia at 52.

Fallingstar Tue 23-Jun-26 13:45:03

Martin Luther King
Mandela
Rosa Parkes
Ghandi
Clement Attlee
Anne Frank
Stephen Hawking
The Curies
Abraham Lincoln
Shakespeare
Mother Theresa
Ken Loach
Caravaggio
The Pankhursts
Elizabeth the first

Chocolatelovinggran Tue 23-Jun-26 13:24:20

Excellent lists here and much to agree with. May I add David Attenborough, firstly for his lifetime's work, and secondly for offering such a wonderful image of growing old.

DamaskRose Tue 23-Jun-26 13:07:05

Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Rory Stewart (for his books)
Theresa May (for trying her best)
Nelson Mandela
Maggie Smith
Queen Elizabeth II
My granddaughter

Cossy Tue 23-Jun-26 13:03:21

Great people you’ve all named!

Nice to be reminded. flowers

Scattybat Tue 23-Jun-26 13:00:07

Gisele Pelicot. What a brave and inspirational Lady!