Do you have any American heroes? Who are they?

Gaer said:
A couple of those I don't even know. I'll have to look them up.
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Woody Hayes was, of course, a long time coach at Ohio State.

The others are all Heisman Trophy winners from Ohio State.
 

George Washington, if I had to pick just one. He did a lot of great things, but not making himself King or dictator was the greatest. Very few people would have given up power willingly and legally as he did. If he had not we would live in a very different country.

Of course he was flawed, as many of our heroes are. Slave owning and Indian fighting tarnish his reputation.
 
Buckeye said:
Woody Hayes was, of course, a long time coach at Ohio State.

The others are all Heisman Trophy winners from Ohio State.
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When I first moved to Ohio from West Virginia a date took me to a party on the OSU campus. There were banners about football everywhere. About half way through the evening I asked, "Just who is Woody Hayes?" You would have thought I asked who's George Washington.
Alligatorob said:
George Washington, if I had to pick just one.
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A few years ago I read a really good novel called, "Rules of Civility." The title was based on George Washington's book of etiquette and rules for life in general, written when he was just 14 years old. So I looked it up and it's amazing how wise his rules were and most of them are still relevant today.
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/rules-of-civility/
 
Alligatorob said:
George Washington, if I had to pick just one. He did a lot of great things, but not making himself King or dictator was the greatest. Very few people would have given up power willingly and legally as he did. If he had not we would live in a very different country.

Of course he was flawed, as many of our heroes are. Slave owning and Indian fighting tarnish his reputation.
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Washington was living in times he was taught in. Slavery and fighting Indians were thought to be necessary evils in which to survive and thrive. He knew nothing else. Even in England, slavery was an acceptable way of living for kings and queens of their country.
 
Della said:
When I first moved to Ohio from West Virginia a date took me to a party on the OSU campus. There were banners about football everywhere. About half way through the evening I asked, "Just who is Woody Hayes?" You would have thought I asked who's George Washington.
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I've lived my entire life and never heard anyone speak of Woody Hayes. Guess I was lingering in the wrong circles, ehh. Not many of my circle was into sports.
 
Right Now said:
Washington was living in times he was taught in. Slavery and fighting Indians were thought to be necessary evils in which to survive and thrive. He knew nothing else. Even in England, slavery was an acceptable way of living for kings and queens of their country.
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Of course, you have to judge people by the standards of their day. We may well be doing things now we believe are right that will be harshly judged in 200 years. Slavery in one form or another has always been with us, since man first became civilized anyway. And back then many people believed non-western and non-white people were inferior. Times change...

There is evidence that Washington was not entirely comfortable with slavery, he inherited his first slaves at the age of 11. Not an excuse, just an explanation.

10 Facts About Washington & Slavery
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/ten-facts-about-washington-slavery/
 
Alligatorob said:
Of course, you have to judge people by the standards of their day. We may well be doing things now we believe are right that will be harshly judged in 200 years. Slavery in one form or another has always been with us, since man first became civilized anyway. And back then many people believed non-western and non-white people were inferior. Times change...

There is evidence that Washington was not entirely comfortable with slavery, he inherited his first slaves at the age of 11. Not an excuse, just an explanation.

10 Facts About Washington & Slavery
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/ten-facts-about-washington-slavery/
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Yes, Different times. Fighting Indians and owning slaves were the norm or their times.
Things and values change constantly, according to the time, circumstances and surroundings. @Alligatorob,
What you wrote was well stated! What is good at one time may be declared bad at another time.
We follow what we think is right according to our understanding at the time.
 
I did when I was tiny...

Willie Mays
Mickey Mantle
Sandy Koufax
Jerry Lewis
Johnny Unitas
All of the astronauts....

As I hit my teens I learned they were just people and they kinda lost their magic.
 
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