Name a U.S.or world leader who inspired you.

[southern democrat]

I know of couple:Jimmy Carter and Bush(Bush inspired me to vomit)

[dave123williams]

1. John Fitzgerald Kennedy inspired me greatly...

And he'd already been dead 5 years when I was born.

[Lisa]

2. Bill Clinton ...

He was visiting Israel when a heckler in the crowd yelled "Arab-lover!", and without missing a beat, Clinton calmly said, "Yes I am".


Just one of many times when he was not just quick on his feet, but graceful too.

[Iceburg]

3. JFKennedy; PE Trudeau

[knowbody0]

4. gahndi

[Stew225]

5. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi eom.

[LanternWaste]

6. Thurgood Marshall and Winston Churchill (eom)

Thurgood Marshall and Winston Churchill

[slinkerwink]

7. Dr. Martin Luther King

[mia]

8. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[DURHAM D]

9. Eleanor Roosevelt

[mia]

10. Gen. Wesley K. Clark

[TrustingDog]

Carter and Ghandi

[Rowdyboy]

11. John Paul I, a simple, thoughtful man who could have been a

revelation for the church and the world. Sad that he only survived a few weeks after his election as pontiff. Also, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams and Bishop Gene Robinson, the gay Episcopal bishop of Vermont.

[Djinn]

12. very few "leaders" have

atleast not in the sense of leadership of a NATION.

Salvador Allende
Daniel Ortega
Hugo Chavez (so far atleast)

Subcomandante Marcos (not technically the Zapatistas leader but I'm stretching the definitions here)
Malcolm X

[Rowdyboy]

14. Allende is an excellent choice!

I did my college senior thesis on his administration and found him a fascinating subject. What unrealized potential...then to "commit suicide" by shooting himself in the back 17 times.

[Djinn]

21. suicide by shooting oneself in the back

was also quite popular amongst certain sections of the Melbourne community according the Victoria Police anyway!

To add a few more (not necessarily national leaders):

Meena - Founder of Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA).
Liu Shaoqi and Peng Dehuai

Peter Lalor
John Curtin (stuff Churchill!)
Sir Justice Higgins (see Harvester Decision)

[Jacobin]

13. Gorbachev

Amazing man. Gave up empire for a better chance for his country. He's vilified in his own country.

[manic expression]

15. Without a doubt...

Paul Kagame of Rwanda. He is absolutely amazing. I wish more people would notice him and what he's doing.

[dflprincess]

16. Paul Wellstone and Robert Kennedy

n/t

[Lisa]

17. and a good word for Dr. Mosaddeq

If he'd been allowed to continue as Prime Minister of Iran, things would likely have been very different -- he didn't want a theocracy to rule. I know that Eisenhower dismissed him as "impractical and naive", while the Western media made fun of him for "weeping, fainting, and napping in public" -- but gee, between Reagan and the two Bushes, he looks pretty good!

[Djinn]

19. ditto

in western political parlance naive seems to mean any bampot crazy enough to think that the people of a nation should share it's wealth...nutbgas! ;)

[qnr]

18. John V. Lindsey

While he was mayor of NYC. Yes, I know that he had problems, and there are many others afterward, but he was a seminal influence when I was younger.

Edit: Well, he was a leader in the US, not sure if that is what you meant by US Leader.

[Minstrel Boy]

20. Going way back, to the 17th century: Gerrard Winstanley

Leader of the Diggers, or Levellers, who sought to reclaim the commons from the gentry.

I have lots of heroes, but nothing swells my heart like the story of Winstanley and the Diggers.



"We whose names are subscribed, do in the name of all the poor oppressed people in England, declare unto you, that call your selves lords of Manors, and Lords of the Land, That in regard the King of Righteousness, our Maker, hath enlightened our hearts so far, as to see, That the earth was not made purposely for you, to be Lords of it, and we to be your Slaves, Servants, and Beggers; but it was made to be a common Livelihood to all, without respect of persons."


And this is such a beautiful song, by Leon Rosselson: "World Turned Upside Down"

In 1649
To St George's Hill
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
They defied the laws
They were the dispossessed
Reclaiming what was theirs

We come in peace, they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the land in common
And to make the waste land grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it can be
A common treasury for all.

The sin of property
We do disdain
No one has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Rise up at their command.

They make the laws
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feeds the rich
While poor men starve

We work, we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to masters
Or pay rent to the lords
We are free men
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed -
Only the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
The earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We come in peace
The order came to cut them down