06.20.24
by

Can’t Do It

The minute I decide who my favorite historical figure is, something will come to light about that individual that will make me shake my head and have to look for another.

Maybe, if I go far enough back in time, how about Galileo? He took astronomy mainstream, and stood up to the church, with facts. Even in the face of the churches persecution.

Yeah, I’ll take that guy. For now.

Daily writing prompt
Who is your favorite historical figure?
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25 thoughts on “Can’t Do It”

  2. I think you’ll find, Shell, that all historical figures offer something to shake one’s head about. Funny, that. Once upon a time, historical figures later celebrated were understood to be imperfect but that some positive achievement could be admirable in its own right and thus tolerated by those of us morally advanced cream of humanity.

    Of course, this tolerance is unacceptable to the practitioners of today’s inverted version of progressive tolerance – ie intolerance to and cancellation of anything and anyone who does not first agree to the correct uniformity of thought – under the banner of inclusion, of course. Are you sure you’re not falling under this sway as you go through some historical list in your mind?

    Let’s review, shall we? Galileo was quite the capitalist, donchaknow, utilizing his German crafted lenses to see what ships were cresting the horizon long before others could see these ships unaided. He was able to gain economic advantage from his knowledge over others who were gambling on what ships and cargoes would make it into port and gain the upper hand on his competitors… not to mention he committed the gravest of sins by being both male AND white.

    Come on, Shell, everyone knows three strikes and you HAVE to be gone.

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    • Well, by that measure, I struck out a long time ago lol.

      I don’t care who it is, or how high the the pedestal on which they sit, they probably had their 3 strikes somewhere along the way too…

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    • Oh, cancel culture. I find it interesting. On the one hand I applaud students boycotting known Nazi sympathizer types, or out an out racists. On the other hand I think it can also take a trendy fad fanaticism look to it. Think MTG.

      I do think there are people who well deserve it though.

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    • That statement about Galileo using a telescope to see ships coming in, I think I read something akin to that in a book a long time ago. Was it Tai-Pan? I think so… The ships had a flag system, letting the telescope guy know what sort of goods were arriving… That knowledge made them $$$

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      • Galileo represents the apex of the scientific revolution between Copernicus in 1543 and Newton in 1687. Galileo is the much greater ‘giant’ (Copernicus was published only after his death) upon whose shoulders Newton said he stood if he saw farther and further. Galileo’s scientific contributions are (arguably) without equal in human history and even the institution of the Church with all of its censorious power could not withstand them. Those who dismiss old dead European white guys for various trivial disagreements with the puritan standards held by today’s moral and virtuous champions reveal the scope and scale of their own hubris… very similar to the hubris of the religious stereotype Galileo references as Simplicio in his Dialogues. The irony is delicious… for those who know.

        So yeah, the guy is worthy of some elevated status to be a favourite historical person especially if one has any appreciation whatsoever for science or for those courageous few willing to stand up to the ideological bullies who insist you cannot say what’s true without being a Bad Person. That’s why I say don’t fall for doing this puritan work on behalf of today’s ignorant offense archeologists and history’s self-appointed hall monitors.

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        • I picked him first!

          But great history lesson Tildeb. Thanks for that.

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          • I’m a bit of a Lincoln buff, myself.

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            • I’ve read, that Lincoln was a tad racist, and misogynistic.

              I grew up in Ill. There was much disussion ole Abe. But we didn’t hear any of that…

              Regardless, whether any of it is true or not, he still made history in a good way.

              Saw a cartoon the other day, the caption was Mary saying to Abe, and I’m paraphrasing because I’m not sure it’s word for word, “would it kill you to take me to show every once in a while?”

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  3. I like historical figures they can’t do anything in the present to make me not like them

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  5. Without a doubt my favorite historical figure was Diogenes. He lived in a giant ceramic jar. He insulted people. A lot. He ran around naked. He peed on the side of buildings. He thought that the accumulation of wealth and personal possessions was silly because you’re all going to end up dead anyway so what what was the point. He insulted Alexander the Great. Supposedly he got invited to a party, did something to irritate his host, who insulted him. So Diogenes did the Greek equivalent of dropping his pants and peed on him.

    Best part about him is that you can pretty much make up anything you like about him because none of his writings survive and all we “know” about him are stories written about him by other people which are quite possibly, even probably, lies.

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    • Wait, is that you Grouchy? it showed up as “Someone” who made the comment, and Grouchy mentioned Diogenes, so I’m trying to put 2 and 2 together here and get 5.

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  6. Oh, dear, now that’s irritating. Just spent 15 minutes writing what was an excellent, scholarly treatise on Diogenes which was pithy, entertaining, illuminating, full of delightful tidbits of information and which, if published, would probably have won some sort of award. Perhaps for most misspellings in a single comment, but some kind of award, I think. So, of course. Word Press seems to have eaten it.

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    • Pics or it didn’t happen Grouchy! 😉

      I was replying to a comment earlier, every time I tried to drag the comment box bigger, so I could go back to reread, fix typos, etc, everytime you drag to the bottom of the page POOF! everything disappears.

      Royal PITA. I know I can go to comments and comment, but why should I have to?

      I’ll give you an award for the post that almost was 🙂

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  7. I can relate. A lot of my favorite historical figures are physicists, but a lot of them have done some messed up stuff.

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    • It’s tough to find a historical figure, whom one might admire, that can stand the test of time. As information about said person tends to comes to light over the years. It might take 100 years, but things always find their way out.

      These days, with social media, the gossip monster is bigger than it’s ever been. Better stay on the straight and narrow. People love to talk, and the bigger you are, the harder you fall.

      With that in mind, I wouldn’t fall far enough to skin a knee 😉

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