Don't be hasty. Looking back through all the people I've known, the people I admire most are those who think everything through, and rarely do anything without having thought it through to a conclusion, and then seeing it through to that conslusion. Such people are the people on whom to build, people whose ideas are worth listening to and implementing.
I made a point of meeting JohnWPB, because he has persisted despite all the myriad issues with his Fiero. While he is not necessarily a role model, I do respect what he has done in this regard.
When I was just a kid, there was an old man who ran a newspaper. He printed the truth, whatever the truth was. Every so often, a certain group of people would come destroy his office. The old man rebuilt, every time. Time and again, that old man was warned by others to not print certain things, to avoid having his office destroyed. The old man refused to change, not because he was old, but because he saw dishonesty as being the easy way. He said that there is no stopping someone who is right and keeps on coming. He was told to move to another town, but refused, because he said running never fixes anything. One night, things came to a head. The old man was in his 80's, and working late. The group of people had finally decided on a permanapent fix. The office was shot to doll rags, and the old man was hurt. I helped bury those people. The old man was beside me with a shovel. I asked him why. He said it was the right thing to do. Some years ago, that old man died in his office. His final paper had an article titled, "The Truth Shall Set You Free". If I could have found his gravestone, I'd have had that put on the stone. That old man never had anything, but never compromised, and I respect him highly.
Sometimes, I think back on defining moments. There are some I wish I could change, because I don't like to think that is who I am, but they are all a part of me. I often wish I had that old man's conviction and steadfast spirit.
