TM 197 -- Wisdom
TM 197: Is there a person in your life that you consider exceptionally wise? Who, and how did you meet that person?
I would like to nominate Tony Stark, Director of SHIELD, also known as Iron Man. I realize that this will not be a popular choice. . .
No, I take that back. It will be, and should be, a popular choice. In spite of all the difficulties occasioned by recent events, Director Stark has enjoyed, and continued to enjoy, a high approval rating among the American people. The people who do most of the working and breathing and living and dying in this country (and yes, I am quoting a Frank Capra movie) recognize Tony as the wise man and hero that I know him to be.
My choice will be popular; what it will not be is fashionable. Because those ordinary people I mentioned before, the ones who admire and love Tony, are not the people who determine what is *cool*. Authority is not cool; accountability is not cool; making tough decisions that other people do not want to make -- well, none of these things will get your face on T-shirts, or get you invited to the MTV Movie Awards. None of this changes the fact that Tony has done all those things, has made those hard choices, has chosen what is right over what is 'cool,' what is good for this country in the long term over what is immediately expedient. Tony and Dr. Richards and the good men and women of the Fifty States Initiative have a vision for this country's future, and I can think of no better word than "wise" to describe their leadership.
Now, some of you are going to read this and roll your eyes because you assume that I, Henry Hellrung, am biased in this issue. You probably know that I hold a position of leadership within the Initiative, as the head of the California-based superhero team, The Order. As the superhero called "Anthem," I am part of a pilot program in which volunteers -- baseline humans who have undergone a rigorous screening process -- receive enhanced metahuman abilities for a limited term of service. You may be thinking, "Of course this man admires Tony Stark. Stark gave him the powers of a supercell thunderstorm; Stark taught him how to fly." I see no need to dignify such questions with a response; I volunteered to serve SHIELD because I trust and respect Mr. Stark, not the other way around. You might as well criticize a soldier for admiring the President.
Beyond my position with the Order, of course, I realize there are other questions regarding my association with Mr. Stark. Yes, I was at one time the actor who played Iron Man on a popular television program. If you know that, then you also know that my career fell victim to a serious dependency on alcohol and drugs. You will also know that I have been able to prevail in my battle with addiction, to the extent that I have been able, in my own small way, to give help to others. And you'll know that those others include Tony Stark, who came to me at a difficult time in his own life, and accepted my sponsorship in his own recovery. All I can say to this, is that I have seen the man at his best and worst, and that I can testify that, beyond wisdom and courage, the man possesses extraordinary strength of character. Anyone can fall down. The first test is getting up. The second is bringing others up with you. Tony has passed that test, over and over again, which is why I have no hestiation in expressing my admiration for the man.
And then, finally, some of you will have heard that other thing -- about myself and Mr. Stark. Personally, I find it a bit ludicrous that anyone would believe either Tony or I to be that narcissistic. In my experience, however, denying such rumors does nothing but propogate them. I'll just conclude that people believe what they want to believe, and let that be.
*locked*
Of COURSE it's true. Though, for the (non-existent) record, I was Cary Grant, and he was Randolph Scott
/*locked*
In conclusion, this is to Tony Stark. The wisest man I know.
I would like to nominate Tony Stark, Director of SHIELD, also known as Iron Man. I realize that this will not be a popular choice. . .
No, I take that back. It will be, and should be, a popular choice. In spite of all the difficulties occasioned by recent events, Director Stark has enjoyed, and continued to enjoy, a high approval rating among the American people. The people who do most of the working and breathing and living and dying in this country (and yes, I am quoting a Frank Capra movie) recognize Tony as the wise man and hero that I know him to be.
My choice will be popular; what it will not be is fashionable. Because those ordinary people I mentioned before, the ones who admire and love Tony, are not the people who determine what is *cool*. Authority is not cool; accountability is not cool; making tough decisions that other people do not want to make -- well, none of these things will get your face on T-shirts, or get you invited to the MTV Movie Awards. None of this changes the fact that Tony has done all those things, has made those hard choices, has chosen what is right over what is 'cool,' what is good for this country in the long term over what is immediately expedient. Tony and Dr. Richards and the good men and women of the Fifty States Initiative have a vision for this country's future, and I can think of no better word than "wise" to describe their leadership.
Now, some of you are going to read this and roll your eyes because you assume that I, Henry Hellrung, am biased in this issue. You probably know that I hold a position of leadership within the Initiative, as the head of the California-based superhero team, The Order. As the superhero called "Anthem," I am part of a pilot program in which volunteers -- baseline humans who have undergone a rigorous screening process -- receive enhanced metahuman abilities for a limited term of service. You may be thinking, "Of course this man admires Tony Stark. Stark gave him the powers of a supercell thunderstorm; Stark taught him how to fly." I see no need to dignify such questions with a response; I volunteered to serve SHIELD because I trust and respect Mr. Stark, not the other way around. You might as well criticize a soldier for admiring the President.
Beyond my position with the Order, of course, I realize there are other questions regarding my association with Mr. Stark. Yes, I was at one time the actor who played Iron Man on a popular television program. If you know that, then you also know that my career fell victim to a serious dependency on alcohol and drugs. You will also know that I have been able to prevail in my battle with addiction, to the extent that I have been able, in my own small way, to give help to others. And you'll know that those others include Tony Stark, who came to me at a difficult time in his own life, and accepted my sponsorship in his own recovery. All I can say to this, is that I have seen the man at his best and worst, and that I can testify that, beyond wisdom and courage, the man possesses extraordinary strength of character. Anyone can fall down. The first test is getting up. The second is bringing others up with you. Tony has passed that test, over and over again, which is why I have no hestiation in expressing my admiration for the man.
And then, finally, some of you will have heard that other thing -- about myself and Mr. Stark. Personally, I find it a bit ludicrous that anyone would believe either Tony or I to be that narcissistic. In my experience, however, denying such rumors does nothing but propogate them. I'll just conclude that people believe what they want to believe, and let that be.
*locked*
Of COURSE it's true. Though, for the (non-existent) record, I was Cary Grant, and he was Randolph Scott
/*locked*
In conclusion, this is to Tony Stark. The wisest man I know.