If you could be anyone in history who would you be ... and why?

1. 69

   Angie Jardineposted 12 years ago

   If you could be anyone in history who would you be ... and why?

   report
2. 86

   ecogginsposted 12 years ago

   Interestingly, I'd be he who is still making history today. I would be Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Irvine, California. Certainly, Pastor Warren is human and far from perfect; however, he has dedicated his life to make a positive difference in the community and world around him. Through his Purpose Driven Church initiative, he has offered training and support to thousands of churches and 10,000s of church leaders in the USA and around the world since 1980. He has the mindfulness to see and address all the issues confronting the world today; and, uses his influence to bring workable solutions to those problems. That includes initiatives to confront the HIV pandemic (which many evangelical Christians groups were reluctant to address); anti-poverty initiatives in Rwanda; and organized relief efforts in response to the 2005 tsunami in Southeast Asia. Most of all, his Purpose Driven Life book and curriculum has brought real positive change to 100,000s of lives over the past 10 years.
   
   Other than Rick Warren, I would want to be Martin Luther King.

   report
3. 63

   rclinton5280posted 12 years ago

   Myself. I have spent to much of my life trying to be someone else already. I think it's time for some one else to want to be me.

   report
4. 93

   vocalcoachposted 12 years ago

   I kinda like myself. It has taken me so long to learn and grow...yes...I would be me.
   
   Having said that, I'd also like to be Mother Theresa. It would be amazing to live a life of devotion and service to others as she has done.

   report
5. 35

   edhanposted 12 years ago

   I would want to be a monk in the past so that I can seek for enlightenment in this life while finding out the pure reason of our existence.
   
   It is an on-going thing that I am seeking to find the mere reason of being reborn again in search of the way of life.
   
   Why are we here?
   
   What is there we need to learn?
   
   How does one achieve enlightenment in spiritual world?
   
   So many questions but yet to find out the answers to life.

   report
6. 78

   JamaGeneeposted 12 years ago

   Queen Victoria.  Just to find out how it feels to be the mother/grandmother of most of the crowned heads of Europe.  Some of whom couldn't speak English, which must've made for rather interesting letters and birthday cards. ;D

   report
7. 0

   mcals71posted 12 years ago

   Out of deference and respect I wouldn't say Jesus, but I would like to be the Apostle that Jesus loved, St. John, because he was reclining so close to Him that during the Last Supper he actually rested his head of Jesus' chest and he probably even heard His heartbeat. He was also very brave, because despite the danger, he was the only Apostle we see at the foot of the Cross with Jesus' Mother.

   report
8. 88

   Jean Bakulaposted 12 years ago

   I'd want to be Amelia Earhart. I don't know why her story always inspires me. She was so independent for her time. Plus there's all that mystery about what really happened. You know I like to figure out what makes people tick! Great question.

   report
9. 61

   Austin Joseposted 12 years ago

   I have thought for the answer for this question for a long time, and came up with the conclution. I dont like to be anyone else. I like being me

   report
10. 61

    A.S.K.Preacherposted 12 years ago

    The thief on the cross that accepted Jesus offer of salvation. I would be in paradise right now!

    report
    1. 79

       Alexander Markposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       But who had more impact on the world, the thief whose story is written in the Bible and encouraged millions, or your life which has been devoted to God for much longer than that thief's? I would rather have a greater reward!

       report
11. 51

    Margal9posted 12 years ago

    Wow - this is a tough question, yet one I've debated before.  My first thought is that I would want to be happy.  Who in history was happy?  I think a truly happy person is one who accepts him/herself, who trusts in good, who loves fully, who appreciates beauty.  A complete lack of judgment would be necessary too - how can anyone be happy if there is judgment?  Someone else's life, partner, career, possessions, family... all would be subject to judgment. 
    I think my choice would be either Mother Theresa or Buddha.  Both were ruled by love and compassion.  Both accepted life on life's terms.  Mother Theresa devoted her life to serving the poor; she loved unconditionally in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.  Siddhartha Gautama, or the Buddha, devoted his life to sharing and teaching his philosophy and enlightenment; he tried to show anyone who wanted to learn, how to attain peace.
    All things considered, and with great respect to many other historical figures (my favorite being Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but sadly he was not a happy man) my choice would have to be Mother Theresa.  I imagine her to have been completely satisfied with her chosen life, never seeking anything for herself.  I doubt that she would have wanted to be anyone but who she was, an example of human love triumphing over all the sadness the world can give.  I picture her in the next world, fully evolved, able to enjoy eternity in peace.

    report
12. 70

    Darrell Robertsposted 12 years ago

    Hm, If I had to choose just one person it would be Krsna from ancient India 5200 years aga.  He was no ordinary person and is considered to be the supreme personality of Godhead.  His life story is just beyond amazing.

    report
13. 79

    Alexander Markposted 12 years ago

    King David for so many reasons. He was a poet, a musician, he was a ladies man and the kind of person who attracted the best qualities in people. More than that, he loved God with a humble heart, even when he royally screwed up (literally and figuratively) he turned back to God with all of his being.
    
    He was so secure and loved God so much, he danced like an idiot for the glory of God (to the point he was criticized by a bitter woman) and he didn't care what anyone else thought of him.
    
    God loved him the most because David returned his love with every fiber of his being. He was one of the few or the only kings to end his reign well -  unlike many Israelite kings that started well and ended on such a bad note God ended their rule in disgrace and death.
    
    David shows me that you don't need to be a prude to please God. If you walk with God, you can be all that a man can be, both spiritually and physically.
    
    And that's the kind of man I strive to be.
    .
    .
    .
    
    .

    report
14. 95

    UnnamedHaraldposted 12 years ago

    Winston Churchill, because he'd lived so many interesting lives even before he became Prime Minister in 1940: He participated in the last major British cavalry charge at Omdurman, was captured and escaped from the Boers, was elected to Parliament, became First Lord of the Admiralty, fought in the trenches of World War One, fought to rearm England in the 1930s, among other things. He suffered many setbacks and made many mistakes; he had many character flaws and suffered severe bouts of depression-- his Black Dog. A very interesting life indeed.

    report
15. 54

    Vienta Quentinposted 12 years ago

    The librarian of the Library of Alexandria before its destruction. I can only imagine how hard the work was back then to keep everything organized, but I would love to be able to the read documents that were lost (mythical or not)! I just hope he had time for leisurely reading.

    report
16. 79

    CM Sullivanposted 12 years ago

    In answering the Hubpages question asked by Angie Jardine: If you could be anyone in history, who would you be. . .and why? I chose Adolf Hitler because I would like to change the atrocities he caused such as the Holocaust and WWII, and try to make the world a better place instead. read more

    report
17. 60

    ustadposted 12 years ago

    If I had to pick one person to be like him, I would have to pick Saladin. The man was a brilliant general, one of the best in my opinion, and it would be nice to learn about how he formed his tactics and such before each battle. Overall, I just think that he was a talented general and I would like to meet him. :-

    report
18. 61

    MisterHposted 12 years ago

    Giacomo Casanova.  Alright, he had the ladies eating out of his hand but a womaniser  wasn't all he was.  He was also an author, gambler and adventurer when these thins were unusual and all in a time of great romance and beauty.  Fantastic!

    report
19. 61

    KeithJKposted 12 years ago

    
    
    This may not be the most popular answer, but I would be Tupac Amaru Shakur. Time Magazine named him "America's Most Influential Person" while he was living. With his followers, admirers, and appeal, there is no questioning the positive impact that could have been created if he stayed alive and was focused. People in power and people in gutters could all relate to his poetic lyrics. Tupac once stated, "I'm not saying I will change the world, but I GUARANTEE I will spark the brain that does." It is motivation and inspiration like that that truly advances our society.

    report
20. 61

    inevitablesecretsposted 12 years ago

    Jane Goodall maybe, but she is in the present as well.  Abigail Adams is my second choice if Jane doesn't count.  Both are/were strong, driven, kind women that used their position in life to make the world better in some small way.

    report
21. 60

    freemarketingnowposted 12 years ago

    I would be myself. Why would you want to be someone else?

    report
22. 58

    tomjh17posted 12 years ago

    I would choose to be myself. Out of all the influencial figures in history, whether it be Dr. King, Ghandi, or even Muhammed Ali, knowing what they went through I can't help but think I would rather have the power to create my own path in life and have a chance to do something equally as important.

    report
23. 82

    phillippeengelposted 12 years ago

    I would be someone illustrious and eminent, someone who was intellectually gifted and had a high moral grounding. I would be someone whose contributions to the acquisition of knowledge were groundbreaking. That would be Isaac Newton.

    report