>>255
There's various people I admire for various reasons, but I can't think of many I'd describe as heroes. Well, perhaps one. Long story incoming.

My middle name is István, which is named after my grandfather who lived in Hungary when it was under Soviet occupation. Occasionally, what they'd do is simply close off a street at both ends, let all the women and children out, and send all the able-bodied men to Siberia to work in the coal mines. Not because the people had done anything wrong; just because they needed more labour and, of course, everyone should be grateful to support the motherland and so on. Anyway, that's what happened to poor István. He ended up working in the coal mines for four years, in absolutely appalling conditions. The workers were fed pea soup for every meal for months on end, and had to work in the mines (>30°C) whereas above ground it was >-20°C. The sudden change in temperature caused quite a number to die of hypothermia/pneumonia/goodness knows what. Most amazing, however, is the fact that at one point he was the only one in his work camp of ~40 people who didn't die of an outbreak of typhoid. He managed to learn enough Russian to be able to speak to and get along with the guards, and, after four years was released back to Hungary. There, he got married, had a few children, and then went and died before I was born. I never even met the guy.

He didn't do anything that amazing; he didn't change the world, or help anyone else particularly, but I respect him for being able to put up with such horrendous treatment and come out on top. I doubt I'd be able to deal with what he went through.

>>257
Do you have any particularly interesting relatives?