My hero

When I was younger and flirting with the idea of going into the Foreign Service, my idol was Colin Powell. Although Republican, he always seemed to me to be diplomatic and he stood up for what he believed was the right thing, not just the 'popular' thing. Of course, like everyone, there were some things he did/said that I did not agree with, but overall, he impressed me and made me believe that party politics could be overcome.
Once, and I remember this very very well, when i was a junior in high school and my dad still worked at the Boston Globe, he took me as his 'date' to the White House Press Corps Conference. Essentially its where all the big media groups invite a 'celebrity' to sit at their table and watch a speech/performer and look at the president and his wife sit on stage. The Globe had John Kerry and his wife at the table which was pretty cool at the time. However, the most memorably moment of the night, and definitely in the top 10 of my life, was as i was walking through one of the hallways (by myself) i noticed a few large men in suits coming towards me and as they got closer, COLIN POWELL was right behind them and brushed shoulders with me and said, 'Excuse me.'!!!!! I nearly died or jumped into his arms or something. Instead, I teared up and vowed never to wash my shoulder- which I havent.
In any case, this makes me respect him even more.. lordy, is he eloquent!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265490#27265490