If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why?

This is a hard question, while on one hand there are so many historically famous people I would like to go meet some of my old relatives. If however, we are looking has historical figures, I believe I would like to spend some time with Thomas Jefferson. As a framer of our Constitution, maybe the person with the strongest influence to the Constitution, I think sitting down with him and being able to pick his brain, hear his thoughts, and just understand him and his long range vision of the United States would be beyond interesting. To hear directly from him his thoughts of what freedom meant for him in those moments then and what he thinks of the time from then, now, and into the future would be something. I wonder what parts of our history since his times would impress him, surprise him, and disappoint him.

I would like to meet one of my ancestors who came from England or one of the countries in that area. I did an ancestry check, but it can't really say who I came from. Not only that, but I think it would be great to talk with them about their lives in that day.

Lawrence of Arabia! TE Lawrence did impossible things and did them within a foreign people vastly different from his racial background, country of his birth, and a very different culture from his upbringing. He made the impossible possible to Arab tribes and gave these scattered tribes a sense of unity for the betterment of them all. But in the end, the very nations he fought for didn’t see his vision of the future. The Middle East of today is a direct result of the rejection of his vision, which should be a real lesson in history to all the world’s governments.
Even president Woodrow Wilson saw the same understanding on many levels that TE Lawrence had concerning the post World War 1 decisions about the Middle East.
Lawrence crossed vast deserts thought by the Arab tribesmen impossible to cross. He holds the world’s record today for blowing up real trains during World War 1….! About 365 trains ! That unique fact contributed to the downfall of the Ottoman Empire, whose racial beliefs led to the deaths of millions within their own territories.
These are hard facts to except, but many history books are today documenting these historical events.
Doing the impossible is a trait all of us should take example from in light of today’s world conditions.
A little known fact of Lawrence’s military campaigns was his involvement, along with the British army in saving the life of the leader of the Baha’i Religion, who was under a threat of death by the Ottoman government and imprisoned in the prison city of Arce, Palestine.
Lawrence’s courage, in spite of his inner demons makes him a perfect example of what it takes to rise to the occasion of world history and bend history to his force of will.

Army veteran, Michael East.

I would like to meet Cleopatra, to ask her out on a date.

I would like to meet Cleopatra. And why to ask her out on a date.

"For most of history Anonymous was a Woman" Virginia Wolfe
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to meet the Anonymous and often invisible women who fought in every American War since the American Revolution, often disguised as men. I want to meet the Anonymous women who were certainly at the Last Supper with Jesus. I need to meet the many Anonymous authors and artists who labored under men's names in order for their work to be seen. As a disabled veteran, who served before women were admitted to West Point or even ROTC, I'd absolutely love to meet the invisible women who served in the US Army before me, often without recognition and without basic veterans benefits. So, I'd like to meet Anonymous, who for most of history was a woman.

I’d love to my grandfather Wayne Davis. He may not be a “big name” in history but he was a POW in WWII and Purple Heart recipient. He was captured for almost 1 year and weighed a frail 87lbs when he got back to US soil. I never got to meet him in person but the hear him tell me about his time serving would be the the most historic thing for me. I believe our country could learn a lot from our fellow members who served because instead of learning about World War II, or anything military related, from lectures and textbooks, our country’s active duty members should be learning from older veterans. Someone who was there; a primary source who breathed the air of the time and lived the stories we read about.

Prince Harry. The only Royal I really like. Served his country. Gave up everything for love. Advocates for those who have no voice. Fights racism and inequity. I relate a lot to him on many levels for hilariously different reasons. For example, I left the racist religious cult I was raised in too... My family wasn't rich and world-famous but I'm glad for that at least. The paparazzi sounds like hell on earth! Like him, leaving the cult caused a HUGE rift in my family. Haven't talked to my parents in 15-20 years. It can be a hard road being the guy with uncompromising personal integrity. I guess that's why I like him so much.

I would like to meet the people who came up with the plans for various great monuments - the Great Pyramids, Easter Island monuments, and other curious monuments all around the world, and probably from about the same point in time. I would like to find out "WHY?!" (and) "What were you THINKING?! - did you go to all this trouble simply to confound us 21st-century dwellers?"

I was trying to think of a short list, but couldn't pick just one. Then I realized as a Christian, most of those people will be in heaven, so I will just wait and meet them there. No problem if the line is too long. I'll have all eternity.