Patrick Stewart taught me what it meant to be a man

Patrick Stewart was an icon of my youth. His career-defining portrayal of Jean-Luc Picard represented, for me, a rock of stability in a tumultuous childhood.PicardCaptain of the Enterprise D, Jean-Luc exemplified everything I wanted to be in a man. He was contemplative, patient, erudite, and measured. He forestalled his passions in pursuit of principal.He was just trying to read his book.Picard listened to the voices around him and, what's more, he trusted their expertise and council. Importantly, it was who he listened to. Women, people of color, even non-humans. (Though Worf might not be the best example.)Picard recognized the humanity in everyone, the innate value of those things that we don't understand, and the right of all life to exist.The Crystalline Entity in S05E04 Silicon AvatarAs a leader, he carefully selected officers who would be unafraid to challenge his decisions if he was wrong. He was also not against employing judicious, righteous force, but only when absolutely…