C.G.Ayling

With children African, English and American, myself born and raised in a country of five names, living in another for ten, before finally moving to the USA and settling in Ohio where I resided in Athens for nearly twenty years then finally relocating to Dublin, I consider myself... a citizen of the world.
My wife and four children think of me simply as a thorny old man - and thus my symbol...

One of the most influential people in my life was my Godfather. A man of absolute integrity, remarkable intellect, and fine character. He taught me tolerance, and intolerance, together - and how both have their place. In life, there are invariably two sides to every conflict, if not more. Though our viewpoint gives us the most comfort, sometimes it will be wrong.

Thanks to time spent with him that I developed a guiding principle in my life, namely that the most fundamental sign of intelligence is the ability to change one's mind. It is to honor him that mention him here, yet I know my efforts fall far short of what he deserved.