If I was to choose a hero, a person that I look up to, would want to be just like, someone whom I would see as a role model, I would consider this person to be Serj Tankian. Serj is not Superman or the President of the United States. Serj is a young man in his early thirties who just happens to be the singer of my favorite band, System Of A Down, an all Armenian band that sings about everything from love to politics.

This wild haired singer has lived the life that can only be possible with miracles. As a young man from Beirut, Lebanon, he came to America with his parents. After his father had not such good luck with business, Serj started his own business. The technology of computers is what he occupied his time with. Also, on the side, he enjoyed to sing and got together with a few friends to form a band. Not so serious at first, the band played music that Serj wrote. His ideas and his partners abilities formed System Of A Down, and it�s eclectic sounds.

Serj, the main songwriter of the band, enjoys writing about anything that seems to interest him as well as anything that people should know about. Any topic is game for System�s lyrics. Serj sings about love, friends, politics, little bunny rabbits, and any other normal day activity stuff. Not only do Serj�s words have powerful meanings, but they sound really cool coming out of my stereo too.

Serj�s words show very much about his character. He is a strong person that doesn�t take anything from anyone. His strong opinions aren�t just things he has just come up with; they are topics that have been long thought over in his head many many times before he takes sides. If someone disagrees with him, he enjoys it, because he likes it when people are smart and have the ability to think freely.

I believe that some of Serj�s inspiration comes from his source of being a proud Armenian. System Of A Down being Armenian is only who they are, but not the only thing they sing about. At first, System Of A Down�s fans consisted of mostly an Armenian population. Now that they are more popular, a more diverse crowd has entered this bunch. One of their songs, P.L.U.C.K. (Politically Lying Unholy Cowardly Killers) is dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. But that is only one of the thirteen songs that has to deal with the Armenian people. Although, Serj�s being Armenian goes beyond that of which he sings about. He supports all beneficiaries, mostly Armenian ones. His roots are from Armenia, and his character, the urge to fight bad for the name of good, all relates to his roots.

Serj Tankian has an outrageous hairdo popularly referred to as a �fro�. It grows wildly in every direction, yet manages to maintain a soft, round feel. This is not the end of his hair fashion statements. It continues on his face, wear a goatee grows. Thick, long, and covering his chin, this small beard gives him an extra devilish look. Aside from his hair, Serj like to wear anything with a mongolian collar that shines a lot. Along with a fancy chinese shirt, he wears loose fitting pants and usually skater type shoes. Coincidently, I happen to love this style, so I employ it onto myself.

At a concert, Serj walks out, and you know it�s Serj and not one of the other members, because of his hair at first. Then you see his massive facial hair covering his chin. You see lines streaked all over his face, but they all startv from his eyes. You are blinded by the lights on stage as it bounces off his thick shiny chinese coat. He is amazed by the people in the crowd. He has his hand at shoulder height, extended towards the audience and his palms facing the sky. All this while he wears his evil grin, for he knows he is about to shock you with the sudden burst of music.

�Free thinkers are dangerous.�

-Serj Tankian