Roger Williams was one of the most brilliant, mysterious, complicated, and in the end admirable human beings in the history of our great nation. That having been said, he was a walking, talking bundle of contradictions - a fanatic who ultimately became one of our great humanitarians, a devout Christian who in time opened his mind and heart to other ethnicities and faiths, a man who was instrumental in creating a world - one of modest size, to be sure - the guiding principles of which were, very simply, decency and civility. In his life he set a standard which has inspired thoughtful, decent Americans ever since.