Reverie

Greatest American

homonger

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Oct 27, 2001
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I know most of you are Canadians, but I figure between all of you there has to be some knowledge of American history... probably a lot more than Americans know about Canada... Anyway, on the Discovery Channel they are doing a show about who the American public thinks is the greatest American of all time. There has already been some preliminary voting and the top 25 Americans, according to the American public, are (in alphabetical order):

Muhammad Ali
Lance Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Walt Disney
Thomas Edison
Albert Einstein
Henry Ford
Ben Franklin
Bill Gates
Billy Graham
Bob Hope
Thomas Jefferson
John F. Kennedy
Martin Luther King Jr.
Abraham Lincoln
Rosa Parks
Elvis Presley
Ronald Reagan
Eleanor Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
George Washington
Oprah Winfrey
The Wright Brothers (who count as one)

In the upcoming weeks, the public is being invited to vote, with the results to be revealed at a later date. Since everyone is allowed three votes, I voted for Edison, Lincoln, and Washington. I know, very safe.

Discuss.
 

Peter Griffin

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Apr 24, 2005
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I voted for Washington, Lincoln, JFK and Martin Luther King.

I'm surprised that Scott Francis key and Andrew Jackson aren't nominated. Jackson and his troops further established America as a truely independent union by defeating the British army.

Scott francis Key penned an inspiring poem during the battle of Fort McHenry. The poem later on became Star Spangled Banner. I thought both Key and Jackson had incredibly significant roles in the founding of this great nation. It bothers me that they're not nominated but Michael Jackson and Oprah are.
 
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Truncador

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Mar 21, 2005
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Politics: Thomas Jefferson, Reagan, Bush Jr.

Entertainment: Elvis

Industry/Tech: Edison, Ford, Bill Gates

Religion: MLK, Billy Graham
 

train

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Jul 29, 2002
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Walt Disney ?
Bob Hope ?
Bill Clinton ?

C'mon :D . This is just as stupid as the Canadian one that had Don Cherry in it and was won by Tommy Douglas.
 

holden

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Aug 7, 2003
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I don't really know
homonger said:
Muhammad Ali
Lance Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Walt Disney
Thomas Edison
Albert Einstein
Henry Ford
Ben Franklin
Bill Gates
Billy Graham
Bob Hope
Thomas Jefferson
John F. Kennedy
Martin Luther King Jr.
Abraham Lincoln
Rosa Parks
Elvis Presley
Ronald Reagan
Eleanor Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
George Washington
Oprah Winfrey
The Wright Brothers (who count as one)
How does Oprah Winfrey get on this list, she does a frivilous day time talk show. Sure she is the first female black billionaire, but it's not like she's friggin mother theresa playing handball with the lepers
 

homonger

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Oct 27, 2001
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Peter Griffin said:
I'm surprised that Scott Francis key and Andrew Jackson aren't nominated. Jackson and his troops further established America as an truely independent union by defeating the British army.

Scott francis Key penned an inspiring poem during the battle in Fort McHenry. The poem later on became Star Spangled Banner. I thought both Key and Jackson had incredibly significant roles in the founding of this great nation. It bothers me that they're not nominated but Michael Jackson and Oprah are.
Hey, I'm just the messenger. Yes, there were many startling, and frankly, disappointing people on this list, as well as some head-scratching omissions. In terms of presidents, it seems people are biased toward the presidents of their lifetimes, as every U.S. president since FDR made the list, except Gerald Ford. Yes, LBJ, Eisenhower, Carter, George H. Bush, Nixon, all made the list. I would argue that Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, James Madison, hell, even James K. Polk, warrant being on this list ahead of some of these guys.

I also think most Americans simply are a little ignorant when it comes to history, and that's why they chose to vote for modern day celebrities like Jacko and Oprah. In terms of musicians/artists, Jacko, Elvis (who deserves to be on this list), Ray Charles (ditto), Madonna (?!), and Frank Sinatra (arguable but okay) all made the list. But there was no George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Stephen Foster, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and certainly no Francis Scott Key.

Waddaya expect when you let the average person vote?
 
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3Tees

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Aug 28, 2002
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I'm surprised at Albert Einstein - only because he did not move to America until he was 54 years old! His Relativity discoveries and much of his work was done in Germany. I know that he was instrumental in designing the nuclear bomb used in WWII while he was in America, but I am curious about why they would include him on the list. I guess they thought his contribution to be so great that he should be included.
 

Berlin

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Hugh Hefner
Larry Flynt

and

Bob Guccione, born in Brooklyn ,and re-relocated from London to USA in the 70's.




Shallow Throat said:
Ron Jeremy
Sure , and I must add John Holmes , Ginger Lynn, Danni Ash, Jenna J and all the Honchos at Vivid as well.
 
& some literary and philosophy types tooooo

Hunter S. Thompson
William S. Burroughs
George Carlin

:)
 
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