So AOL’s running the Greatest American contest. Nominations have been ongoing for weeks, and it’s down to the last twenty-five. Click the “read more” link to see who I voted for 🙂
Albert Einstein. Rosa Parks. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I think it’s slightly skewed due to these only being famous great Americans. I chose
- Albert Einstein for his lasting contribution to scientific understanding,
- Rosa Parks for standing up for herself by refusing to give up her seat, and lighting the flame that swept the nation to rid us of a great injustice,
- And Martin Luther King, Jr. for showing us how we can bring about massive, relatively peaceful changes. Without revolution. Without violence. And today, we are a nation without institutionalized racism.
On the other hand, I was appalled to see Oprah Winfrey, Billy Graham, and Bill Gates on there as possible nominees. Television talk show host, populist charlatan televangelist, and billionaire who’s fortune was founded by theft of the CP/M code? No thanks.
Strange list
That’s a strange list of “great” Americans. Many of whom are entertainers who haven’t even done that much to change the face of entertainment, let alone shape America. Oh well. I know Joseph Smith was on this list at one point (Top 100, I think) which I thought was odd from an American History perspective. I would have thought to pick Brigham Young over Smith because of his vast influence in the settling and building of the entire American West.
It just goes to show that I am clearly not in touch with popular America.
——– Visit my blog, eh! The Murphy Maphia
Popularity Contest
I must admit that I’m disappointed not only by the remaining 25 but by the original nominees. Granted, there are many on the list who are deserving, but many more who clearly got put there based upon their present-day popularity and not due to having done anything important or lasting.
So, you have someone who is a legitimate candidate for Greatest American, like Thomas Jefferson (who gets my vote!), right next to a forgettable and none-too-bright actor like Tom Cruise.
I also found it interesting that Joseph Smith, Jr. was nominated for founding Mormonism, but other founders of similarly influential religious movements in America excluded (such as William Miller of the Seventh Day Adventists, Mary Baker Eddy of the Christian Scientists, or Charles Taze Russel of the Jehovah’s Witnesses).
Interesting choices…
You know, I thought about this a lot, and realized something.
Oprah Winfrey has more of a direct impact on your average American than the writings of Thomas Jefferson.
No, seriously! Jefferson was one of the Framers of the Constitution, but when was the last time you read something by him? Really? That long ago?
Oprah’s on every, single day. And if she’s not on right now, maybe you have a Tivo to watch her. Or you can catch the rerun later.
I can’t help but wonder if, in the eyes of most Americans, Winfrey is more influential than Jefferson ever was.
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Jefferson vs Winfrey
Anyone who seriously thinks Winfrey has done more for them as an American than did Jefferson should probably be deported for being too ignorant to be a citizen.
Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, was a primary force behind the Constitution, set precedence in the separation of Church and State, founded the Library of Congress, and so on and so on.
Winfrey has done what? Got rich by building a Talk Show empire aimed at catering to the lowest common public denominator? Then, for an encore, she wisely used some of that money to purchase automobiles for her adoring studio audience?
*sigh* But, you’re probably right Matt. Many Americans would more readily identify with Oprah than with Jefferson. Even if every last nickel she owns has Jefferson’s picture on it.
(Also, I know I’m not the norm, but I’m certain that I run across Jefferson far more often in my day to day experience than I do Winfrey).
Another interesting through
Given what we now know about Jefferson’s propensity for the dark ladies, you think he would hook up with Oprah?
greatest american
I agree with you 100%. TV show hosts? Whats that about.Lets think reality here, George Washington. Yes. Thomas Jefferson yes. Tv persons> NOT. Lets think about the reality here. Greatest americans would have been someone who made a significant difference in America not TV. Lisa
Dianetical
How about L. Ron Hubbard?
——– Visit my blog, eh! The Murphy Maphia
All three votes for Abe Linco
All three votes for Abe Lincoln.
Strong leader, pheonmenal writer and orator, and most importantly one of the few people who understood that kindness and love would heal the Union better during the years following the Civil War than bitterness and anger (“With malice toward none, and charity to all…”) My family has a history of admiring Lincoln, so…
John Wilkes Booth did a lot to screw Virginia over when he assasinated him.
And I also feel compelled to add that while I disagree with a LOT of what Billy Graham has to say, I don’t count him among the ranks of televangelist “charlatans.” I’ll save that for people like Falwell and Baker. At least Graham, to the best of my knowledge, actually walks his talk. Certainly of all the televangelists in America, he’s the one that worries me the least.
Arthur Rowan
Brother Katana of Reasoned Discussion Rebel Leader and Hanging Chad Remover for the Unitarian Jihad
Hmmm
I’d go with Abe Lincoln, Henry Ford, and Hugh Heffner.
My $.02 Weed
See, now…
See, now if we could select our own candidates rather than picking from the twenty-five, I’d pick Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, and probably Einstein again.
Interesting that what they all have in common is that they are all immigrants, or the children of immigrants…
—
Matthew P. Barnson
The Wright Brothers
Because manned flight is the greatest achievement in the history of mankind.
Einstein
Does Einstein really count as an American?
— Ben
Naturalized
He was a naturalized US citizen. He wouldn’t be allowed to be the President, but I believe virtually every other post would have been available to him.
He may not be one of the greatest “home-grown” Americans, but I’ll take brilliant expatriate citizens any day!
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Of course…
Certainly as much as George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, neither of whom were born in The United States of America.
——– Visit my blog, eh! The Murphy Maphia
my picks
Oh, uh, I’d pick Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and… uh….
George Gershwin, just to be different.
— Ben
No musical Nominees?
Ok, yeah Elvis is listed. But I think the last time I listened to Elvis was back when we had to dance to him in Show Choir. I think there have been other American musicians that have had more of an impact on society and were more positive role models. But I guess if moral values were included then Bill Clinton may not have made the list either. But… if ya want musical and Clinton and moral values don’t count… My vote is for George Clinton… Nothin but da funk!
— The One-and-Only Bryan Gregg
Ben..
Ben Franklin Ben Folds Ben Schuman Ben Theredonethat
Bens of the world unite
It’s a good name to have, fer sure.
— Ben
Einstein came late to America
Einstein came late to America, after making all his great contributions.
How about Alan Lomax?- this guy was a pioneer in the field of ethnomusicology- he respected the people he dealt with, and saw the value of recording the sounds of the black culture in the 20’s and thirties, which in effect laid the basis for all rock and roll, and contemporary music in gereal by introducing and preserving thruly great american performers, including leadbelly, Blind willie, and countless others.
On the other hand, why not than Louis the 14th? he bankrupted France supporting the rebellious colonies, as part of a world-wide war with Britian (Which ,regardless of losing most north american colonies, enjoyed spectacular success)Had it not been for some crucial action by the French, the “revolution” would have sputtered out, there would have been no civil war between the breakaway and loyalist colonies, and the USofA would be stilllborn (to the erstwhile joy of the indigenous populations, not to mention the slaves.
Some on the list could also be excluded for being total a-holes (edison)
EDIT by matthew: Line breaks added for readability.
Famous Americans
I would pick Thomas Edison for his contributions in the scientific community. The telegraph, electricity, motion pictures, film projector and phonographs all have had big impacts in the country. Ben Franklin’s diplomatic contributions and inventions such as bifocals, urinary catheters, odometer, lightning rod, swim fins and contributions to creating newspapers and libraries. I am not sure who my third pick would be yet.
Clinton really didn’t do anything except increase McDonald’s sales and probably cigar sales. Oprah will probably win votes, but any popular entertainers now seem to hold more interest for most people. If someone like Will Smith or Oprah ran for election, they would probably win. I have read that if Abe Lincoln were alive today, we would not win because of the polished image and scrutiny today’s candidates are held to. The was tall, lanky, scruffy and a funny voice. He wouldn’t make it in the media world of today. The Wright Brothers I would not vote for now that there are questions surrounding if they were actually the first in flight and not the guy from New Zealand.