So Matt Lauer's new pet project "Greatest American" just ended, anyone
else see it? If not it's apparently airing again... right now! It's 3
hours long, just to warn anyone interested!
I found it very interesting, although some of the choices, especially some of the 26-100s were like
Case in point: Jacko, I mean court issues aside, he is a great
Entertainer, but Greatest American, really?! Also, Matt mentioned 7 of
the 100 weren't born in America... my feelings were a little torn
there, whether they should really be eligible. I mean some might have
moved here young and really embraced America as their home, not their
fault where they were born.. I dunno.
So, any thoughts guys?
I think it's an intriguing question, I'm tempted to go with Ben
Franklin, he kind of pops into my mind spontaneously when I hear
"greatest American" but there are really a lot of good candidates! You
can vote 9 times in the next week- 3 each by phone, text message and
internet.
I think this would have to be categorized to be fair.
I like President Carter, unfourtunatley he sucked as President, only due to his poor choices for his cabinet. His exempliary and unselfish acts as an ex President will be hard to follow! The term exempliary(sp?) is something this country is lacking and nothing to set any standards today for our young people.
I don't know who the choices were, but I like Ben Franklin. Martin Luther King Jr. is also at the top of my list. I don't have many, if any heros.
There's lots of possibilities in this catagory, though: John Adams, Jefferson, Washington, MLK Jr., FDR . Best American can also be interpreted in many ways. For example: most influential of all time, most moral, made the most social changes, most politically powerful.
It just depends on what "Greatest" means to you. Maybe it's some person who gave her/his life while saving 5 people from a burning building; or somebody who drops a dime a on a serial rapist/killer, then refuses the reward money.
It might even be somebody that could make the DPFE on a Focus last for 5+ years.
Last edited on Tue Jun 7th, 2005 02:01 am by Mr. Versatile
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
I heard a discussion on the radio this morning,and the person said that
any soldier serving our country right now is the greatest american
hands down.
____________________ "Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either, just fuck off and leave me alone. "
03 white zx3 wrote: I heard a discussion on the radio this morning,and the person said that
any soldier serving our country right now is the greatest american
hands down.
I can't quite agree with this. It's a nice sentiment, and our armed forces certainly need and deserve support, but following your reasoning, that would make probably 60-75% of all American men in history the greatest American. I think it needs to be a bit limited more than that.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Unless Thomas Paine is number one, the list is bogus. Common sense was the catalyst to start the revolution. It was the highest selling book at its time, it sold 100,000 copies (in colonial america!) and turned plowshares to swords. Another piece he wrote later was read to the soldiers at Valley Forge by george Washington to motivate them. GW went on to order then entire continental Army to read or listen to this writing. There is probablly no person more directly reponsible for the independance of America than Thomas Paine.
Mr. Versatile wrote: 03 white zx3 wrote: I heard a discussion on the radio this morning,and the person said that
any soldier serving our country right now is the greatest american
hands down.
I can't quite agree with this. It's a nice sentiment, and our armed forces certainly need and deserve support, but following your reasoning, that would make probably 60-75% of all American men in history the greatest American. I think it needs to be a bit limited more than that.
I didn't say I agreed with it simply stating what I heard. I personaly don't have an opinion on this because I couldn't make an informed opinion on it
____________________ "Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either, just fuck off and leave me alone. "
