Greatest American

[Psalms34]

It's on Discovery channel this and next Sunday, who did you vote for? You can vote 3 times. My votes were for:
1. Ronald Reagan
2. Billy Graham
3. Benjamin Franklin
http://tv.channel.aol.com/greatestamerican

 

[Islander]

It took me a while to realize I could only vote on the top 25 which is a shame because Audie Murphy and Teddy Roosevelt were greater heros than half of those who made it to the top 25. I voted for Martin Luther King jr., Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln. I had a hard time choosing particularly since I was thinking of voting for Billy Graham.

 

[Quijote]

Oprha whitney?
Eleanor Roosvelt?

 

[Daisysqueaks]

I voted for Martin Luther King Jr, Billy Graham, and George Washington. But it was really hard to pick, but atleast they let you vote 3 times...

 

[Ikantdance05]

I didn't vote yet but i'm going to vote for
Billy Graham
Martin Luther king jr.
and Bill Gates.

 

[symphonyb]

MLK & Ronald Reagan

 

[Islander]

Oprha whitney?
Eleanor Roosvelt?

Those two I can at least see. Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire and has been so incredibly popular for so long she makes some sense but not really. Eleanor Roosevelt was a very important historical figure so I definately think she deserves to be on the list. But Tom Cruise, Ellen Degeneres, Tom Hanks, Michael Moore, senator Obama, Hugh Hefner, Lucille Ball, etc. were in the top 100 while James Madison, Douglass McArthur, Daniel Boone, Stephen Decatur, Daniel Webster and many other great heros aren't listed. The first three I listed (Cruise, Degeneres and Hanks) in particular bothered me and although I like Ellen Degeneres that one was the most absurd to me because she has never been as big of a star as the other two.

Lance Armstrong (who shouldn't be on the list even now), Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are on the list purely because they are contemporaries but if this was done 35 years in the future I doubt if any of these people would make on the list and I'm sure none of those three would make it on the list if two generations had passed since them.

 

[Quijote]

Those two I can at least see. Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire and has been so incredibly popular for so long she makes some sense but not really. Eleanor Roosevelt was a very important historical figure so I definately think she deserves to be on the list. But Tom Cruise, Ellen Degeneres, Tom Hanks, Michael Moore, senator Obama, Hugh Hefner, Lucille Ball, etc. were in the top 100 while James Madison, Douglass McArthur, Daniel Boone, Stephen Decatur, Daniel Webster and many other great heros aren't listed. The first three I listed (Cruise, Degeneres and Hanks) in particular bothered me and although I like Ellen Degeneres that one was the most absurd to me because she has never been as big of a star as the other two.

Lance Armstrong (who shouldn't be on the list even now), Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are on the list purely because they are contemporaries but if this was done 35 years in the future I doubt if any of these people would make on the list and I'm sure none of those three would make it on the list if two generations had passed since them.

I agree...this list seems more of a "historical popularity" contests vs. an "importance/relevance to the US" contest.

cheers

 

[Diane_Windsor]

Those two I can at least see. Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire and has been so incredibly popular for so long she makes some sense but not really.

It makes perfect sense. She lives the American dream, and rose from rags. I believe that she is the first black woman to be a billionaire, and easily can be classed with Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Astor, Bill Gates, et. al. Her influence amoung the black female community-at the very least-will have a lasting impact for many years to come. What she has done for women-especially black women-is amazing. And then there is her book club-she's getting Americans to read again.

As for me I voted for Walt Disney , Thomas Alva Edison, and President Reagan (RIP).

diane

 

[Psalms34]

It makes perfect sense. She lives the American dream, and rose from rags. I believe that she is the first black woman to be a billionaire, and easily can be classed with Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Astor, Bill Gates, et. al. Her influence amoung the black female community-at the very least-will have a lasting impact for many years to come. What she has done for women-especially black women-is amazing. And then there is her book club-she's getting Americans to read again.

As for me I voted for Walt Disney , Thomas Alva Edison, and President Reagan (RIP).

diane

Well put, yes that is how they presented her on the show this weekend.

 

[Islander]

I agree...this list seems more of a "historical popularity" contests vs. an "importance/relevance to the US" contest.

cheers

Thank you Quijote, you said in one sentance more than what I said in my entire post. That's a perfect description.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

1. President Reagan
2. President Reagan
3. President Washington

Diane

 

[Psalms34]

Ronald Reagan
​

 

[alabaster jar]

I don't see a talk show host as historically relevant in any sense. . . who doesn't have a talk show these days?

 

[Rockchick4JC]

I was surprised Mr. Reagan won.
I thought for sure Lincoln had the win in a bag.

 

[donniewheeler]

1 Ronald Reagan
2 John Wayne
3 Coach K

 

[Diane_Windsor]

Ronald Reagan

​

SWEET!

 

[Redguard]

I didn't see this show.

Did Reagan really win? Why?

 

[Psalms34]

I didn't see this show.

Did Reagan really win? Why?

Because all the world loves an actor?
"My fellow Americans. I'm pleased to announce that I've signed legislation outlawing the Soviet Union. We begin bombing in five minutes." –Ronald Reagan joking during a mike check before his Saturday radio broadcast