The Discovery Channel has a program on this month to get people to vote for the Greatest American. Here is the web site that gives their list.

http://tv.channel.aol.com/greatestamerican

Their list is interesting, and a little scary. I am trying to figure out what basis they had for picking some of their original 100 nominees. Apparently they went for fame as the prime test. Also most of the nominees are from the 1950's and later. Anyway, I wonder who the All Forums crowd thinks is the greatest American, either from their list or otherwise. Also it would be interesting to hear why you think your pick is the greatest.

My choice is Benjamin Franklin, because of his contributions in so many fields. He was a noted scientist, diplomat, writer, inventor, and the architect of the postal system, among other things. He was among the founding fathers of our country, although he was considerably older than most of the others. I think that although he wasn't perfect, especially on the issue of slavery, he was the greatest of the founding fathers, and a good candidate for the greatest American.

Eleanor Roosevelt? Mohammad Ali? Bill Gates? Sure, they were all incredibly influential, but greatest?

I'd probably lean towards one of the founding fathers.

Pretty short list (many missing) but here goes ...

My choice would be Bob Hope -- there are few people in the world that donated as much time, energy and concern to others as he did -- particularily for the troops.

Runners up would be MLK and JFK for obvious reasons.

I agree with Lionel -- how the hell did some of these people get on the list ... WTF? where's Alfred E. Newman, the 3 stooges and the Bowrey boys?

Thomas Jefferson

I'm probably way out in left field on this, but it's worth noting Jon Stewart is an amazing present day American. He's far from a great inventor or president or something of that notable variety. But he is the leader of truth in a media filled with lies and deceit. And since out entire country is living on media fumes, its nice to fuel up on something truthful.

And damn funny.



"It seemed like to me they based some of their decisions on the word of—and the allegations—by people who were held in detention, people who hate America, people that had been trained in some instances to disassemble—that means not tell the truth."

I voted for MLK

Originally posted by Imagineer
The Discovery Channel has a program on this month to get people to vote for the Greatest American.

is this a vote for famous American or great American?

Their list is interesting, and a little scary.

I do agree with this


I don't think I would vote for anyone on that list. Some of those people did do some great stuff and may have been good people. I think the true great people are those unseen by fame and fortune. Lets start with caring parents, a teacher that is willing to go the extra mile, a doctor that cares about his/her patients{more then money}. The fireman, police, soldier or other people that take the job to help not just for the paycheck. How about a person that gives up a kidney to help another live. Another great American would be the person that rushes into a burning building etc.. to save a life without worrying about their own safety. There a hundreds of great Americans but I think we should look in our backyards before we look to the famous.

No one on the Discovery Channels list gets my vote.

JFK saved us from nuclear war.
Benjamin Franklin was a patriot, inventer and founding father.
Bob Hope was an intertainer, patriot, and all around great man who spent his life trying to make people laugh and entertaining our troops.

It's a thard call without defining criteria.

I vote for the printing press as being the most significant invention befor the 20th century. (We didn't invent fire, we harnessed it).

Actually Echo,

It was the CHINESE that invented the printing press, several centuries ago.


Also, I'd vote for Washington and Lincoln as two of the greatest Americans. One walked away from being the first king of America, the other waded through an ocean of blood to give the U.S. a new birth of freedom.

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Jefferson instilled countless ideals in the United States that hopefully will never die, and if it wasn't for James Madison and the Bill of Rights. I doubt this country could be as free as it is.

I saw the guy hosting that program being interviewed on The Daily Show, and I believe that the Discovery Channel itself did not compile the list, but the American People voted on it. And we all know what they're like. ; )

Lincoln.

On the radio commercial for this show, they only mention George Washington, Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali and Oprah Winfrey.

All you people who said Benjamin Franklin forgot about Oprah, didn't you?

Originally posted by sputnik
I believe that the Discovery Channel itself did not compile the list, but the American People voted on it.

That explains a lot. Is Dale Earnhardt on the list then?

Originally posted by Brooks
All you people who said Benjamin Franklin forgot about Oprah, didn't you?

Well, she's more powerful than Ben ever was.

Originally posted by Echo2
JFK saved us from nuclear war.
Benjamin Franklin was a patriot, inventer and founding father.
Bob Hope was an intertainer, patriot, and all around great man who spent his life trying to make people laugh and entertaining our troops.

It's a thard call without defining criteria.

I vote for the printing press as being the most significant invention befor the 20th century. (We didn't invent fire, we harnessed it).

I'm gonna nit-pick a bit on this one Echo ... actually Gorby was the one that had the common sense to back down from the nuclear confrontation ... albeit JFK played a significant role. :)

Oprah as a great American Baaahaahahaahahaahahaahaha :D

I quess we should put MJ up there as a great baby sitter :D

I'm gonna nit-pick a bit on this one Echo ... actually Gorby was the one that had the common sense to back down from the nuclear confrontation ... albeit JFK played a significant role.
Confrontation that was suggested by JFK's brother.

Sounds right to me blib