For the past month in Canada, we've been following "The Greatest Canadian," a TV special inspired by a BBC project. Because the "winner" is determined by votes from the public, each episode features a different advocate who argues the case for each of the top 10 nominees in the contest. Depending on how persuasive and passionate the presenter's argument is, it could be enough to decide the vote in his or her candidate's favor. Aside from being fun to watch, this kind of national project gives citizens the opportunity to learn about those who have shaped the country in which they live, in one way or another.
Right now, I'm heavily inclined to vote for Terry Fox, who in 1980 ran his cross-country Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research. Fox had been diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma in his right leg, a cancerous tumor that makes the bone go soft. To stop the spread of cancer, his leg was amputated 6 inches above the knee. So it was with an artificial leg (and primitive by today's standards) that Fox launched his run. Despite initial apathy (drivers were ignoring him and speeding past, and some were forcing him off the road because they didn't know what he was doing) and sometimes brutal summer heat, Fox kept up a staggering pace of 26 miles per day--a marathon every day--for nearly 6 months straight. In total, Fox ran a mind-boggling 3,339 miles before he was forced to stop. The cancer had invaded his lungs, and it would claim his life before he could complete his run across the country. By February 1981, he had raised $24.17 million, equalling Canada's population at the time. His lasting legacy: Terry Fox Runs are held yearly in 60 countries now and over $360 million have been raised for cancer research.
But enough about Canadians. In the spirit of learning, I want to ask all of you here at the Watch: who would you say is the greatest citizen of your own country? Who is the greatest American? The greatest Swede? The greatest Australian? And so on and so forth. Maybe the UK gets a little complicated; is it better to break it down into greatest English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish? Forgive me if I've got those distinctions wrong.
Please speak up and add your voice. I want to know about your country's icons. They could be living or dead. They can be anyone, as long as they are citizens of your country.
The Artist Formerly Known as Dr Evil. 
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