Kevin's Watch

Darth Revan wrote:

dANdeLION wrote:C. S. Lewis was from England, too.

Who?

Narnia.

I'm still drawing a blank...

The guy of whom SRD said, "He literally changed my life".

Darth Revan wrote:

dANdeLION wrote:C. S. Lewis was from England, too.

Who?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Lewis

George Washington -- he was America's Berek.

Of more recent Americans, Martin Luther King.

duchess of malfi wrote:George Washington -- he was America's Berek.

Yeah, but instead of missing half a hand he was missing his teeth! Oh, I kill myself!

Greatest American? I'd have to say Benjamin Franklin. Electricity, stoves, bifocal lenses, Poor Richard's Almanac, the American Revolution, Ambassador to France, founded the nation's first public library, wrote a book called "Fart Proudly"--what's not to like? A great statesman, with real American ingenuity. You want the guy who defined "American"--both semantically and by example--you have to go with Ben Franklin. Even if he was technically born British. Though originally belonging to a different nationality and becoming an American citizen is just as "American" as anything else.

Right on, Myste!

I strongly recommend Walter Isaacson's excellent book on Franklin.

Bah, sure Ben invented electricity, but it was Leo Fender who invented the electric guitar!

dANdeLION wrote:Bah, sure Ben invented electricity, but it was Leo Fender who invented the electric guitar!

And it was Muddy Waters who taught it how to cry.....

Darth Revan wrote:

dANdeLION wrote:C. S. Lewis was from England, too.

Who?

Excuse me while I go kill myself. I'm an American and I know a good deal about Lewis. One of the finest writers and thinkers of the century, I feel.

I'm curious: to the member, who's name I can't remember, who nominated John Brown...why would you choose him? He was, IMO, something of a madman, with a crazed idea to destroy slavery by force. Which, in fairness, is actually the way it turned out: but still, he was trying to do it with a small band of men who intended on escaping to the Appalachians I believe. Anyway, what makes him hte greatest American?

I'll have to hunt up the Isaacson, thanks for the recommendation! As for Messrs. Fender and Waters, what can I say? Different eras require different heroes. I just happen to prefer mine in knee-breeches, silk stockings, and pointy-toed shoes with great big buckles on 'em.

Curt Schilling!

Brinn wrote:Curt Schilling!

LOL! Indeed. Tho his stockings are not, I think, silk.

Britain have too many great people to name. Look up '100 Greatest Britains'. Bush is a fool and an idiot.

Please refrain from those kinds of insults here, Queeaqueg. I would like this thread to be a place to celebrate people, not bash them. I have no doubt that there are many great Britons to choose from. That is why I want to hear about them. Who is your favorite and why? I want to learn about those who inspire you.

I am my favorite American. I am a brilliant nuclear physicist, and I am the strongest one there is. Queeaqueg, you really need to get over your spelling-bee loss to Dan Quail back in '87; it' has made you far too B-I-T-T-E-R, bitter.

Darth Revan wrote:No-one, everyone from England sucks... maybe tolkien... but that's it.

Ahh, SA's greatest export, our people!

Yep, we sure are everywhere.

--A

I never saw the results of that Canadian Poll (dang), but my top two would be:
Pierre Trudeau
David Suzuki