Greatest American? (All Over on Page Eight)

[wingsandsword]

I went with Jefferson myself.

George Washington was the creator of the US from a military perspective, securing soveriegnty. Thomas Jefferson was the creator of the US from a civil perspective, ensuring a Republic and laying the foundation for American culture and civilization. Washington won the War, Jefferson won the Peace.

Archaeologist, architect, diplomat, scholar, theologian, vintner, farmer, philosopher, statesman. Author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia, a founder of the Abolitionist movement in the United States, he was truly a man without equal.

 

[MonsterMash]

Well I did vote even if maybe I shouldn't as a foriegner - got to admit some of those choices surprised me.

Went for Thomas Jefferson, even though he was one of the ones linked to the War of Independence

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Rosa Parks paved the way for African-American equal rights.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Well, we will see how long this thread makes it...

 

[Dagger75]

Voted for Thomas Jefferson myself. George Washington was a very close second.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Thomas Jefferson. Without him, I wouldn't have my job.

Archaeologist, architect, diplomat, scholar, theologian, vintner, farmer, philosopher, statesman. Author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia, a founder of the Abolitionist movement in the United States, he was truly a man without equal.

That's just a little of what he did. Seriously, the man was amazing. His gravestone, which he designed to highlight the 3 things he felt were his most important acomplishments, says simply:
HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON
AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Doesn't say anything about being governor of Virginia, secretary of state, vice president, or president. Those wern't the things he was proudest of.

 

[Digital M@]

I was going to vote for Lance Armstrong, I mean riding a bike is almost as important and impacting as fighting and creating modern day democracy, being an influential scientist or sacraficing everything for civil rights. For a sports icon, wouldn't Michael jordan have been a much stronger choice?

Oprah was another close vote for me, but she loves herself so much already

 

[Aust Diamondew]

hmm...I don't see alot of my favorite americans on here such as Sitting Bull or Robert E. Lee.
I guess the loosers (even ones who fought completely and undeniably in the defense of their people such as many great native americans, Lee is obviously questionable) don't get recognized for sh*t.
I'll have to look over the list more closely later and consider who they'll let me vote for.

 

[David Howery]

I went with Washington, as he did three important things: won the war, refused to be king afterwards, and set the precedent for the two-term limit....

 

[Digital M@]

Lee is an interesting choice. On one hand he fought on the side of the Confederacy, which some would consider a very negative trait, yet if not for his strong sense of honor and belief in the reuniting of the country at the end of the war, the US Civil War would have ended very differently. If Lee had taken to fighting a guerilla warfare/terror campaign the war may have ended with the South victorious in their independance. Lee had many good qualities and his impact in Maerican history is significant.

In the end lists like these are pointless. You can look at any one of these people and see good and bad. JFK, morally was a disgrace to the office, yet his natural charisma and refusal to take the hardline against Russia and his consideration for Russia's pride led to a successful conclusion to the Cuban Missile Crisis. If a hardliner were in office making threats to the Russians, there could have been a nuclear war.

Elvis Presley lauched a new style music, was taken advantage by those around him and everntually ended his life by trying to hide what he had become

T. Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence, was a slave owner even though he knew it to be wrong. As a politician, he fought for slavery because it was importatn to the economy of his state and himself. He also made a few stands against slavery, he wanted in particular to stop the importing of new slaves to the States, hoping that in the long run that would lead to the end of slavery.


Rosa Parks, sacraficing her personal well being and comfort to fight for an equal place on the bus. It seems small but is a steping stone to a massive change in American society.


There are hundreds of thousands of people who could be on this list and each one as important as the last. Well except for Lance Armstrong and Oprah.