Greatest American
The Discovery Channel is doing a series on “The Greatest American.” They’ve left the top 5 open for voting.
Here they are, ranked in the order I think they should be.
- Benjamin Franklin
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Ronald Reagan
- George Washington
- Abraham Lincoln
Benjamin Franklin is #1, because he was so incredibly versatile. He affected the realms of politics, science, technology, invention, the press, and philosophy. You go, Ben. Martin Luther King Jr. is #2 because of his noble dream. We may not be there yet, but we’ve come a long way, baby. Reagan shows up as #3 because he teamed up with the Pope to bring down communism. America + Jesus Super Rainbow Powers Unite! George Washington I don’t really have any strong feelings about at #4. Abraham Lincoln is last because he created two huge government evils: the draft, and the Federal income tax. Boo.
And here is the order that I am guessing the result will be.
- Abraham Lincoln
- George Washington
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Ronald Reagan
- Benjamin Franklin
Yeah… I’m a cynic, and I think that my first choice will come in last, and my last choice will come in first.
What’s your ranking, and why? Please share.
I completely agree, save I would definitely put Lincoln and Washington before King, making him #4, just because King wouldn’t have even come close to happening if not for their prior works.
But I really agree with your statement about Franklin. He was extremely versatile and oddly different from the rest of our forefathers, and we still use countless numbers of his inventions on a daily basis. And while he was like anyone else and had his more corrupt sides to his personal life, he also did a lot of good things. I recall watching a documentary on him where they told of just some of the many things he was offered huge amounts of money for that he basically gave to the public, because, from his perspective, he had enough anyway. That to me speaks volumes about a person. You don’t see businesses or businessmen do that nowadays, that’s for sure! Ever read the historical account about him, The First American? Very interesting book, I’ve heard (haven’t gotten a chance to read it myself yet).
As for Reagan, I think, though he was obviously conservative, he was a prime example of how a good personality can still bring a lot of people together. I’ll never forget his funeral last year, the recordings of the thousands of people pulling off on the side of the road to salute as his procession went by; we need more men with charismatic, real personalities like that. It’d help our country today.
It makes my blood boil to see Reagan on this list.
Reagan ran up a massive deficit, staunchly supported South African apartheid, gave money and weapons to Hussein and bin Laden, tried to get the Khmer Rouge recognized by the UN, sold arms to terrorist nations, traded arms for hostages, retreated from terrorists in Beirut, lied to Congress, financed an illegal war in Nicaragua, helped trigger the savings and loans debacle, put astrologers on the White House payroll, and laid flowers on the grave of SS officers at Bitburg.
Ronald Reagan used the full power of the federal government to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
He removed facts and compassion from our national debate, and replaced them with ideology and nepotism.
When Communism collaped under its own weight Reagan was there to take all the credit (as if the people of Europe and Asia were mere bystanders in their own revolution).
The only list Reagan deserves to be on is “Presidents Currently Drowning in the Lakes of Fire.”
My ranking and reasons are as follows:
1. Benjamin Franklin (reason: pretty much what you had to say- complete versatility)
2. Abraham Lincoln (reason: sure, income taxes do suck, but I think we need a national draft if it becomes necessary. It happened during WWII to some positive effects, and may be necessary in the current war in Iraq. I say that the draft is a good thing because it actually offers the most balanced debate on the necessity of war. But Lincoln is #2 on my list because the Emancipation Proclamation was a great asset to the Union Army, in which so many African-Americans were able to join . Lincoln said this turned the tide of the war)
3. Martin Luther King Jr. (reason: I agree that some before paved the way for King, but he was able to make the issue more recognizable and was able to affect major change. And the fact that he was able to do it with non-violence is beyond admirable)
4. George Washington (reason: not so much for his presidency but for his brilliant military leadership during the Revolutionary War)
5. Ronald Reagan (reason: I would not put Reagan in the top 5, nor the top 10 for that matter. I’m not as vehement about it as the last comment, but I think Jefferson and Edison would have been much better picks for the top 5. But since he’s there, I will say that, despite my disgreement with his politics, he was a great communicator and truly did bring people together. He would make my top 100. I’m just grateful that our current president did not make the top 5. If he makes the top 50 I’ll cry)
I couldn’t agree more. I’d gladly swap Jefferson and Edison for any of Reagan, Washington or King.