24-10-2004 05:11									#1
	Greatest [insert your nationality] Person Get a bigger avatar today!

In the Netherlands there's now a show on TV where they're trying to elect the greatest Dutch person in history. I know similar shows have been held in other European countries and probably elsewhere in the world, so many of you probably know what I'm talking about. In the Dutch election, they've formed a top 10 of greatest Dutch persons (based on polls and consultation of 'experts') and they're currently voting to determine the order of that top 10.

This got me thinking about who I regard to be the greatest Dutch person in history, as I don't agree with some of the choices made in the TV show. I also got curious about other countries.

So, if there has been a Greatest Person election in your country, who has won it? (Or if it's still ongoing, who are still in the running?) And who do you yourself regard to be the greatest person(s) in your country's history?


This is the top 10 Greatest Dutchmen (yes, they're all men unfortunately) that I came up with myself:

1. Willem van Oranje (1533-1584)
Founding father of the Netherlands, led the revolt against the Spanish oppression.

2. Desiderius Erasmus (1467-1536)
Great philosopher, important religious reformer, one of the founders of humanism, pacifism, feminsim and Dutch morality (of liberalism and tolerance).

3. Johan Thorbecke (1798-1872)
Founding father of the Dutch democracy, wrote the modern Dutch constitution in 1848.

4. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
Inventor of the microscope and founder of microbiology.

5. Hugo de Groot/Hugo Grotius (1583-1645)
Dutch jurist, philosopher, theologian and writer. One of the founding figures of international law and important advocate of free trade.

6. Michiel de Ruyter (1607-1676)
Famous admiral, hero of the Anglo-Dutch wars. Among other things he warded off superior Anglo-French fleets to prevent an invasion of the Netherlands.

7. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
World famous painter and nutjob Quote: "generally considered one of the greatest painters in European art history".

8. Anton Philips (1874-1951)
Co-founder of the company that made the lightbulb big and that (among others) invented the music cassette and the CD.

9. M. C. Escher (1898-1972)
Famous 'mathematical' artist whose work featured many 'impossible' constructions and experimented with infinity, perception, perspective, light and dark, dimensions, etc.

10. Abel Tasman (1603-1659)
Dutch explorer, discovered Tasmania, New Zealand and Tonga and mapped the northern Australian coast.


For the record, the official top ten for the Dutch election is the following (in alphabetical order):

Johan Cruijf (legendary football player)
Willem Drees (post-WWII socialist prime-minister)
Desiderius Erasmus
Pim Fortuyn (populist politician who was assassinated a few years ago)
Anne Frank (Jewish holocaust victim, famous for her diary)
Vincent van Gogh
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
Willem van Oranje
Rembrandt van Rijn (famous painter; most famous work: "The Night Watch")
Michiel de Ruyter


Edit: typo.

Last edited by Locutus on 24-10-2004 at 05:20

	24-10-2004 05:14									#2
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Greatest Americans (no particular order):

Thomas Jefferson
Martin Luther King Jr
Dwight David Eisenhower
Abraham Lincoln
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Edison
Mark Twain
George Washington
Thomas Paine
Franklin D Roosevelt

	24-10-2004 05:15									#3
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William of Orange

	24-10-2004 05:17									#4
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Greatest American:

Ted Striker

	24-10-2004 05:19									#5
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Well, you're a Founding Father, at least

Last edited by Kuciwalker on 24-10-2004 at 06:04

	24-10-2004 05:20									#6
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Greatest Americans: Joseph Smith, Ben Franklin

Greatest Norwegian: my Grandfather

	24-10-2004 05:20									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Jaguar Greatest Americans (no particular order): Thomas Jefferson Martin Luther King Jr Dwight David Eisenhower Abraham Lincoln Benjamin Franklin Thomas Edison Mark Twain George Washington Thomas Paine Franklin D Roosevelt

You forgot the Reagan!

	24-10-2004 05:21									#8
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He just didn't quite make the cut.

	24-10-2004 05:21									#9
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The CBC is doing the same thing right now. Their short list of top ten Canadians:

* Frederick Banting
* Alexander Graham Bell
* Don Cherry
* Tommy Douglas
* Terry Fox
* Wayne Gretzky
* Sir John A. Macdonald
* Lester B. Pearson
* David Suzuki
* Pierre Elliott Trudeau

	24-10-2004 05:22									#10
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Martin Luther King, Jr.

	24-10-2004 05:22									#11
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quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker Well, your a Founding Father, at least

	24-10-2004 05:22									#12
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quote: Originally posted by joncha The CBC is doing the same thing right now. Their short list of top ten Canadians: * Don Cherry

Oh, how I adore that Canadian sense of humor.

	24-10-2004 05:25									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Ted Striker Greatest American: Ted Striker

Greatest Earthling: Ted Striker

quote: Originally posted by Jaguar Greatest Americans (no particular order): Thomas Jefferson Martin Luther King Jr Dwight David Eisenhower Abraham Lincoln Benjamin Franklin Thomas Edison Mark Twain George Washington Thomas Paine Franklin D Roosevelt

Lots of politicians...

Joncha,
Of that list Graham Bell is the only one I actually know (well, Trudeau is the Canadian leader in CtP1, so I sort of know him too)

	24-10-2004 05:27									#14
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They've put up bios on the webpage, and it's much easier to just post a link than to give my own writeups, so here you go:

http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/

	24-10-2004 05:28									#15
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This seems to be all the rage nowadays, a vote is being held for the greatest Finn ever too. I wonder what's spawned the trend.

	24-10-2004 05:29									#16
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Rampant national insecurity.

	24-10-2004 05:33									#17
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quote: Originally posted by Locutus Lots of politicians...

Presidents have more potential to do good or bad things because they have more power.

	24-10-2004 05:34									#18
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Actually there was a similar poll on the television to this in the UK...I think the winner came out as Isambard Kingdom Brunel...I can't remember the others, but needless to say, f**king Princess Di ended up in there somewhere

	24-10-2004 05:36									#19
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quote: Originally posted by joncha The CBC is doing the same thing right now. Their short list of top ten Canadians: * Frederick Banting * Alexander Graham Bell * Don Cherry * Tommy Douglas * Terry Fox * Wayne Gretzky * Sir John A. Macdonald * Lester B. Pearson * David Suzuki * Pierre Elliott Trudeau

@ how pathetic this list is. Funny thing, I know all the Dutch on the list but not all the Canadians.

	24-10-2004 05:41									#20
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quote: Originally posted by Jaguar Presidents have more potential to do good or bad things because they have more power.

Well, that depends on how you look at it. Politics tend to be transitory, while the accomplishments of scientists, philosophers and the artists are often timeless.

(I'm not judging your list BTW, just noticed it)

	24-10-2004 05:44									#21
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I guess I could have added a few more scientists...

I don't think we have that many great artists, especially in proportion to our size. We're certainly not like Spain or Italy or France.

	24-10-2004 05:45									#22
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quote: Originally posted by joncha They've put up bios on the webpage, and it's much easier to just post a link than to give my own writeups, so here you go: http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/

Thanks, interesting read Though I'm almost a complete layman on Canadian history, I must say that a few of those choices seem a bit 'iffy'. Makes me wonder if there simply aren't many better choices of if Canadians simply have very different 'tastes' than me...

	24-10-2004 05:47									#23
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I still can't get over Don Cherry being on Canada's list. That is just... wrong.


America has had some great artists/writers/musicians... Arthur Miller or Jimi Hendrix or Miles Davis come to mind. I just don't know if I'd put them as high as political or social leaders.

	24-10-2004 05:48									#24
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quote: * Frederick Banting * Alexander Graham Bell * Don Cherry * Tommy Douglas * Terry Fox * Wayne Gretzky * Sir John A. Macdonald * Lester B. Pearson * David Suzuki * Pierre Elliott Trudeau

No Diefenbaker?

He's above Suzuki.

	24-10-2004 05:49									#25
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Ahhh, I see. That Canada list was simply the top ten nominees by the unwashed Canuck masses, not actual selections by people who should know better.

I can rest a little bit easier now.

Don Cherry... ay yi yi.

	24-10-2004 05:54									#26
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Jorma Alakyrö (inventor of the idea of the internet that later on became reality with arpanet and all that. Unfortunately he told about hsi ideas drunk at this bar, and then some bastards stole the idea)
Reino Tiistovino (just famous)
Aslakki Repo (the man who invented plastic)
Jaana Kolilampi (this woman invented money. Didn't see that one coming, did you?)
Usko Humula (invented alcohol that makes you drunk)

Ismo Eloton (The first person to play all nintendo 8-bit games through, still the only one to do that)
Kati Kumpulainen (Invented the funniest joke ever known to mankind)
Esko Lopos (Esko was the first to run 100 meter sprint under 9 seconds. Unfortunately the cameras recording this amazing new WR were later stolen by Americans, as they didn't want some Euro white dude having the WR in his name, we are still angry about this crime)
Jukka Vähävirta (Most times drunk in lifetime)
Last but not least SuperCitizen (No explanation needed)

	24-10-2004 05:54									#27
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korea has yi sun-shin and daewang sejong, among others...

	24-10-2004 06:00									#28
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Pekka

	24-10-2004 06:03									#29
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quote: Originally posted by Jaguar He just didn't quite make the cut.

He beats Eisenhower or Twain any day IMO. Frankly, I don't see much point to MLK Jr. either.

	24-10-2004 06:04									#30
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quote: Originally posted by Brent Greatest Americans: Joseph Smith, Ben Franklin

Tass has another friend to play with!