There is a biography titled, "Washington: The Indispensible Man." While I think it might be going a bit far to call him indispensible, I think he's the ONLY person you could even make an argument for along those lines. I was always told, "oh, he was just the first president...that doesn't make him the greatest." But the more I read of him...of his leadership...of his character...the more I've come to agree with the notion that he is the most important person in American history. He shaped so much of what we view of the role of the executive. He defined leadership to his generation. He wasn't the very smartest...but he was often the very wisest. He had a great sense for people...and some very strong republican ideas (little "r" republican -- not in the sense of the political party).
I could be wrong, but I think SpaceGhost is saying that Lincoln's persistence in the face of many early failures makes him more heroic.
for the same reason i would have a hard time voting for pro athletes, i would have a hard time voting for writers and/or artists. having said that, i could certainly see how someone would say Jackie Robinson...less about him being an athlete and more about him breaking barriers.
I agree with on Washington for SM's reasons and a couple others, which mainly includes the Washington Doctrine. Washington warned us to stay out of foreign affairs while we were still weak, and, for the most part, many of the following presidents listened. Also, how many other leaders of the time do you think could have commanded such a rag tag army and win against the British power house? If the question would have been "your favorite" instead of "The Greatest" American Hero, my vote would have gone to Davy Crockett. For a country boy from the backwoods of Tennessee, he accomplished a lot. He was a general under Jackson in the Indian Wars, was elected both to the Tennessee Legislature and the US House of Reps. He died in the Alamo, and was quite possibly the most famous American marksman of all time. One of his many famous quotes is "Be sure you're right, then go ahead."
I'd be willing to give Washington the trophy. However, the real hero has been the constitution. It has enabled us to become who we are. It's a living document that actually fits the people who it was written for. Maybe even all of mankind. Although that has yet to be determined.
MM...Thoreau kind of walked the line between philosopher and writer...would you include philosophers in your disqualification? Not a challenge, a question. And Twain had a huge impact on America beyond just being a writer. Among the things he is credited with doing are: Was probably the foremost originator and proponant of the 'American' language, as distinct from merely a poorer version of England's tongue, and both at home and abroad is also creidted with being America's first popular culture ambassador...He spread the idea that being an American was not something to apologize for, culturally, at a time when the world and Americans themselves considered the US to be little more than a backwater ex-colony. He was among the 1st to really actively promote the idea that America had it's own culture, history, and language to be proud of, rather than seek to fall into line with European 'superiors' as was the common custom of the time.
I agree with you about the constitution, but I feel one of the primary genius' behind the constitution was Ben Franklin. I think that every accomplishment from Abe to FDR to Jackie Robinson to the US Veteran is because a system of liberty and government is in place to facilitate the freedom of ideas. Those were the goals of Ben Franklin, who believed in blind and true justice and was the greatest hero of this nation.
