The Greatest American
The Discovery Channel is running a series about deciding who the "Greatest American" is, and we, the people get some voice in deciding.
To me, it's all bogus though, as their list of nominees doesn't even include Norman Borlaug.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in increasing wheat yields, and is widely credited with saving more human lives than anyone else in history. I'm not talking about saving a dozen people, or saving a thousand people, or even saving a hundred thousand people. Norman Borlaug's work has probably saved the lives of more people than live in your entire state. His work is what has kept millions of people from dying of starvation worldwide.
To see that somehow Borlaug isn't even ranked in the top 100 Greatest Americans is extremely depressing. To see Borlaug left off in favor of Tom Cruise, Bret Favre, Mel Gibson, Michael Jackson, and Donald Trump makes me profoundly sad.
We, as a society, value two religious nutjob actors, a football player, a pedophile weirdo, and a slezy real estate developer more than Norman Borlaug? Where's the "culture of life" crowd now?
Did I also mention Borlaug is originally from Iowa?
Comments
Ack! No Richard Feynman? That sux rox. At least Steve Jobs is on the list.
Posted by: gary![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.sethb.com/weblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 12, 2005 1:49 PM
From a rather evil point of view, all those lives Borlaug could be responsible for saving could also be contributing to the overpopluation of the world. :)
Of course, if I had to pick one of their nominees, I would probably go with FDR. He was the captain of the ship when the United States really become the dominant world power (in my opinion). The Madonnas, and Trumps on this list wouldn't be where they are today without the early foundation laid down by people like FDR.
Posted by: Grimm![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.sethb.com/weblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 13, 2005 8:48 AM