In preparation for a show airing next week entitled ‘What the World Thinks of America,’ the BBC took nominations for the ten greatest Americans of all time. Nominations have closed, and now it’s time to vote!
So, out of a completely open playing field, what ten people were nominated as the ten greatest Americans ever?
Bill Clinton, Bob Dylan, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Homer Simpson, Mr. T, and George Washington.
Homer Simpson? Mr. T?
And, while this is kind of amusing, it’s also kind of disturbing — the current standings, after 28,548 votes:
- Bill Clinton (3.53%)
- Franklin D Roosevelt (3.78%)
- Benjamin Franklin (4.07%)
- George Washington (4.62%)
- Bob Dylan (5.12%)
- Thomas Jefferson (5.72%)
- Mr. T (8.17%)
- Martin Luther King Jr. (9.08%)
- Abraham Lincoln (9.60%)
- Homer Simpson (46.33%)
For the record, I voted for Martin Luther King, Jr.
(via Prairie)
Update: The website for the show (linked above) looks very interesting too. It includes a short 10-question quiz about America — that I got a whopping 60% on. Ouch. Maybe I need to watch the show, too…