Top 100 Greatest Americans

Have you seen the list of the Top 100 Greatest Americans? The Discovery Channel is hosting a seven hour series with the first show premiering last Sunday at 8pm. More than half a million online nominations were tallied, and the list is supposed to represent "the pulse of the nation," revealing "the qualities we most admire." At the end of the premiere episode, Matt Lauer announced the top 25 Greatest American nominees (based on nominations held earlier in the year) and how viewers can cast their votes via a toll-free number.

The project is supposed to "highlight Americans of importance and the incredible contributions they made to our society" and perhaps as many as 89 million households might tune in.

Here's what they'll see.....

The Top 100 Nominees

(For more info visit Discovery Channel)

Abraham Lincoln
Albert Einstein
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Hamilton
Amelia Earhart
Andrew Carnegie
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Audie Murphy
Babe Ruth
Barack Obama
Barbara Bush
Benjamin Franklin
Bill Clinton
Bill Cosby (William Henry Cosby, Jr.)
Bill Gates
Billy Graham
Bob Hope
Brett Favre
Carl Sagan
Cesar Chavez
Charles Lindbergh
Christopher Reeve
Chuck Yeager
Clint Eastwood
Colin Powell
Condoleezza Rice
Donald Trump
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eleanor Roosevelt (Anna Eleanor Roosevelt)
Ellen DeGeneres
Elvis Presley
Frank Sinatra
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Frederick Douglass
George H. W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Lucas
George Patton
George Washington
George Washington Carver
Harriet Ross Tubman
Harry Truman
Helen Keller
Henry Ford
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Howard Hughes
Hugh Hefner
Jackie Robinson (Jack Roosevelt Robinson)
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jesse Owens
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Stewart
John Edwards
John Glenn
John F. Kennedy
John Wayne
Johnny Carson (John William Carson)
Jonas Edward Salk
Joseph Smith Jr.
Katharine Hepburn
Lance Armstrong
Laura Bush
Lucille Ball
Lyndon B. Johnson
Madonna (Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone)
Malcolm X (Malcolm Little)
Marilyn Monroe
Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens)
Martha Stewart
Martin Luther King Jr.
Maya Angelou
Mel Gibson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jordan
Michael Moore
Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.)
Neil Alden Armstrong
Nikola Tesla
Oprah Winfrey
Pat Tillman
Dr. Phil McGraw
Ray Charles
Richard Nixon
Robert Kennedy
Ronald Reagan
Rosa Parks
Rudolph W. Giuliani
Rush Limbaugh
Sam Walton
Steve Jobs
Steven Spielberg
Susan B. Anthony
Theodore Roosevelt
Thomas Edison
Thomas Jefferson
Tiger Woods
Tom Cruise
Tom Hanks
Walt Disney
Wrights Brothers (Orville & Wilbur Wright)

I must admit, this list definitely surprised me. First of all, a few people are just celebrities. Actors who are great at their craft, but have they really made any great contributions to this country, the world, society or the human race. For America to note them as the best of the best makes us all look ridiculous.

Dr. Phil? Martha Stewart? Barbara and Laura Bush? Tom Cruise? Mel Gibson? Marilyn Monroe? Brett Favre? Rush Limbaugh? Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Please!

This list is nothing but a high school popularity contest. It reflects a near total lack of appreciation and knowledge of United State history.

There are glaring omissions and only a handful are what I would call "great" - and for the most part, their contributions continue to impact society today.

And of course, the biggest problem of all is the absence of a even one Native person. (I mean come on... to mention Michael Jordan and not Jim Thorpe is baffeling. You would think Thorpe would get a nod.)

So folks, this is what I want to do: I think The Native Truth should put together the Top 100 Greatest Native Americans - and I need your help.

Send in your nominations and brief biographical info explaining why you think the person deserves to be on this list. I am looking for cultural, national, and international contributions. People who made a difference within their communities, or for the entire world, in a all fields (education, science, politics, science, arts, athletics, music, architecture, civil rights, literature, film, business, community leadership, etc etc etc.)

I'll post the list to The Native Truth, to my website, and to anyone else I can think of and hopefully we can all raise awareness of these great people and their contributions/accomplishments that must be celebrated.

Please pass this around to everyone you know. Submissions can be emailed to Terri Jean . Please have them in by July 4th.

I look forward to reading your nominations.

Cheers!
Terri Jean

MTBW NOTE: I certainly agree with Terri Jean's opinion regarding this list. However, I can't help but wonder how many people may have viewed the program; and how many people made a nomination for Native Americans/American Indians who have contributed to this world and to all people in a positive way.

Most often when there are polls relating to issues of importance to us, etc., the pow wow drums send out the message loud and clear to vote and make a difference.

I did not see the program myself. I wonder how many others have - if you did see the program, would you please take the time to let MTBW's know?

And by ALL MEANS-send your nominations into Terri Jean!

June Reports

Last updated on June 08, 2005