"Ten Greatest People Of The 20th Century"

[BiBottomBoy]

As I've said before I live in France and there's an interesting controversy going on right now.

One of the local politicians is spending 2 million euros to erect statues of the "Ten Greatest People Of The 20th Century."

His choice of historical figures is, to say the least, "interesting."

1. Vladamir Lenin

2. Winston Churchill

3. Charles de Gaulle

4. Franklin Roosevelt

5. Jean Jaurés

6. Mahatma Gandhi

7.Golda Meir

8.Gamal Abdel Nasser

9. Nelson Mandela

10. Mao Zedong

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/20/alexander-chancellor-montpellier-statues

[MsGuy]

Odd choices, even for a Frenchman. Fifty years from now Charles de Gaulle will be about as well remembered as Jean Juares is now.

[BiBottomBoy]

Plus, Chairman Mao?

When did mass murderers achieve greatness?

[Guest twinklover]

I want to barf. I don't give a shit about the "world" thinks. The world, as we know it, would not exist if not for our, I mean the USA's, hegemony.

Right bbb? Or do such lists exist in an alternate universe?

[BiBottomBoy]

I'm not sure what I said to piss you off?

I'm as disgusted with Nassar, Lenin and Mao being on the list as any rational student of history would be.

Mass murderers are not "great."

[MsGuy]

Plus, Chairman Mao?

When did mass murderers achieve greatness?

Folks still remember Caesar and Ivan the Terrible.

And Genghis Khan.

And that Alexander whatisname guy.

[BiBottomBoy]

Folks still remember Caesar and Ivan the Terrible.

And Genghis Khan.

And that Alexander whatisname guy.

But we don't honor them with statues.

[Guest twinklover]

Fabulous, I can go off and play Starcraft 2 unless lookin should show up here with pics of boys to see or amusing comments that I must observe before work tomorrow morning. How do you others do this, disregarding time-zones? How?

What do you do? Sleep all day? And post all night?

[MsGuy]

But we don't honor them with statues.

There's a really, really big one of ole Genghis in Ulan Bator.

[BiBottomBoy]

Fabulous, I can go off and play Starcraft 2 unless lookin should show up here with pics of boys to see or amusing comments that I must observe before work tomorrow morning. How do you others do this, disregarding time-zones? How?

What do you do? Sleep all day? And post all night?

I don't understand your question.

[MsGuy]

I don't understand your question.

Twinklover may not know you're posting from France.

Or that I've got a bad back that wakes me up at odd hours.

[BiBottomBoy]

The first sentence of this post says I'm in France...

[MsGuy]

The first sentence of this post says I'm in France...

Which post is less than conclusive evidence of the state of Twinklover's knowledge.

A short while ago (on another thread), Twinklover posted that while he wasn't high, he was pleasantly buzzed.

[BiBottomBoy]

Which post is less than conclusive evidence of the state of Twinklover's knowledge.

A short while ago (on another thread), Twinklover posted that while he wasn't high, he was pleasantly buzzed.

Ah! Stonertime explains everything!

[Guest twinklover]

Hey, say what you wish, or we can always meet on the dance floor or somewhere else and you can somehow convince me of your non-internet prowess. There are four names on my list and, sorry, not a Frenchman is to be found among them or any mass murderers because when I think of the "Greatest" people I mean it. There were four, excluding philosophers and scientists.

[BiBottomBoy]

Who were they?

[Guest twinklover]

So here's my four you stoners:

Winston, FDR, Gandhi and Mandela.

All heroes. The rest are, well I wouldn't be so brash to say they were and

are, losers like you. No, you didn't get this info from spaceship stonehedge.

I'm waiting to get stoned with Ralph Woods. I am; I'm not wasting it here.

[BiBottomBoy]

How does Einstein not make your list?

Or Les Paul?

[MsGuy]

The underlying flaw of the list is that it privileges politics as the most important human activity. Why not an industrialist like Ford? or a man like Einstein? Is a second rate national politician really more important than the guy who discovered penicillin?

----

Guys, I'm enjoying this but my acetaminophen is finally kicking in, so I'm gonna try to get some sleep. See you later.

[BiBottomBoy]

I reject any such list that does not include James Hetfield.

[TampaYankee]

First, I can think of a hundred better things to use 2 million euros on... easily.

There are four names on my list and, sorry, not a Frenchman is to be found among them or any mass murderers because when I think of the "Greatest" people I mean it. There were four, excluding philosophers and scientists.

Louis Pasteur? He made grand contributions that touch each of our lives everyday and probably he is one of the reasons we as given indivuals are here today? Maybe not the greatest, but he is French and great.

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

If one were to choose among the greatest benefactors of humanity, Louis Pasteur would certainly rank at the top. He solved the mysteries of rabies, anthrax, chicken cholera, and silkworm diseases, and contributed to the development of the first vaccines. He debunked the widely accepted myth of spontaneous generation, thereby setting the stage for modern biology and biochemistry. He described the scientific basis for fermentation, wine-making, and the brewing of beer. Pasteur's work gave birth to many branches of science, and he was singlehandedly responsible for some of the most important theoretical concepts and practical applications of modern science...

http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/Louis_Pasteur.php

I'm just sayin' , he's French and great. There was also that guy who invented puff pastries... name slips my mind. Simply great though.

Guess I wasn't reading the original post very closely. No matter how great Louis' contributions he didn't survive into the 20th Century. TY

[BiBottomBoy]

TY,

I would have mentioned him to, but it's the "20 Greatest People Of The 20th Century."

That said, the doctor who initially isolated the HIV virus was French and I'd consider putting him on the list.

First, I can think of a hundred better things to use 2 million euros on... easily.

Louis Pasteur? He made grand contributions that touch each of our lives everyday and probably he is one of the reasons we as given indivuals are here today? Maybe not the greatest, but he is French and great.

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

If one were to choose among the greatest benefactors of humanity, Louis Pasteur would certainly rank at the top. He solved the mysteries of rabies, anthrax, chicken cholera, and silkworm diseases, and contributed to the development of the first vaccines. He debunked the widely accepted myth of spontaneous generation, thereby setting the stage for modern biology and biochemistry. He described the scientific basis for fermentation, wine-making, and the brewing of beer. Pasteur's work gave birth to many branches of science, and he was singlehandedly responsible for some of the most important theoretical concepts and practical applications of modern science...

http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/Louis_Pasteur.php

I'm just sayin' , he's French and great. There was also that guy who invented puff pastries... name slips my mind. Simply great though.

[TampaYankee]

TY,

I would have mentioned him to, but it's the "20 Greatest People Of The 20th Century."

That said, the doctor who initially isolated the HIV virus was French and I'd consider putting him on the list.

I wouldn't quibble with your top 20 any more than I would quibble with Tomcal's top 20 Sauna Boys. They are all in my top 10.

[BiBottomBoy]

Fuck. I meant 10 greatest people, not 20.

It's too hot to think today!

[Lucky]

What about Lyndon B. Johnson- the last effectual president the US had, and the one who led the great civil rights reform?