The Truth About Cats and Dogs in Black and White

Truth is just one person's reality. Here is mine in black and white (maybe some shades of gray). This blog has little to do with Cats or Dogs - just humourous sarcastic antics about my life or occasionally, someone else's. You know, intercepting volleyballs with my face, egg dropping, etc. The truth has seen some changes and in fluidity with change expect to see more artistic expressions posting up - so give your two cents worth!

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Truth, Justice, and the North American Way


In 2002, Winston Churchill won the Greatest Brit Contest. In 2003, Konrad Adenauer won the german version of the contest. In 2004, the CBC followed suit and held "The Greatest Canadian, " nominated and elected by the citizens of Canada. Then the US picked up on the buzz and the Discovery Channell staged its own event. Canadians avered that we were being copied, although the idea had been well established prior to the contest.

These are some of interesting observations. There are many more politicans amongst the greatest Americans, many former presidents. There are many more sports icons amongst the greatest Canadians, mostly hockey or ice sports, with some notable exceptions such as James Naismith who invented basketball. The Canadian list seems to contain more literary contributors and the American list more pop culture icons, some who double and philantropists. Canada also houses a slew of great philantropists and their list. Both list have many musical celebrities. Canada's list of 100 has only 4 persons of visible minorites, while the American list has 16. The greatest Canadian woman, Shania Twain at #18 is shamed by Oprah Winrey, America's Greatest woman at #9. Overall the US has 21 women and Canada has 19.

Also, Alexander Graham Bell appears on both lists - In the top 10 in Canada and in the top 100 in the US. He was born in Scotland. Laura Secord, who appears at # 35 on the Canadian list was born in Massachussets. Albert Einstein, #14 on the American list was born in Germany and lived 15 of 76 years in the US. Both lists have some absurd entries. Pamela Anderson appears at #50 and Avril Lavigne at #40 on the Canadian list while the American list boasts Arnold Schwarzenegger (also not born in the US) and Michael Jackson. Some nominees just add insult to true American and Canadian Heros.

Overlooked are our great conservationists and recreationists: Henry David Thoreau, Edward Abbey, Rachel Carson, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Monte Hummell, Joseph Lee, J.B. Harkin, Chief Seath, Pierre Dansereau, Mabel Peters, Roger Tory Peterson.

The Greatest Canadians
The Greatest Americans
Unknown 1:52 p.m.
Comments...

Jilly, how do you remember all those great names? you must have kept a tab on these people.Good on you dear, just surprise what a greatmind you have too.

posted by Blogger Tungsten : 2:10 p.m.  

I could be off on a few of these tallys.

posted by Blogger Unknown : 2:25 p.m.  

You have to admire the way Americans try and take credit for everything. I am surprised that Winston Churchill wasn't on the US list, he did visit occasionally!

More shocking though was that George W Bush is in the top 10 and that Ronald Reagan was number one, why?

Tommy Douglas is a more understandable choice but I have to admit, I had never heard of him.

posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 4:33 p.m.  

It was shocking as was re-election. We are in the midst of an election and although I detest politics and refrain from commentary whenever possible I am in fear that Canada is on the way south. I am fond of our liberal, democratic, socialist, multicultural nation. Actually, if there was a more left wing - I'd fly on it. That said, I am a frequent visitor of my neighbours to the south and wouldn't like to see any harm come to them. I have explored 19 states and hope to see more of the west.

I do have one additional comments re: the greatest people, that is kinda prompted by the possibity of a right-wing government in Canada. Notice that on Canada's list there are like 14 hockey icons and one environmentalist. So what is more important? Having a planet to live on or ice to skate on? I should point out also that the US fears no better in this department. Teddy Roosevelt is the closest to a conservationist that the American list coughs up, a proud supporter of national forests and parks. But the US has seen the most important and passionate conservation personalities of our time. Just an rant on the political insignificance of environmental issues in light of the possibly of a Prime Minister who believes that Climate Change is a Myth and on a non-related note wants to re-write our charter of rights and freedoms.

posted by Blogger Unknown : 12:43 a.m.  

Americans and Canadians seem to have a different view on the whole greatest thing. I think to be considered great you have to leave some sort of lasting legacy. I see how Churchill and Douglas left their mark of their respective countries (and regarding Douglas I don't mean through his grandson Kiefer Sutherland). I can't see what Reagan's legacy would be. And George W's will be thousands of Americans and Iraqi's killed for no reason other than greed.

And Jilly...I have an interesting idea.

posted by Blogger Laurie Roche : 10:46 a.m.  


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