Personally, I'm rather surprised that people have suggested the likes of Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle instead of people like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, but maybe that's just me. :)
There are a lot of people I would consider for this list — Tim Berners-Lee would also be one of them.
Politics: Churchill
Technology: Tim Berners-Lee
Language:(don't kill me for this:smt003 )Joseph Greenberg
Adventure/Discovery: Thor Heyerdahl
Science: Tough one, probably Einstein _________________ Currently learning:
Mandela accomplished wonderful things in the small corner of the world known as S. Africa, but what did he do on a global scale? He wasn't a world leader. He didn't defy evil in the face of tyranny on behalf of all of the Western democracies. _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
Mandela accomplished wonderful things in the small corner of the world known as S. Africa, but what did he do on a global scale? He wasn't a world leader. He didn't defy evil in the face of tyranny on behalf of all of the Western democracies.
Ah, sorry, I was unaware that only Western leaders could be considered for this title. I suggest you do some more reading on Mandela. _________________ Toe ek jonk was, het ek al die antwoorde geken. Nou verstaan ek nie eens die vrae nie.
No, but perhaps I should rephrase the question. By greatest man of the century, I mean the greatest man of the world. Who had the greatest, most important impact on the *world*. So, obviously, it would have to be someone from one of the most influential countries, in order for it to sufficiently impact the world as a whole. Of course they would have to be humane people, so dictators wouldn't even merit consideration. _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
No, but perhaps I should rephrase the question. By greatest man of the century, I mean the greatest man of the world. Who had the greatest, most important impact on the *world*. So, obviously, it would have to be someone from one of the most influential countries, in order for it to sufficiently impact the world as a whole. Of course they would have to be humane people, so dictators wouldn't even merit consideration.
I see, so only Western leaders then.
_________________ Toe ek jonk was, het ek al die antwoorde geken. Nou verstaan ek nie eens die vrae nie.
On 11 February 1 990, a dignified elderly man walked hand in hand with the wife from whom he had been forced to live apart for twenty-seven years out of prison and into history. It is a date and an image the world will never forget: the day Nelson Mandela was freed.
From that day on, Nelson Mandela's immense courage and personal moral authority moved out of the shadows of his prison cell to stand as a beacon of hope first to a bitterly divided nation and then to the whole world. Other images have followed: a smiling Mandela casting his vote in his country's first general election, a solemn Mandela at his inauguration as the first president of a democratic South Africa, Mandela with world leaders, with celebrities, with his wife Graca Machel and his family, in the midst of the crowds of children who are drawn to him wherever he goes.
Nelson Mandela occupies a unique place in our world and in Mandela - The Authorised Portrait the narrative of his epic journey to freedom is accompanied by the most complete collection of images ever assembled and by more than sixty specially commissioned interviews. World leaders, friends and associates ranging from President Bill Clinton to Tony Blair, from Bono to President Thabo Mbeki, from his comrades in the South African struggle against apartheid to Muhammad Ali have all contributed their individual stories to build a compelling picture of this inspirational man through the eyes of those closest to him.
Quote:
'What makes Mandela so special is that he's a real human being ... And the fact that he is so flesh-and-blood real makes his greatness and his sacrifice and his wisdom and his courage in the face of all that has happened to him even more remarkable.' Bill Clinton
Quote:
To this day, Madiba remains probably the single most admired, most respected international figure in the entire world. He continues to inspire millions of people and several generations throughout the globe, by continuing to fight for reconciliation before recrimination, healing before bitterness, peace before conflict; by fighting for health, for education, for the right of every child to have a better start in life; by fighting against the destruction wrought by HIV/Aids; by spelling out the right and duty of not only South Africa, but of all Africa, to take charge of its own future and fate. - Kofi Annan
_________________ Toe ek jonk was, het ek al die antwoorde geken. Nou verstaan ek nie eens die vrae nie.
So you moderated the nose comment, not once, but twice?
Yes. If you make tasteless remarks, you will find they will be moderated. _________________ Toe ek jonk was, het ek al die antwoorde geken. Nou verstaan ek nie eens die vrae nie.
Ah, sorry, I was unaware that only Western leaders could be considered for this title
André, you don't consider your country western ?
No. South Africa is an African country, albeit probably the most Westernised in Africa.It is a Third World country, going on First World. I am an African, and my native language is African.
During the apartheid years white South Africans considered the RSA to be part of the Western world, but this view was and is not shared by black South Africans. Over the past decade most white South Africans have embraced the idea of SA being an African country, and we no longer think of SA as a Western country as such, despite strong links.
The Afrikaners have been called "The White Tribe of Africa". We do not reject our European heritage, and most of us are proud of it. But that does not change the fact that we are now Africans.
Ben is right that a percentage (closer to 20 than 30, probably below 20) could be considered Westerners (in the broadest sense of the word), but certainly not the country as such.
And in case you were wondering, no, South Africa is not an English speaking country, as many Europeans and Americans think. _________________ Toe ek jonk was, het ek al die antwoorde geken. Nou verstaan ek nie eens die vrae nie.
I must say that while Nelson Mandela is certainly a very strong candidate for the greatest man of the last century, he is ultimately triumphed in my eyes by a man whose influence can be felt throughout the globe - the late Pope John Paul II.
Rightly or wrongly, he has been depicted as the catalyst for the fall of communism - first in Poland; then in the former Warsaw Pact countries.
The doctrine which he preached was adhered to -albeit by varying degrees- across the world.
He travelled around the world and was a conscientious fighter for the poor, the down-trodden and the disadvantaged.
He loved his friends and forgave his enemies -viz. his Turkish assassin was absolved of any blame by the late Pope.
He was great, not just where moral fibre was concerned. He had a great impact on the world.
Why hadn't anyone thought of him before?
_________________ Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.
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