Which American Has Most Changed the World?

Week of September 15, 2004

Sep 15, 2004 at 4:00 am
Michael Drake
Boulevardier

"Cecil B. DeMille, the director and film producer who created some of America's most extraordinary exports to the world from Birth of a Nation to The Ten Commandments. He laid the groundwork for the whole Hollywood culture which the rest of the world has both imitated and reviled, a culture that describes America at its most decadent and its most hopeful."

Dr. Zombie
Resident Psychiatrist, Washington University School of Medicine

"That would be Thomas Edison, for sure. At a time when the world was large and didn't know much about itself this guy invented some cool shit that brought the world together."

Jen Griggs
Cabinet Maker -- Structural Arts

"Michael Jackson. He's such a twisted little character and he's become an international joke as our entertainment emissary, our 'King of Pop.'"

Z. I. Mamun
Special Correspondent, ATN Bangla Television -- Bangladesh

"In the present day it is definitely Bill Gates. Every one who has a computer whether in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas -- anywhere in this world -- has some sort of connection with Bill Gates. So, I think nowadays Bill Gates has the most influence on this planet."

Taron Caine
Automated Systems Consultant

"Alfred E. Newman. His famous 'What, me worry?' attitude epitomizes American laid-backness at its best and Alfred, I think, is probably a national icon even though, uncannilly, he's practically a dead-ringer for George W. Bush. But, you see, Alfred E. Newman could not be the anti-Christ whereas George Bush possibly could be."

Jenna Bauer
Artist -- Educator

"Aren't there places in the world that America can't change?"