I think we would all agree that 'greatness' is universal. It knows no borders. Shakespeare, Beethoven, Einstein, Dickens, Curie, The Beatles, Austen, Mandela, Tolstoy et al, may have achieved their status as a result of their specific background and nationality, but what they left the world not only transcends boundaries, it is no longer the sole possession of any group or city or nation. Their legacy belongs to the world. So, why was the BBC so intent on trying to find Great Britons and why are Austria and Germany getting their collective knickers in a twist about whether Mozart was Austrian or German? I can understand the desire for emerging nations to strut their stuff on a world stage (the Japanese go absolutely wild about Nobel prize winners and the Aussies will laud you to heaven if you win a gold medal at something ... anything!), but for heaven's sake let's leave the real greats out of all this jingoistic claptrap.
Posted by Joe at August 8, 2003 09:39 AMHard to imagine anyone topping the Americans at the Olympics on this score.
Posted by: DJ at August 8, 2003 11:49 AMWell, I had to vote for Newton in BBC's contest just to stop Diana winning it (like my vote made a difference..).
I mean, come on! Diana the greatest ever Britton?
Posted by: Marko at August 20, 2003 11:39 PM