NationStates Jolt Archive

who would it be?

The greatest human being who ever graced our planet... Elvis!!!

Jesus. ;)

I was going to say Kervoskia, but it looks like that's already happened :p.

I was going to say Kervoskia, but it looks like that's already happened :p.
I promise to be a good boy this time, no more madness.

My picks:
Thomas Jefferson
Jimi Henrdix
John Lenon
Barry Goldwater
Karl Marx

I can't decide which one.

Okay, I'm bringing Hitler back, and then Ghandi. FUN!

Let's see... I'd bring back Benjamin Franklin. I'd love to see what he thinks about the current state of our nation.

I'd bring back good ole Chiang Kai-shek to sort out that big mess in China.

http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/collections/special/exhibitions/portrait_exhibit/Kai-shek_Chiang.jpg

Let's see... I'd bring back Benjamin Franklin. I'd love to see what he thinks about the current state of our nation.
Then I'd bring back Jefferson, soon the whole crew will be resurrected.

Okay, I'm bringing Hitler back, and then Ghandi. FUN!

WTF? Hitler would have Walthered Ghandi's arse!

Ludwig van Beethoven

I'd bring back Saladin. I'd love to meet and talk to Hannibal Barca though.

Eric Dolphy or Lenny Bruce.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Great choice! I'd love to hear what he would compose with modern influence/instruments/etc.

either Edison or Einstein

Ned Kelly. I'd really like to find out how much of the myth was in the man.

Jesus(if only to prove He was/is real)

But there are sooo many:

Julius Caesar
Alexander the Great
Hannibal(not Lector, the General from Carthage)
The man/men who were the basis for the Arthur myth, as well as merlin(if he existed)
Joan of Ark
DaVinci
Confucious
Ghandi
That english Queen during the time with Sir Francis Drake
Socrates
Aristotle
Tutankamen
Cleopatra
Ramses the Great
Any leader of Sparta and Athens(and all the other Greek city-states)
The architect(s) from each of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World(Collossus of Rhodes, hanging Gardens of Babylon, Pyramids at Giza, The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Pharos of Alexandria, The Mauseleum at Halicarnassus, and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Oracle from Delphi(any one)
Priest ot priestess(shamans and druids as well) from any cult of any ancient god(Zeus, Athena, Isis, the Daghda, Odin, Thor...)
Montezuma
any Native American shaman(from those times)
architects from any of the following:
The Aztec Temple
The Banaue Rice Terraces
The Borobudur Temple
The Inca City
The Mayan Temples
The Temple of the Inscriptions
The Throne Hall of Persepolis
Petra
The Parthenon
The Moai Statues
Abu Simbel
Angkor Wat
Stonehenge
The Colosseum
Catacombs of Kom el Shaqafa
Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

I could name sooo many more...

hands down, john lennon

WTF? Hitler would have Walthered Ghandi's arse!
Nuh-uh. I would keep Hitler heavily medicated and in a cage.

Jesus(if only to prove He was/is real.)

i've never read an argument saying that jesus was not real. i think it's pretty accepted that he actually lived. however, it is debated whether he's actually a god.

and a question to the many people who've said jesus so far and believe that he is the messaiah (even though i don't believe it):
why would you want him to come back already? revelations says that when he's back, the rapture occurs and out we go... why squish our living time like that? just curious.

I'd agree with Avia, John Lennon, or Lenin, (no pun intended)

i've never read an argument saying that jesus was not real. i think it's pretty accepted that he actually lived. however, it is debated whether he's actually a god.

and a question to the many people who've said jesus so far and believe that he is the messaiah (even though i don't believe it):
why would you want him to come back already? revelations says that when he's back, the rapture occurs and out we go... why squish our living time like that? just curious.
Some people do not believe in the existence of Jesus, mostly atheists. I, personally, believe this is even worse than the blind faith and denial which is required to truly believe in the ideals of christians. There is some evidence that Jesus existed. There is none that he was the "son of god" or "messiah", though.

i've never read an argument saying that jesus was not real. i think it's pretty accepted that he actually lived. however, it is debated whether he's actually a god.

and a question to the many people who've said jesus so far and believe that he is the messaiah (even though i don't believe it):
why would you want him to come back already? revelations says that when he's back, the rapture occurs and out we go... why squish our living time like that? just curious.

I'm assuming this is more of a "Let's do lunch, and then you go back to wherever you were" type thing.

If they mean to life, well, let's just pretend I didn't say jesus, the world hasn't gotten so bad as that it needs to be put on the fast track to the apocalypse.

Hugh Beaumont


Nathan Forrest

I'd like to bring back Marx for a day so he can he see what was done in his name.
Then I'd bring back Adam Smith to show him what corruption happens when his pure ideas happen.
Then I'd bring back Hitler so I could kick him in the nadsters.

Socrates: Just so we could sort out once and for all what was his thinking and what was Plato's.

who would it be?


hmmmmmm I would have to say Guan Yu and ask him how it felt to have his head chopped off along with his sons by the WU forces. :D

My homie TJ (Thomas Jefferson) so he could pwn all the conservatives again.

Okay, I'm bringing Hitler back, and then Ghandi. FUN!

WTF? Hitler would have Walthered Ghandi's arse!

Harry Turtledove wrote a brilliant short story about how well Ghandi's policies of non-violent resistance would have worked against Germany, had the British lost India to the Reich during WWII. I read it about two weeks ago.

Too bad I can't remember the name of the book it was in, or the name of the story itself...

Bill Hicks, Mitch Hedberg, and Hannibal, in that order....

No real reason, I just dig those guys.

1) Jesus
2) Sir Galahad
3) Moses
4) Adam
5) The Prophet Isaiah

So far 48 nominations have been for men (some repeated) and three, count them, three for women: Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, and that queen of England at the time of Sir Francis Drake (Elizabeth R)

How history is biased!

Gandhi

1. Jesus
2. Francisco Franco
3. Chiang Kai-Shek
4. Moses
5. Adam

So far 48 nominations have been for men (some repeated) and three, count them, three for women: Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, and that queen of England at the time of Sir Francis Drake (Elizabeth R)

How history is biased!


Maybe because we do not find them as interesting as the men. I know I picked who I did because I am fascinated by Chinese History. I'd also like to bring back Catherine the Great and Susan B. Anthony and maybe LIZZIE BORDEN :) spelling.

People, people - it says ONE historical figure.

My nomination is Clara Barton.

People, people - it says ONE historical figure.

My nomination is Clara Barton.


It's hard to settle on just one.

By the way.. wasn't Clara Barton part of the womens right to vote movement or am I way off?

Jesus. Just to clear up once and for all what he wants his religion to be and how the Bible should be interpreted. Some guidence on modern issues would be helpful as well.

Secondly, Paul. We can finally establish what he believed and his attitudes towards homosexuality and women from his own mouth, and finally see if he was a saint or a sinner.

Other than that, no one really.

Of course, one could argue their historical existence, but I would say that they are historical figures (religious aspect is a whole other debate)

It's hard to settle on just one.

By the way.. wasn't Clara Barton part of the womens right to vote movement or am I way off?
Wrong, baby, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

Wrong, baby, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.


Thanks. That is why I asked the question :) I'm way to tired to think tonight and the pool party is going strong. I'm taking a break from all the noise. :D

People, people - it says ONE historical figure.

My nomination is Clara Barton.

I recognize that name, who was she? It's right there, but I just can't remember.

I picked so many because I couldn't decide...I mean, so many have contributed so much to history...I just can't leave them out.

I picked all the architects because I'd have them redraw those buildings(monuments, etc.), and them bankrupt myself trying to reconstruct one.

Great choice! I'd love to hear what he would compose with modern influence/instruments/etc.

I say Beethoven would have be into heavy metal

Thanks. That is why I asked the question :) I'm way to tired to think tonight and the pool party is going strong. I'm taking a break from all the noise. :D
:( I wish I could be there.

Henry Mancini. *waits for everyone to ask who he is* He's the guy who compsed the Pink Panther theme, Peter Gunn theme, the Baby Elephant Walk, Moon River(I think that's the name, from Breakfast at Tiffanys), etc.

:( I wish I could be there.


Awww. We could have used more people. Only 40 people showed up but I guess that is more than alright. :) Pizza, 8 foot long sub, beer and liqour and coke and pepsi.. and well you get the idea. It's a great party. Been going on for 7 hours now. ^_^ Pool lights shininy brightly so everyone is still having fun. Yet here I sit inside because I am not a fireworks person.

Now back to topic on hand. If I had to narrow it down to just one person.. I'd have to flip a coin to decide.

Heads Guan Yu tails Lizzie Borden. <--really want to know if she did the 40 whacks lol.

Henry Mancini. *waits for everyone to ask who he is*

He was a composer I think, for films and TV. I don't know much more than that, however.

1. Jesus- so those of us who believe can go to heaven.
2. adam- see what it was like walking with god.
3. noah- his thoughts on the flood.
4. all the biblical people.

I recognize that name, who was she? It's right there, but I just can't remember.

I picked so many because I couldn't decide...I mean, so many have contributed so much to history...I just can't leave them out.

I picked all the architects because I'd have them redraw those buildings(monuments, etc.), and them bankrupt myself trying to reconstruct one.
She was a humanitarian and a nurse. Clara was given clearance by the US Surgeon General during the Civil War to travel with army ambulances. She opened many clinics and institutions during her prime years to help war-torn families, wounded soldiers, and critically wounded civilians.

After working herself to a breakdown due to exhaustion, Clara went to Switzerland. She discovered the International Red Cross and decided to bring it to the USA to establish the American Red Cross. After hard work, she managed to keep it stable and it grew incredibly strong. She declined government funding so that the organization would avoid political control.

Even as an old lady in her late 70's, Clara rode around during the Spanish-American War providing medical care.

She was truly a compassionate woman.

Henry Mancini. *waits for everyone to ask who he is*


See I know who that person is :) *hums pink panther tune* I think he has won like 3 or 4 oscars and has recorded over 80 albums.

See I know who that person is :) *hums pink panther tune* I think he has won like 3 or 4 oscars and has recorded over 80 albums.

Hmm, 2 people. That's 2 more than every other forum I've mentioned him on.

Hmm, 2 people. That's 2 more than every other forum I've mentioned him on.

My parents like to talk about all the old timers in the business that had class and so on. At least they have stopped saying when watching an old movie. "Hey isn't that Betty Davis?" :rolleyes:

Pierre Trudeau

Pierre Trudeau
Why? Our economy is finally looking good again!

I can't decide between Harry Chapin and Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson -- so I choose both.

I can only imagine what Chapin (the singer/songwriter of "Cat's In The Cradle", "Sniper", "WOLD" and "Taxi") would have written songs about in this new contentious and divisive millennium.

Jackson, along with fellow Washington senator Warren Magnuson and Governor Dan Evans were about the only honest politicians my home state ever produced. I still wonder what the late 70s would have been like had Scoop won the Democratic nomination in 1976.

either Edison or Einstein

Edison would probably not adjust to today's electronics and computer systems but it would be interesting to see what new theories Einstein will come up with after seeing today's research.

Nuh-uh. I would keep Hitler heavily medicated and in a cage.

Did you get that idea from reading some obscure novel by Joseph Heywood called The Berkut, which talked about how the Ivans captured him and that was pretty much his fate- the rest of his life like a caged animal, solely for Stalin's pleasure.

Hitler by all comparisons was much more influencial on history than Gandhi. The Germans during WWII had even capitalized on the anti-British sentiments of the Indians.

http://www.feldgrau.com/india5.JPG

http://www.feldgrau.com/articles.php?ID=8

I'd agree with Avia, John Lennon, or Lenin, (no pun intended)

Lenin was a bastard and what has John Lennon done besides writing songs that fuelled the destruction of culture?

Harry Turtledove wrote a brilliant short story about how well Ghandi's policies of non-violent resistance would have worked against Germany, had the British lost India to the Reich during WWII. I read it about two weeks ago.

Too bad I can't remember the name of the book it was in, or the name of the story itself...

There's always the Gestapo and the prospect of the Indians under occupation exacting revenge on the British. What fun it would be to passively resist before the purest of 'evil' that manages to deliever some of their desires. Even if under Nazi eyes a race is subhuman, during the war, anyone can be useful. Many anti-Russian Slavs collaborated with the Wehrmacht.

If Nazi Germany got hold of India, I think they'll relax on colonial tyranny left over by the British and use the locals to their advantage (in a possible new war against the Japs before furthering the 'Final Solution' as discussed).

The reason why Gandhi's passive resistance worked was the fact that the British were the most lenient of all the European colonizers. Look at the Vietnamese, they had to fight for their freedom from the French!

1st pick-Napoleon Bonaparte

2nd pick-Tsar Peter the Great

I would bring back Temujin(Genghis Khan), so I can show him what happened to his empire after his death.

Did you get that idea from reading some obscure novel by Joseph Heywood called The Berkut, which talked about how the Ivans captured him and that was pretty much his fate- the rest of his life like a caged animal, solely for Stalin's pleasure.

Hitler by all comparisons was much more influencial on history than Gandhi. The Germans during WWII had even capitalized on the anti-British sentiments of the Indians.

http://www.feldgrau.com/india5.JPG

http://www.feldgrau.com/articles.php?ID=8
Actually, Hitler was very afraid of being stuck in a cage for Stalin's pleasure because of some Nostradamus quatrains. It is unknown to most people that German versions of Nostradamus' predictions were edited. At one point it mentions an "Armenian" bringing havoc to German cities. Georgia (the country) is just north of Armenia, and happens to be the birth place of one Iosif Vissarionovitch Djugashvili, better known as Stalin. The Nazis changed it to "Arminian" in memory of Arminius that defeated Varus in the Teutoburg forest.

I'd bring back Hitler, so we could put him on trial and let him rot in a hole for the rest of his miserable life.

Lenin was a bastard and what has John Lennon done besides writing songs that fuelled the destruction of culture?

Thanks for the laughs, man. You're a riot!

Ronald Reagon, or Richard Nixon. Too choose, I'll have too flip a coin..

I feel deeply, deeply sorry for the people who voted:

Merlin
King Arthur
Sir Galahad

They obviously have more fingers than brain cells. Best of luck to them in the real world.

I feel deeply, deeply sorry for the people who voted:

Merlin
King Arthur
Sir Galahad

They obviously have more fingers than brain cells. Best of luck to them in the real world.

...Wait a minute --- People have actually listed those?

Benito Mussolini

Oda Nobunaga or Miyamoto Musashi.

Benito Mussolini

Why him?

Why him?

I wanna know why as well.

Then I'd bring back Adam Smith to show him what corruption happens when his pure ideas happen.


Actually, if we brought Adam Smith back, he would probably insist on pointing out the corruption of modern capitalism himself. I just finished reading Book I of The Wealth of Nations, where he spent much time demonstrating how corporations and systems of apprenticeship actively work against market forces in order to inflate prices and, thus, profits. In fact, of what he describes as the three main classes of society, "that of those who live by rent," "that of those who live by wages," and "that of those who live by profit," Smith pointed out "those who live by profit" as being quite dangerous:

"The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order [that of those who live by profit], ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to decieve and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both decieved and oppressed it." (Book I, Chapter XI, Part III, The Wealth of Nations)

"The exclusive privileges of corporations, statutes of apprenticeshp, and all those laws which restrain, in particular employments, the competition to a smaller number than might otherwise go into them, have the same tendency, though in a less degree. They are a sort of enlarged monopolies, and may frequently, for ages together, and in whole classes of employments, keep up the market price of particular commodities above the natural price, and maintain both the wages of the labour and the profits of the stock employed about them somewhat above their natural rate. Such enhancements of the market price may last as long as the regulations of police which give occasion to them." (Book I, Chapter VII, The Wealth of Nations)

Smith essentially demonstrates in Book I that free markets and competition are bad for business as free markets and competition reduce the ability of business to make profit. More and expanding businesses require more employees, and must compete with each other in order to attract said employees. They do so by offering higher wages. More and expanding businesses must also compete with each other for customers. They do so by offering lower prices. The interests of society, higher wages and lower prices, fulfiled by free market competition, ultimately result in higher costs and thus lower profit for business.

Thus, business attempts, at all possible opportunity, to destroy the free market and destroy competition, which is exactly what we see corporations and government doing today. Big corporations that exploit favorable legislation in order to inflate profits are not the result of Adam Smith's ideas. They are the result, as Smith points out himself in his work, of business subverting the market for it's own selfish gain.

So far, I've only completed one of the five books that make up The Wealth of Nations but I think I can safely say that attributing the state of modern capitalism, with abusive corporations that enjoy the special favors of increasingly unaccountable government, to Adam Smith is a serious mistake. If anything we should bring Adam Smith back in order to fix capitalism.

I wanna know why as well.
Cuz for some time now I've wanted to point out the many mistakes he made and my ideas for abusing an alliance against Germany to have agined what he wanted...after that...well I dunno what i'd do with him...but I'd feel happy for having scolded a harsh dictator.

ronald reagan, then keep margaret thatcher alive for a bit longer, and they could be rulers of the two best countries in the world at the same time again. conservatism all round.

William Shakespeare and Orson Welles, to make them read all the criticism on their works. Take that, ya bastards...

I would have said Eisenstien, but he wrote his own criticism so he'd probably like it...

I would bring back Horatio Nelson and see what he thinks of the current British Navy (a shambles is probably what his view would be).

Thanks for the laughs, man. You're a riot!

I wasn't joking when I said that. Bayonet the Bolsheviks!

I would bring back Horatio Nelson and see what he thinks of the current British Navy (a shambles is probably what his view would be).

He'll probably end up admiring the USN. LOL!

The RN is still technologically superior to the USN in some aspects. Pity it doesn't have the numerical superiority these days.

I would bring back Temujin(Genghis Khan), so I can show him what happened to his empire after his death.

Conquests don't last unless there's also a conquest of the hearts and minds.

...Wait a minute --- People have actually listed those?

Weren't those characters of Arthurian legends and fictional?

Weren't those characters of Arthurian legends and fictional?
Legend tends to be based on fact. Just because what has been said they did is probably false, that they existed might not be.

Legend tends to be based on fact. Just because what has been said they did is probably false, that they existed might not be.

If they're not false then they're highly exagerated. Merlin was probably based on some famous druid, although the powers of magic has been time and again proven to be fictional.

Historians are still unsure of which Dark Ages warlord was King Arthur based on. Remember, Arthurian legends began or reached the peak of its popularity in the Middle Ages, while being based on the life of someone in the Dark Ages.

If they're not false then they're highly exagerated. Merlin was probably based on some famous druid, although the powers of magic has been time and again proven to be fictional.

Historians are still unsure of which Dark Ages warlord was King Arthur based on. Remember, Arthurian legends began or reached the peak of its popularity in the Middle Ages, while being based on the life of someone in the Dark Ages.
I know. I have a copy of Mallory's Morte d'Arthur at home.

I know. I have a copy of Mallory's Morte d'Arthur at home.

Is that the book that discuss the origins of Arthurian legends?

I know it reams trivial, But Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart taugtht us music. And i learnd from him in a most punk[I] sense. Just sensce.

Bismarck.
And then I would convince him to run for Chancellor (although I don't think he'll need much coercing)

Midas

and I would keep him for myself. :D

That last Czar(or Tsar)!

Nicolas the II, or was it III?

Such a poor, tragic figure.

Such a poor, tragic figure.
Who happened to shoot hundreds when they dared to protest, sent thousands into labour camps and enjoyed lavish palaces while his population was actually starving to death.

Without doubt, John Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby. We'd settle that quickly...

My #1 choice: Ayn Rand. I'd really like to sit around and talk philosophy with her.

Some close seconds:

Einstein
Ben Franklin
Aristotle
Jim Morrison

Bob Dole.
I know he's still alive, but we could have two!

Bob Dole.
I know he's still alive, but we could have two!

Bob Dole #1: Bob Dole is confused.
Bob Dole #2: Bob Dole isn't the real Bob Dole *points to #1*. Bob Dole is the real Bob Dole *points to self*.
BD #1: Bob Dole is a liar!
BD #2: Bob Dole!

Who happened to shoot hundreds when they dared to protest, sent thousands into labour camps and enjoyed lavish palaces while his population was actually starving to death.

The communist leaders were no different to the Czar.

I'd bring back Jesus. Then burn him at the stake for practising witchcraft.

I'd brink back Jesus and laugh as the Religious Right called him a commie...

Michelangelo Buonarroti

He died when he was 89 (!), and finished David when he was 29, so if I bring him back to life from that age, he'll likely live to be 100.

Give him a grant, and a fuckload of marble...watch the masterpieces pour out.

Bob Dole #1: Bob Dole is confused.
Bob Dole #2: Bob Dole isn't the real Bob Dole *points to #1*. Bob Dole is the real Bob Dole *points to self*.
BD #1: Bob Dole is a liar!
BD #2: Bob Dole!
This had me laughing non stop for 5 minutes straight. Thank you! :D

To address the actual topic though, I would have to bring Plato back. I would be really fascinated to hear what he has to say about the world today, and it would give us the chance to get a clearer idea of what he meant in the more ambiguous parts of his dialogues.

So many historical thinkers had ideas that were very much tied to their specific historical era - for instance, I think that most scientists would have difficulty adjusting to modern science, and would be unlikely to ever match the achievements of their previous life. Maybe I give Plato too much credit, but I believe that brought to the modern world he could produce new works to rival his old.

Now I'm going back to laughing at the idea of two Bob Doles.

If they're not false then they're highly exagerated. Merlin was probably based on some famous druid, although the powers of magic has been time and again proven to be fictional.

Historians are still unsure of which Dark Ages warlord was King Arthur based on. Remember, Arthurian legends began or reached the peak of its popularity in the Middle Ages, while being based on the life of someone in the Dark Ages.

A documentary i saw says Arthur was like the laeder of a Red Branch kind of group. and the round table knights were just his close friends. he probably fought saxons or that kind of invader.

Did you get that idea from reading some obscure novel by Joseph Heywood called The Berkut, which talked about how the Ivans captured him and that was pretty much his fate- the rest of his life like a caged animal, solely for Stalin's pleasure.

Hitler by all comparisons was much more influencial on history than Gandhi. The Germans during WWII had even capitalized on the anti-British sentiments of the Indians.

http://www.feldgrau.com/india5.JPG

http://www.feldgrau.com/articles.php?ID=8
Actually, no, I thought I made that up. I'm extremely disappointed in myself now. :( :D

The communist leaders were no different to the Czar.
But no one is calling for them to come back...except Trotzky maybe - I reckon the academic politics and economics scene needs a good shake-up.
And BTW, I want Socrates back as well.

Lincoln, hands down
Jesus if I got a second choice

I heard that Lincoln's ghost still haunts the White House. There's a rumor that he appeared before President Bush and gave some economic advice.

I'd bring back Jesus. Then burn him at the stake for practising witchcraft.

Oh wait, so now you believe in Jesus? :D

First I'd bring back Ben Franklin because he's awesome.

Second I'd bring back Ron Reagan because he's awesome, too.

Third I'd bring back Hitler so we could have a WWIII and even out the population of this planet.

Fourth I'd bring back Julius Caesar because he didn't deserve to die in such a fashion as being stabbed by his own friends.

Fifth I'd bring back Ray Charles because he was the best pianist EVER.

Plato. So he could bitchslap America.

Plato. So he could bitchslap America.
LOL!

Third I'd bring back Hitler so we could have a WWIII and even out the population of this planet.

Humans don't make f*ckups twice if it's something as stupid as being ensnared by the flawed logic of Hitler.

God. He's certainly a historical figure, and Nietzche said he was dead.

But really...

1. Napoleon Bonaparte. I bet he would cry over the decline of France, not be surprised by the US-French feud, and laugh at the germans for losing the world wars. I would love to have him coach me on strategy games ^_^

2. Trotsky. The one who really did oppose a temporary dictatorship, knowing the nation wouldnt get rid of it.

3. Truman. Damn fine president. And at least he could speak english(I could speak french, or maybe english with napoleon. I doubt Trotsky knew either, so I would have to just send him back to russia, to try to start a new communist nation).