NationStates Jolt Archive

The title is self-explanatory. So please, don't name a pop culture icon or a religious leader. This thread is about world leaders only. Thanks.

Oh yah, there's a poll on the way.

Oh, shit! I forgot Kim Il-Sung! Is there a way I can edit the poll? I want to replace Nasser with him.

I think Mao Tse-tung. I mean, he STILL has influence in China. no joke.

I think Mao Tse-tung. I mean, he STILL has influence in China. no joke.

You should have seen Mobutu, though. His picture was everywhere. Government officials wore small badges with his portrait. On the evening news every night, it showed descending from heaven through the clouds. Places where he'd lived or worked became national pilgrimage sites. And that's just for starters. Bokassa and Nguema had pretty massive personality cults, too.

Yeah but the question was in history. Mao's cult of personality has lasted decades past his own death. He's still revered by much of china and college kids in Che shirts still read his little red book.

Various Pharaos and Mayan/Babylonian/Aztec etc God-Kings did.

What about Enver Hoxha? Or Qaddafi? Or Saddam? Or Ceausescu? Or Lenin?

Although, I think political leaders may take a blow from other figures: dare I nominate Marx?
Also, people from earlier times are almost never mentioned, although it was norm in their times to have a personality cult surrounding them (Queen Victoria to Hammurabi etc.). To be the devil's advocate: why would it be anacronical today? Especially since... there's Beckham!

My conclusion: Jesus would have to be no. 1.

Maybe Mussolini?

Kim Il-Sung did. Not only he have the regular cult that other dictators had, but he literally elevated himself to a god. To this day, he is the President of North Korea. It is also interesting that his picture was kept over the main podium at the People's Assembly, while his son's was removed.

What about Julius Caesar? He may not have had the numbers as some of the more modern leaders, but for territory governed by personality, I think he would give most a run for their money.

I'd say G.W. Bush. After all, he's made oodles of mistakes that would have gotten other people fired and yet he's been given a free pass or a slap on the wrist for those infractions.

Wow, you missed out Fidel Castro.

Wow, you missed out Fidel Castro.
No, in Cuba it would have to be Che. Actually, Castro has no cult to speak of - I mean, his image in society is just like President's Bush on FOX News.

Kim Il-Sung did. Not only he have the regular cult that other dictators had, but he literally elevated himself to a god. To this day, he is the President of North Korea. It is also interesting that his picture was kept over the main podium at the People's Assembly, while his son's was removed.

While I voted in the poll for Adolph Hitler, Lottus Puppy you make some good points on Kim Il-Sung which I agree with, but what about Dictator for life Fidel Castro of Cuba, how well he is treated all over the world by current nation political leaders, many of whom he has publicly insulted and riddiculed, by a group of intelectuals, and many hollywood movie stars, just because of his anti americanism,

Fidel Castro is supposed to attend the InterAmerican summit in Madrid Spain
on Oct 14 and 15 -05, which in my view he should not be welcomed by democratically elected leaders, many of whom he has insulted and riddiculed publicly.

For exsample, President Vicente Fox of Mexico, whom after being insulted by Fidel Castro still called Fidel Castro a personal friend, The European Union nation leaders he has publicly insulted, and yet they still talk to political dialogue with someone they know wont change or reform his dictatorship nation.

Kim-Il Sung.

Serapindal!

Serapindal!
You have one person, two at the most.

If we're talking past and present then I'm going to forego the obvious answer ( :cool: ) and go with another well known teacher of valuable information;

Jesus Christ.

Forget cricifixes, catholics and the rare celibate priest. How many WWJD? jewelry items have been sold?

Admit it! You have one, don't you?!?

Largest? Mao = China = More people than everyone else combined.

Most Persistant? Hitler. See "neo-nazi", "anti-jew arabs/turks" and assorted villians still mooning over Mein Kampf.

Most dedicated? Hirihito. Can you say Bushido? I thought you could. Had he not personally surrendered - while keeping the throne - every Japanese on the home islands would have died - either in combat or seppuku.

I went with Mao - thinking not just in terms of longevity, but numbers. I'm sorry, but China has more citizens than even the former Soviet Union combined. I would have picked Lenin over Stalin, as even to this day Lenin is well respected by many while the memory of Stalin is hated.

With some of the names on this list I would have included Ho Chi Minh.

No American leaders belonged on this list because by rule, they don't last long enough in office. Some of these characters are appointed or self-appointed for life, others have ruled or did rule for decades.

Forget cricifixes, catholics and the rare celibate priest. How many WWJD? jewelry items have been sold?

Admit it! You have one, don't you?!?


I had a WWOD (what would Ozzy do) one, does that count?

What about Nelson Mandela? You don't have to be evil to have a personality cult.

I had a WWOD (what would Ozzy do) one, does that count?

WWTEMBWBAMD?

What Would The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs At Midnight Do?

I'm surprised to see so many votes for Hilter, considering he had almost no support outside the borders of Germany. Mao is the winner, hands down; he influenced most of China as opposed to most of Germany. Seriously, these Hitler votes are a bit ridiculous.

Largest? Mao = China = More people than everyone else combined.

We have a bingo!

Most Persistant? Hitler. See "neo-nazi", "anti-jew arabs/turks" and assorted villians still mooning over Mein Kampf.

Lenin and Stalin have been around longer and have just as big a following, if not greater.

Most dedicated? Hirihito.

Who? :confused: Ah, Hirohito?

Can you say Bushido? I thought you could. Had he not personally surrendered - while keeping the throne - every Japanese on the home islands would have died - either in combat or seppuku.

Not to start the whole bit over again (last go around with this was in a Hiroshima thread), but that shows almost no knowledge of Japanese culture.

A certain wonderful feature: who of these two was more spectacular?
Macias Nguema named an island after himself - ammounting to half of his country (albeit a small one). Mobutu gave his name to a huge lake.
And then Stalin: so many cities, in so many countries! Stalino, Stalinabad, Stalinakan, Orasul Stalin etc.
Note: Stalingrad is not included, as it was named after him before he was in power.

Kim Jong-Il

crazy short guy

Mao.

First of all, Christ was never a world leader. More people believe in Jesus than worship any of the people on the list, but he wasn't a world leader.

I'm going with Hitler. Not because swarms of people want to implement his policy (only a handful really do), but because he's a magnetic personality.. just the numbers of books and movies written/made about Hitler makes him #1.. he also accounts for like 2/3 of History Channel programming. :p

WHy so many modern figures?
I'd say either Jesus or Muhammed(sp), not only do they have folowings in the bilions now, they have them going back ~2000/~1000 years back respectivly.

First of all, Christ was never a world leader. More people believe in Jesus than worship any of the people on the list, but he wasn't a world leader.

I'm going with Hitler. Not because swarms of people want to implement his policy (only a handful really do), but because he's a magnetic personality.. just the numbers of books and movies written/made about Hitler makes him #1.. he also accounts for like 2/3 of History Channel programming. :p
Hm millions around the world follow what they see as his word and follow what they see as his teachings, that sounds like a world leader to me.

Hm millions around the world follow what they see as his word and follow what they see as his teachings, that sounds like a world leader to me.

You're using a different definition. A world leader is someone who leads a State or political movement. Jesus was a religious figure, and his movement a religious movement. Christ may be on the governing board of the afterlife, but he's never lead a State. He doesn't belong on the same list as Mao or Hitler or Stalin.

You're using a different definition. A world leader is someone who leads a State or political movement. Jesus was a religious figure, and his movement a religious movement. Christ may be on the governing board of the afterlife, but he's never lead a State. He doesn't belong on the same list as Mao or Hitler or Stalin.
The OP never said any thing about state leaders they said world, these could just as easily be religous as political.

Kim Il Sung. Hitler didn't even come close, because his cult wasn't focused around himself, but around Nazi ideology.

The OP never said any thing about state leaders they said world, these could just as easily be religous as political.

The term "world leaders" is used to describe political figures. This is common parlance.. You'll never hear Christ (or Muhammad or the Buddha, etc.) described as a "world leader.." even though Muhammad lead armies. Religious leaders are described as religious leaders.

Not exactly World leaders, are they? You should have titled this 'Which dictator has/had the largest cult of personality in history?'.
But I digress.

I'd go for Hitler, as he's had more movies made about him than anyone else.

Stalin.

Easily.

I'd say Lenin more than Stalin...

Stalin was the "grandfather", but Lenin was the "god".

What about Enver Hoxha? Or Qaddafi? Or Saddam? Or Ceausescu? Or Lenin?

Although, I think political leaders may take a blow from other figures: dare I nominate Marx?
Also, people from earlier times are almost never mentioned, although it was norm in their times to have a personality cult surrounding them (Queen Victoria to Hammurabi etc.). To be the devil's advocate: why would it be anacronical today? Especially since... there's Beckham!

My conclusion: Jesus would have to be no. 1.
As much as I agree the thread is actually world leaders not spiritual leaders. That also takes out the Pope and Buddah and to some degree the Dali Lama. Though the Dali Lama still has weight in the world political field

Kim Il Sung. Hitler didn't even come close, because his cult wasn't focused around himself, but around Nazi ideology.
I would disagree. Hitler had everything focused on him which is a MAJOR reason the Germany lost the war. Kim Il Sung is just a cockroach from another planet planning worl domination didn't you see Team America. If not don't waste your time!!!!! But thought I would bring some humour to the thread.


And hey look GMC Military it has more than one line. So you can't remove me unlike you did to TB.

Mao, no question.

Mao, no question.
Only within China. Hitler has/had followers world-wide. Henry Ford for one...
How many skinheads have you ever seen with the Comunist flag tattooed on their face?

What about Enver Hoxha? Or Qaddafi? Or Saddam? Or Ceausescu? Or Lenin?

Although, I think political leaders may take a blow from other figures: dare I nominate Marx?
Also, people from earlier times are almost never mentioned, although it was norm in their times to have a personality cult surrounding them (Queen Victoria to Hammurabi etc.). To be the devil's advocate: why would it be anacronical today? Especially since... there's Beckham!

My conclusion: Jesus would have to be no. 1.

Shit, I forgot Saddam, too. Oh, and who is Hoxha?

Lenin and Qaddafi have/had pretty big personality cults, but nothing like the people on my list.

If we're talking past and present then I'm going to forego the obvious answer ( :cool: ) and go with another well known teacher of valuable information;

Jesus Christ.

Forget cricifixes, catholics and the rare celibate priest. How many WWJD? jewelry items have been sold?

Admit it! You have one, don't you?!?

Did you even read my first post? :mad:

WHy so many modern figures?
I'd say either Jesus or Muhammed(sp), not only do they have folowings in the bilions now, they have them going back ~2000/~1000 years back respectivly.

*sigh*

Read my first post. :rolleyes:

A certain wonderful feature: who of these two was more spectacular?
Macias Nguema named an island after himself - ammounting to half of his country (albeit a small one). Mobutu gave his name to a huge lake.
And then Stalin: so many cities, in so many countries! Stalino, Stalinabad, Stalinakan, Orasul Stalin etc.
Note: Stalingrad is not included, as it was named after him before he was in power.

Trujillo named practically everything in the whole damn country (Dominican Republic) after himself.

No, in Cuba it would have to be Che. Actually, Castro has no cult to speak of - I mean, his image in society is just like President's Bush on FOX News.

I strongly considered adding Che to the poll, but declined, as he wasn't technically a world leader.

Lenin - by far. His image is still everywhere in Russia - his body has been "preserved" for decades - and is currently guarded by no less than 20 guards. I mean - it's a dead body, but you have to walk through a metal detector to look at it. Besides that - everybody and their mom in Siberia and the Far East States still thinks highly of Lenin. He forbid God in his society, and put himself in Gods place. And there's a lot of people in Russia.

First of all, Christ was never a world leader. More people believe in Jesus than worship any of the people on the list, but he wasn't a world leader.

I'm going with Hitler. Not because swarms of people want to implement his policy (only a handful really do), but because he's a magnetic personality.. just the numbers of books and movies written/made about Hitler makes him #1.. he also accounts for like 2/3 of History Channel programming. :p

Jesus sort of became a world leader long after his death. I suppose he was a late bloomer. :p

But to say that Jesus and his believers don't have a major effect and control over world events would be a falsehood.

That poll is missing Che Guevara and Castro.

Of those, I choose Stalin.

That poll is missing Che Guevara and Castro.

Of those, I choose Stalin.

Che wasn't a world leader.

And Castro has a personality cult to be sure, but nothing rivalling the all-pervasive cults of the people on the poll.

Jesus sort of became a world leader long after his death. I suppose he was a late bloomer. :p

But to say that Jesus and his believers don't have a major effect and control over world events would be a falsehood.

Yeah, I know.. but I separate the political from the spiritual, since Jesus never commanded a unified political movement or State, and there hasn't really been a Christian state (even if it's declared a state religion), since Jesus didn't lay down many rigid laws (e.g. Sharii'a Law).. more like ideals.

Did you even read my first post? :mad:

Yes. ANd one can be a religious leader AND a world leader. Look at the Ayatollahs. ANd the Pope.

Eliminating world leaders simply because they are members/leaders of major religious sects is unnecessarily limiting.

Chairman Mao, the Great Helmsman for sure, I mean DUDE, CHINA, think about it, Hugest Country of all! So he's going to be the biggest Personality Cult of all....

Will you guys please stop hijacking the thread? This is about world leaders, not religious figures. Thanks.

Yeah, I know.. but I separate the political from the spiritual, since Jesus never commanded a unified political movement or State, and there hasn't really been a Christian state (even if it's declared a state religion), since Jesus didn't lay down many rigid laws (e.g. Sharii'a Law).. more like ideals.

There is very little separation between political and spiritual. Even in the most secular of states, religion is a major political issue. At best, religion is a political issue.

In many countries, there is NO separation. Look at Iran.

Will you guys please stop hijacking the thread? This is about world leaders, not religious figures. Thanks.

Religious figures ARE world leaders.

Religious figures ARE world leaders.

I mean heads of state. If you want to name religious heads of state, i.e. a Pope, Ayatollah, whatever, fine, but not Jesus or Mohammed or whomever.

Che wasn't a world leader.

And Castro has a personality cult to be sure, but nothing rivalling the all-pervasive cults of the people on the poll.Well, Castro is the embodiment of Ernesto's cult. ;)


However, that poll is missing Atatürk: He's still devotly worshipped by ALL turks.

However, that poll is missing Atatürk: He's still devotly worshipped by ALL turks.

Never heard of him. :confused:

Never heard of him. :confused:

"Ataturk" means "Father of Turks" in Turkish.. he's kinda important to them.. Like Gandhi, he got a new name. :p He started out as Mustafa Kemal..