Living National Treasures

[Brigid]

What individuals today would you consider to be "Living National Treasures" -- indivduals whose outspokenness, courage, and intelligence make them extremely valuable in this country right now? I'll start with a couple:

Jon Stewart and Bruce Springsteen.

Who else should be added to the list?

[mark11727]

1. Helen Thomas...?

[Mist]

2. Gore Vidal.

[BuyingThyme]

3. Cindy Sheehan.

[babylonsister]

4. Bill Moyers. Molly Ivins. Michael Moore. Greg Palast. nt

[WiseButAngrySara]

14. Excellent choices! ....n/t

[Kutjara]

5. Pete Seeger

[Amy6627]

6. David Letterman

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. You

and me

and everyone :)

[Cameron27]

8. Naom Chomsky

[BuyingThyme]

9. Ehren Watada

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. Al Gore.

Cornel West.

Kurt Vonnegut.

[Fridays Child]

11. I'll second Al Gore. nt

[Tanuki]

12. Studs Terkel, E.L. Doctorow

also several that others have already named

[WiseButAngrySara]

13. Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, ...n/t

[Odin2005]

15. Jimmy Carter

[etherealtruth]

16. Jimmy Carter!

(just agreeing, emphatically)

edit: added "emphatically"

[femmocrat]

17. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Walter and Joan Mondale. Geraldine Ferraro.

John Murtha

[mod mom]

18. JOHN CONYERS!

[IChing]

19. General Sherman, who I just visited last week.

Estimated age: 2300-2700 years
Height Above Base: 274.9 ft
Maximum Diameter at Base: 30.5 ft
Height of First Large Branch: 130 ft
Diameter of Largest Branch: 6.5 ft
Volume of Trunk: 52,500 cubic feet

[bunkerbuster1]

20. Oh, THAT General Sherman.

The other one wasn't exactly an American slouch either.

[Selatius]

21. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.! Nobody said his name yet! n/t

[Jara sang]

22. George Na'ope

http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/Heritage06/Naope.html

GEORGE NA'OPE
Kumu Hula (Hula Master)
Hilo, HI
George Na'ope's full name is George Lanakilakekiahiali'i Na'ope, but throughout the Hawaiian Islands he is known simply as "Uncle George." He is revered for his knowledge and mastery of traditional hula and chant. Born on O'ahu and raised in Hilo, Na'ope began his studies of hula at the age of three under the training of his great grandmother, Mary Malia-Puka-o-ka-lani Na'ope who lived to be over 100 years old. By the age of 12 he was already performing on recordings of Hawaiian music. Upon graduation from high school, he moved to Honolulu and opened the George Na'ope Hula School.

A lifelong teacher, in 1962 he founded the Merrie Monarch Festival. A landmark turning point in the renaissance of Hawaiian culture, the festival is focused on the traditional chant and dance of the islands. Recognized by the Governor and Hawaii State Legislature with the designation "Living Golden Treasure," he has welcomed both President Franklin Roosevelt and President John F. Kennedy to Hawaii and he more recently represented Hawaii at the royal wedding of Japan's Emperor Akahito.

[novalib]

23. Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is certainly a National Treasure.