It's time for a breather, America. Fire up the grill, ice down the drinks, and pop open that patio umbrella. Health care, the oil spill, Afghanistan, China, Elena Kagan and financial reform will all be waiting on Tuesday, July 6th. We promise. What won't be, though, is the chance to lean back and remember why we care enough about our country to spar over these things and in the end, remain united.
"Freedom," Albert Camus pointed out, "is nothing else but a chance to be better." For 234 years, America has strived, fought, invented, pushed, pulled and dragged itself towards the better. Fortune was keen to enumerate our progress.
There's no claim to ranking or exclusivity here, so leave the nitpicking aside for another day, though feel free to add to our list in the comments section. Without further ado, and in almost no particular order, we present the Fortune 100 Great Things About America.
1. The Internet
Oh yes, invented in the USA -- maybe Al Gore helped.
2. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
3. Baseball
America's pastime…steroids or not
4. Mount Rushmore
Home of the original "your face here" gimmick
5. Food in New Orleans
If you can remember it the next morning
6. Rock and roll
Find a Beatles or Stones song uninfluenced by American music. Just try.
7. Hawaii
Mauna Kea, Kaua'i…you gotta see it to believe it.
8. iPod, iPad, and everything Apple
9. Barbecue
Carolina, Mississippi, K.C., Memphis…it's all good.
10. Ford Mustang
Who needs a German car? We'll take the classic.
11. Wikipedia
This article that mentions a popular fact site is a stub. You can help us by expanding it.
12. Buffalo
Because this is a real sentence: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. Don't believe us? Check on #11.
13. Slam dunks
Thanks to Doctor J
14. Broadway
If the Lion King ever closes, Cats will come back.
15. Bluebirds
Listen to mine sing
16. Google
Because no one stands up to China better
17. Mark Twain
The original American bad-ass
18. The national anthem
19. Iced drinks
When will the rest of the world figure this out?
20. Beaches
Cape Cod, Kiawah, Zuma -- ours are better.
21. Madison Square Garden
A little threadbare but still the biggest stage in America's biggest city
22. Delivery pizza
23. The Grateful Dead
Long may the followers of Uncle John's Band live on.
24. YouTube
We keep clicking on home videos even after Charlie bit our finger -- again!
25. The Super Bowl
The parties, the ads -- oh and a sports game, too
26. Fishing
China rules the commercial catch, but more people fish for fun here than anywhere else.
27. Monopoly
A game we sometimes play in real life, too.
28. The Big Apple Circus
Where joy and, occasionally, fear comes in clown twelve-packs by tiny car
29. M&M's
Imitators don't stand a chance
30. Facebook
Friend us? Just kidding… but seriously. Please friend us.
31. Thanksgiving
Loosen your belt and watch the parade
32. Pickup trucks
Our nation's first outlet for unfunny bumper stickers
33. The Simpsons
May Bart and Lisa never make it to high school.
34. Oprah Winfrey
But after 2011, no more free cars for the audience
35. Frisbees
Not just for dogs
36. Mad Men
Jon Hamm + Christina Hendricks = cooler than the actual '60s
37. New York/Boston sports rivalry
For our safety, we decline to comment.
38. MRI machine
Perfect for after that Yanks-Sox game
39. Patagonia
The first to make polyester clothes out of old plastic bottles
40. Archie Comics
Betty or Veronica: 68 years and the debate rages on
41. The Golden Gate Bridge
Dirty Harry meets Full House. Uh oh.
42. Jazz
Even before Ken Burns discovered it
43. Fantasy football
44. S'mores
45. Trader Joe's
If cheap wine were apples, we present the modern Johnny Appleseed. Amen.
46. The 4th of July
47. Harley Davidson
The motorcycle company that has survived both the Great Depression and the Hybrid Obsession
48. March Madness
So crazy it spills into April
49. Scrabble
As Facebook proved, it's Scrabulous
50. Kegs
Even useful when empty, as moorings
51. Slip 'N Slide
Simple. Genius.
52. Ice cream
Ben and Jerry's, Breyers, soft serve… ours freezes the competition
53. Yellowstone National Park
54. Oreos
This choice bribed by the secret dairy farmers' cartel
55. Edward R. Murrow
A journalist who was cool? Sigh.
56. Restaurant week
The one week a year when snooty waiters have to play nice
57. Washington D.C. monuments at night
Lincoln looks good
58. Bugs Bunny
Every parent's dream: he's nice to doctors and he eats his veggies
59. Etch A Sketch
Don't shake away our faith in this one
60. Coca-cola
Hmmm… what does the "coca" stand for again?
61. Flip flops
Not the John Kerry kind, though both can be found on Nantucket
62. Vegas weddings
63. Napa wine
If anyone orders Merlot, we're leaving
64. Willie Nelson
Trigger
65. eBay
The only place where you can buy a single cornflake
66. Blueberries
Our favorite fruit that can't check email
67. The Rockettes
E-leg-trifying!
68. Charles Barkley
Hosting Saturday Night Live and pitching for T-Mobile, Sir Charles is now larger than life
69. Blue jeans
Levi Strauss invented the modern version only to see them become boringly ubiquitous
70. County fairs
We recommend you eat your corndog after swinging that sledgehammer at the High Striker game
71. The Oscars
A celebration of everything good and awful about Hollywood
72. Veterans
Thank you
73. Steakhouses
Thankfully, not rare
74. The Tiffany box
The only package more powerful than its contents
75. Sports mascots
The San Diego Chicken vs. the Phillie Phanatic
76. The Great Lakes
77. Salt water taffy
Delicious even though they contain neither salt nor water
78. Roller coasters
Possibly the only 30-second activity worth a three-hour wait
79. HBO
Even if we're unsold on the vampire craze
80. The Everglades
Where else would you go to get drunk and wrestle an alligator?
81. Bonnie and Clyde
Do you and your honey bunny rob banks? No? Then sit down.
82. Chewing gum
But please, remember that it's a silent activity
83. The light bulb
And we just keep inventing better ones!
84. Religious freedom
From Pilgrims to scientologists
85. Bagels
If you've never tried one, come to New York and make your first one an H&H
86. Judd Apatow films
87. The Billboard 100
Measuring our music since 1958
88. Chipotle
And the guacamole really is worth the extra $2.25
89. Dalmatians on fire trucks
Black and white and red all over
90. Disney movies
Not yours, Nicholas Cage. The old school, animated ones
91. New Year's Eve
Every country has one, but they all watch Times Square
92. Elvis Presley
A hound-dog and the King
93. Cowboys
94. Turducken
A true American delicacy: a chicken in a duck in a turkey
95. Netflix
The only movie rental survivor
96. Spring Break
We plead the Fifth
97. Escalators
First used commercially in Yonkers, NY in 1899—who knew?
98. Stand-up comedy
Unless you are singled out
99. Redwood trees
The oldest is 2,200 years old
100. Bendy straws
Invented by a Cleveland entrepreneur—and perhaps Ohio's most significant contribution, though we tip our hats to the Wright Brothers and its 8 U.S. Presidents
101. Charlie Brown
Sorry, Charlie, maybe next time you'll crack the top 100
104. the way a southern girl talks......mmmmmmmm nice.
The Myth
The Legend
Chuck Norris, accept no Substitute.
But I still like England, America is a great place, went there on holiday (: Not many fat people, which is one sterotype there.
England made it but America Expanded because the Guy who made Coca-Cola was sent to America during your Civil War Because the English were helping the South were he was put so take that History lession my friend and don't argue about this people it was on Discovery not Wikipedia were random un-educated people put false information 90 % of the time :D
Thats actually pretty sad.
I hated this teacher. And I hate people like that.
But I can't change anything about that.
But there is a big negative thing about the USA... And that thingy is called Wisonsin....
If you say america you should also count things like Buritos and Cape Horn. Since this whole continent is America. So please say the USA. Not just America.
But let's check the greatest thing about Europe:
1. Settled in what is now called the USA.
You say you have an issue with Wisconsin, care to elaborate?
That was meant to be positive. Like: only good thing europe ever did was sending people in their little boats over to America.
Hey but never mind. Just keep acting like the wise old guy who kind of insults everyone for little reasons.
Peace Brother!
peace lil brother, or sister, or what ever you claim to be.
(That's something we say in Germany. I dont know if people say it in America, too)
Yet again America has claimed fame for something they did not invent.
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Feel that burn.
British engineer and computer scientist and MIT professor credited with inventing the World Wide Web, making the first proposal for it in March 1989.
the internet has been around a lot longer than 1989. yes young one there was an online community even before 1989 going back as far as the 50's. so i ask again, do you know what the difference between the world wide web and the internet is? its ok not to know something. we all once new nothing until we learned.
ps i just had to;
"Feel that burn."
America = internet creation ----→ proof
http://www.tech-faq.com/who-invented-the-internet.html
Plus Americans don't even speak their own language. ;-)
How about this, prove what you say is true. Lets start small. Like most people who don't know what they are talking about, go look up Monopoly and its history. then post your link to your facts. without having to search I already know the history. Here is a hint, Milton Bradly didn't want to buy the game during the great depression due to the fact that, they though it would be depressing as a game. Don't go learn for me, go learn for yourself.
But I'd add turning on a red light and free soft-drink refills to your list. Worth a thousand ball-games.
#1-Highest obesity rate
#2-Highest crime rate
#3-Texans are dumb as f*ck
Feel free to continue this list and get more bad things than there are good things.
blueberries? how does that make america great? loads of countries have them.
dalmations on fire trucks? in what way does that make america great?
cowboys? have oyu watched videos of rodeo? all the torture and shit that happens at rodeos and how cowboys claim to love their animals and stuff but when a bull chases them they shit themselves and dont give a fuck about their horses. cba to say more, and why do you say "100 Great Things About America" and then post 101? how fucking stupid can you be?
I have no idea what that is...
3. Baseball
I don't get baseball and never will.
4. Mount Rushmore
Couple of faces on a mountain and it probably took a lot of time and money to make this useless ting
5. Food in New Orleans
I don't get what's so special.
6. Rock and roll
American music is originally European music since America itself is originated from Europe
8. iPod, iPad, and everything Apple
Everything Apple is designed in America, but made in China
9. Barbecue
They are all over the world, not just America..
12. Buffalo
You can make a sentence out of buffalo only, big whoop.
13. Slam dunks
Are not important.
14. Broadway
If the Lion King ever closes, Cats will come back.
15. Bluebirds
What is that?
17. Mark Twain
Is who?
18. The national anthem
Of what country? I have to say, that's just self centered and also, have you even heard other national anthems. I think yours is nothing special.
19. Iced drinks
And they are only in America? Or were they even invented in America?
20. Beaches
I don't think so, have you ever tried the beaches in Iceland? Almost all of them with black sand, waves that are so extreme that if you don't watch yourself, you might be dead in a few seconds. The rocks in the water ate sharp and pointy and the waves hit them with full force making a really cool effect. Now say that your beaches are the best, because they're not. Our beaches are hardcore and there's nothing you can do about it!
21. Madison Square Garden
It's only a stage.
22. Delivery pizza
Also almost everywhere else.
23. The Grateful Dead
whatever that is.
25. The Super Bowl
The parties, the ads -- oh and a sports game, too
26. Fishing
that is if you count by how many, but if you count by percentage, which is only fair to smaller countries, i believe there is a big percentage of fishing for fun for example here in Iceland.
28. The Big Apple Circus
It's a circus, i like Cirque De Sole much better.
29. M&M's
It's chocolate with sugar. I prefer just chocolate.
32. Pickup trucks
They're not cool...
36. Mad Men
I don't get what's so fun.
37. New York/Boston sports rivalry
Bunch of no-brain all-muscle guys running around like idiots (which they are)
38. MRI machine
I have no idea what that is.
40. Archie Comics
Never seen them never intend to.
41. The Golden Gate Bridge
It's a bridge, other countries have bridges, too.
43. Fantasy football
Yeah, don't even get me started.
44. S'mores
Do I even have to ask what that is?
45. Trader Joe's
Cheap store, we all have them.
46. The 4th of July
Just like the 17th of June in Iceland. Yeah, you're not the only one.
48. March Madness
Whatever that is.
50. Kegs
Get people to drink too much and regret for at least a week.
52. Ice cream
I isn't that special and i'm pretty sure the Italian ones are better.
53. Yellowstone National Park
Volcano or not? I don't care.
55. Edward R. Murrow
Whoever that is.
57. Washington D.C. monuments at night
Weird statues with some different light...
61. Flip flops
They're extremely uncomfortable.
63. Napa wine
Italian and French is better.
64. Willie Nelson
I don't know, I don't care.
65. eBay
Where people steal from you and you can't do shit.
66. Blueberries
Exist not only in America.
67. The Rockettes
Don't know don't care
68. Charles Barkley
Don't know don't care
72. Veterans
Not only in America.
73. Steakhouses
Not only in America
74. The Tiffany box
Don't know don't care
76. The Great Lakes
Lakes... Big whoop.
77. Salt water taffy
Caramels.
81. Bonnie and Clyde
Never saw it don't intend to
82. Chewing gum
Not only in America
84. Religious freedom
Westboro Baptist Church. That is all.
85. Bagels
Not only in America
86. Judd Apatow films
Never saw don't intend to
87. The Billboard 100
Whatever that is.
88. Chipotle
Don't know don't care
89. Dalmatians on fire trucks
???
91. New Year's Eve
I'm pretty sure no one in Iceland watches Time Square because we're too busy blowing up tons and tons of fireworks per person, and I mean TONS.
93. Cowboys
Brokeback Mountain
94. Turducken
Wrong, and heart disease.
95. Netflix
I don't use it and I don't intend to.
96. Spring Break
we all have that
97. Escalators
Because you're too lazy to walk a few metres
98. Stand-up comedy
Not only in America
99. Redwood trees
they're trees.
101. Charlie Brown
Nope.
BUT!!:
Don't even try to argue about Icecream. Ben&Jerrys is the best. And if I say the best I mean like the fucking best Icecream you will ever eat in your life.
And Mark Twain... Are you seriously?! Huckelberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Ever heard of em?
But Italian icecream is the best!!!