# In your humble opinion, who are your countries "national treasures"? (other countries, too, if you like!) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504 "2022-06-20T14:22:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/41 "2022-06-21T15:36:42Z")
Stephen Fry is a great choice. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/42 "2022-06-21T16:22:11Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > **Andrew Lloyd Webber** for whichever country he claims Well, speaking from the UK, I feel little enthusiasm for this one. Is that just me? On the other hand, how could I forget Billy Connolly? j ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/43 "2022-06-21T16:29:34Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > I’m going to guess **Andrew Lloyd Webber** for whichever country he claims. Lord Webber, peer of the realm by Grace of the Tory Party, is UK also. He does good tunes, but his politics are going to be a turn off for a sizeable minority. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/44 "2022-06-21T16:41:23Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Most of the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race have already passed, so I’m having a hard time coming up with others. How about the crew of Apollo 8? Last I checked, they were all alive. I had the privilege of seeing them–all three together, sitting on stage in the same configuration as they sat in their Apollo 8 capsule, in Chicago, in (IIRC) 2018. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, Bill Anders. Apollo 8 is, to many who follow the history of the space race, the mission in which the USA “won.” It wasn’t the landing, but it certainly was the first time humankind had reached and orbited the moon. And Anders’ “Earthrise” photo helped [kick off the environmental movement](https://www.engadget.com/2018-12-24-earthrise-50-years-the-big-picture.html). [![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sisypheanhigh.com/umwelt/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/william-anders-earthrise.jpg) ](https://i0.wp.com/www.sisypheanhigh.com/umwelt/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/william-anders-earthrise.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/45 "2022-06-21T17:11:08Z")
Fair point. There are all still alive and will certainly be mourned on passing. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/46 "2022-06-21T17:25:13Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Lord Webber, peer of the realm by Grace of the Tory Party, is UK also. > > He does good tunes, but his politics are going to be a turn off for a sizeable minority. The graceless way he closed a show that wasn’t making enough for the size of the theatre that (presumably) he had chosen gave his reputation a bit of a knock. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/jun/13/a-costly-mistake-andrew-lloyd-webber-booed-as-cinderella-closes-in-west-end](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/jun/13/a-costly-mistake-andrew-lloyd-webber-booed-as-cinderella-closes-in-west-end) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/47 "2022-06-21T17:25:16Z")
Sir Edmund Hillary? ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/48 "2022-06-21T17:35:15Z")
Deceased in 2008 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/49 "2022-06-21T17:39:05Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > It’s been a long time since I lived in New Zealand, so my cultural references are from quite a ways back. Most of the people I thought might be considered National Treasures to Kiwis are either long gone, or are internationally known, like Temuera Morrison or Sam Neill or Lucy Lawless. > > But a couple spring to mind. Celebrity Chef [Alison Holst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Holst), and News Presenter [Dougal Stevenson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougal_Stevenson). Coincidentally they are both from my home town, but they were beloved during my childhood and still elicit respect today. > > A few others: [Roger Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Hall_(playwright)); [Ilona Rodgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilona_Rodgers); [Kiri Te Kanawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiri_Te_Kanawa). I don’t know very much about New Zealand, but my first thought were the Finn brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/50 "2022-06-21T17:48:13Z")
Stephen King Bob Dylan Willie Nelson Jimmy Carter Bill Murray Muhammad Ali ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/51 "2022-06-21T20:28:34Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I don’t know very much about New Zealand, but my first thought were the Finn brothers. Fair call. A lot of musicians would fit. Dave Dobbyn, Annie Crummer, Margaret Urlich, but I’m not sure how relevant they are to a current generation. They may have all faded from the Zeitgeist. ---
**Author:** ![Jaguars](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaguars/32/5879_2.png) [@Jaguars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaguars)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/52 "2022-06-23T00:17:32Z")
Dave Dobbyn is a definite yes, and Neil Finn, but the others mentioned keep much lower profiles. My first thought was Suzy Cato, but she perhaps is a more generational icon who also hasnt been seen much after leaving childrens tv. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/53 "2022-06-23T04:58:41Z")
I don’t think President Obama’s value as a role model should be underestimated so I would nominate him as a national treasure ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/54 "2022-06-23T09:55:14Z")
> [@Jaguars](#): > > My first thought was Suzy Cato A friend of mine was a camera operator on _You and Me_ with Suzy Cato. I was well jealous. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/55 "2022-06-23T10:24:27Z")
I’m surprised I have to be the one to name Bruce Springsteen. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/56 "2022-06-23T15:36:22Z")
Italy: Sophia Loren ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/57 "2022-06-23T15:37:02Z")
A fashionable but IMO valid addition for the UK: Kate Bush ---
**Author:** ![mjmartin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mjmartin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmartin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/58 "2022-06-23T16:01:37Z")
Jon Stewart. His show jump started the careers of a bunch of comics who have gone on to bigger things, and his advocacy for the 9/11 responders is phenomenal. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/59 "2022-06-23T16:22:12Z")
There were a few videos put out yesterday from the ceremony for Jon’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. They’re very touching and funny and worth checking out. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504/60 "2022-06-23T18:38:19Z")
For a list of people who were selected by representatives of the United States Government, you might want to check the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, or the Congressional Gold Medal. The awards for the latter have tended to be for groups, such as: “The United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-humble-opinion-who-are-your-countries-national-treasures-other-countries-too-if-you-like/966504.md?page=4)