# The greatest LIVING American hero. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504 "2002-12-18T06:40:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/101 "2002-12-19T05:38:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BZ00000 \* > \*\*Well, Madonna doesn’t beat her children. :rolleyes: > > So she has that going for her. \*\* Yeah, God forbid someone discipline their child for engaging in illegal activities :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/102 "2002-12-19T06:41:16Z")
God forbid a 17 year old wants to experiment with drugs without getting the shit beat out of him. pkbites used the broad term “drugs” but I would just about bet he wasn’t shooting heroin or smoking crack. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/103 "2002-12-19T07:13:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > God forbid a 17 year old wants to experiment with drugs without getting the shit beat out of him. Remove the sarcasm, and I think you’re on to something. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/104 "2002-12-19T07:27:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cabbage \* > \*\*What! You mean that fucked up dude that shot President Reagan? I believe you meant Ralph _Hanley_. \*\* Actually, the character on the _Greatest American Hero_ was originally Ralph Hinckley and it was changed to Hanley after the shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/105 "2002-12-19T10:44:42Z")
So, **pk** , when you say you ‘kicked the shit’ out of your son, was that physically, verbally, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/106 "2002-12-19T10:49:17Z")
As for her choice, I personally wouldn’t have selected Madonna as greatest living hero, but I can see how a case could be made for her. I’m actually not sure who I’d choose, as most of my picks for recent heroes died in the course of their heroism. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/107 "2002-12-19T11:34:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kabbes \* > \*\*Ra-ra-rasputin, Russia’s favorite love machine? \*\* He ruled the Russian land and nevermind the Tsar. Marc ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/108 "2002-12-19T12:02:48Z")
He could preach the bible like a preacher, full of exstacy and fire, But he also was the kind of teacher women would desire… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/109 "2002-12-19T12:20:29Z")
Was it Judge Judy? ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/110 "2002-12-19T14:07:52Z")
I once had a girlfriend who loved Madonna so much she tied me to a bed and poured hot candle wax on my chest, just like in _Body of Evidence_. It wasn’t erotic. I hate Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/111 "2002-12-19T14:18:14Z")
I vote for Jack Black or that cute carpenter guy on Trading Spaces. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/112 "2002-12-19T14:56:40Z")
Diane, you’d vote for any guy with a tool, right? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/113 "2002-12-19T15:50:09Z")
You know it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504/114 "2002-12-19T23:20:24Z")
Without getting into too much detail, my s.o. and I had had enough of the lying, stealing. poor grades, etc. Then came the drugs, everything except heroin. And the arrests. The last straw was when he thought he’d get away with taking a swing at me. Yes, I kicked the shit out of him. It worked for the better. I’d rather not get to deeply into past troubles if you don’t mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-living-american-hero/143504.md?page=5)