# Your National Treasures (Do you call them that?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829 "2025-02-26T14:21:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/1 "2025-02-26T14:21:08Z")
In another thread I recently referred to Seasick Steve as “something approaching [a] National Treasure (Overseas Division)”. Now, I think of the term National Treasure as essentially a British concept – but surely other countries must have something similar? The Cambridge dictionary gives this definition Noun UK Someone or something of which a particular country is very proud Firstly, I would restrict the definition to “someone”; secondly, I think there has to be a deep fondness involved. The first name that comes to my mind is Judy Dench. I asked Mrs T and she also said “Dame Judy” – so that’s my British exemplar. Others? David Attenborough. Michael Palin. Helen Mirren. Delia Smith. Stephen Fry. So my question is – every country has their National Treasures, right? Is that how you refer to them? Who are they? (And please expand if we’re not likely to know them.) j Footnote 1 – Delia Smith is a much loved TV cook, also famed for a colossally (and endearingly) drunken outburst at a football match Footnote 2 – What do we think about the idea of “National Treasure (Overseas Division)”? Footnote 3 – My personal guess at a US National Treasure: Alan Alda Footnote 4 - Discourse observes “Your topic is similar to: _NZ national newspaper: police call-out for possum_” ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/2 "2025-02-26T14:40:27Z")
Alan Alda? ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/3 "2025-02-26T14:47:23Z")
Bad guess, huh? j ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/4 "2025-02-26T14:48:56Z")
As an official concept/title, I believe it originatedin Japan: > **[Living National Treasure (Japan)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_National_Treasure_(Japan))** > > Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhō) is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties (重要無形文化財保持者, Jūyō Mukei Bunkazai Hojisha) by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (文化財保護法, Bunkazai Hogohō). The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informal term referencing the cultural properties d Th... In the UK, it’s somewhat jokey (we do have a pretty wide-ranging system of official honours and titles\* after all). I’d add to the UK list David Attenborough (of course), Miriam Margolyes and maybe Stephen Fry. \*And let’s not forget the exclusive lists of members of the [Order of Merit](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Merit) and the [Companions of Honour](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Companions_of_Honour). ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/5 "2025-02-26T14:52:57Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Bad guess, huh? No, just a little strange. He’s hardly mentioned these days. In fact, Alan Alda could represent the present condition of the US. In his prime, Alda was reviled by Maga types as the prime Hollywood trope of the wussification of the he-man American image that Hollywood liberals were emasculating. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/6 "2025-02-26T14:53:44Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Footnote 3 – My personal guess at a US National Treasure: Alan Alda Maybe for a short time due to the success of the TV show MASH. He had very limited success aside from that. USAians have short memories and short sight. Oprah would have been in the category of National Treasure while her show was on the air. She is very influential still, but more so behind the scenes. Right now Taylor Swift owns the title of US National Treasure, and she is likely to hold on to it for a while as a representative of traditional Americana. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/7 "2025-02-26T15:01:22Z")
Interesting. I can’t think of a British example anywhere near as young as Taylor Swift. The youngest British “candidate” I can recall would be Caroline Aherne.(died age 52). You can achieve youthful greatness, but I think that’s a different thing (or different interpretation) in this country. j ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/8 "2025-02-26T15:19:55Z")
I think the first time I ever heard the phrase in conjunction with a living American, was on the 2nd Bob Newhart Show, where someone says “Buddy Hackett?? He’s a national treasure!” Which got a big laugh from the studio audience. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/9 "2025-02-26T15:49:34Z")
I’d say that Betty White was one for a long time, and Dolly Parton is basically the current national treasure. Great music, good sense of humor, and dedicated to doing good. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/10 "2025-02-26T15:53:12Z")
Both good picks. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/11 "2025-02-26T15:53:48Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Dolly Parton is basically the current national treasure Good call. A “national treasure” should have widespread acclaim and respect. Even in these contentious times, Dolly Parton has that. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/12 "2025-02-26T16:03:09Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Firstly, I would restrict the definition to “someone”; secondly, I think there has to be a deep fondness involved. The first name that comes to my mind is Judy Dench [That bitch gets away with everything!](https://youtu.be/hNEfI6JnMJI?si=EUnyjyxTK1_qWbHZ) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/13 "2025-02-26T16:07:20Z")
Christopher Walken ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/14 "2025-02-26T16:14:14Z")
First thing that came to mind was the 4 CD set by Tom Petty. I happen to agree that he is [An American Treasure](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tom-petty-an-american-treasure/). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/15 "2025-02-26T16:33:56Z")
Indeed she does. > [@TriPolar](#): > > Right now Taylor Swift owns the title of US National Treasure, and she is likely to hold on to it for a while as a representative of traditional Americana. I kind of feel like Taylor Swift is sort of a proto-treasure, in the sense that people under say… 45 are really enamored with her, but as far as a “National Treasure” is concerned, she’s not there yet. She’s too polarizing, too young, and despite her staggering success, hasn’t been proven to stand the test of time. Come back in 2055, and she’ll most likely have gained that status, if she’s managed to stay relevant the whole time and continued to do good works. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/16 "2025-02-26T16:37:38Z")
I call some folks “international treasures”, even. My list is: - Werner Herzog - David Attenborough - Alan Alda (more of a national treasure, to be honest) - Dick Van Dyke - Mel Brooks Going more political: - Barack Obama, at least a true national treasure - Ellen Sirleaf I’m sure there are others. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/17 "2025-02-26T16:42:00Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’d say that Betty White was one for a long time, and Dolly Parton is basically the current national treasure. Great music, good sense of humor, and dedicated to doing good. Oh, I forgot about Dolly Parton. Yes, she is of great value to our nation and world. May she reach 110 years old. Steve Irwin was, too. Jimmy Carter, international treasure. The Queen, though that may be more controversial. Mainly due to the length of her reign. Mandela was an international treasures at the time as well. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/18 "2025-02-26T16:44:24Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > - Alan Alda (more of a national treasure, to be honest) I’m quoting myself. I’m surprised he wouldn’t be considered one. It isn’t just MASH, he is a great guy, very smart and eloquent, and just a great American in general. His science shows were great, as is his current podcast. My favorite recent moment from him was when he had A.I. write a MASH episode and, for real, got Mike Farrell to come in and act it out as BJ while Alda reprised his Hawkeye character. It was a hoot. BJ sounded identical. Alda’s voice has actually shifted a bit the last 5-7 years. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/19 "2025-02-26T17:35:36Z")
Since there is no official designation everyone is free to come up with their own. To me it can’t be “people I like” or “people a lot of people like” or even “people who are very talented.” It has to be people who are almost universally liked and admired for who they are not just what they do. Taylor Swift is way too decisive. She’s hated at least as much as she’s loved. I can really only think of a few. Mel Brooks, Dick Van Dyck. Willy Nelson. Until recently I would put Tom Hanks on that list but in the last few years Qanon bullshit has turned a lot of people against him. Meryl Streep maybe. Steve Martin and Martin Short form a cross border international treasure team. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829/20 "2025-02-26T20:33:14Z")
In Australia the term is used as a lazy journalistic cliche, except when its applied to our Kylie (Minogue), our Cate (Blanchett), Geoffrey Rush and Jackie Weaver. Although it is mainly arts and entertainment people who get the term now, the National Trust did a poll to determine Australia’s 100 living national treasures in 1997. It had a more even mix of sportos, community leaders, and standout scientists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-national-treasures-do-you-call-them-that/1014829.md?page=2)