The American Innovator American innovation has been the pride of America, it is what America is based upon. America probably wouldn't even exist if it weren't for this undying spirit. Innovation and new ideas drove our founding fathers to establish a new form of government from the British Monarchy. Through innovation America has overcome some of the greatest feats and threats it has ever faced. This innovation helps drive the human race towards a better and longer life. America is a capitalist state, which relies on its people to fuel and drive this innovative spirit even further. This is what creates what we know as American Icons. Innovative and creative spirit drives the soul of America's Icons. General Douglas MacArthur was one of the greatest military leaders of all time. He commanded the forces to victory in the Pacific Theater in World War II. His actions ended a very bloody war quickly through the unconditional surrender of Japan, as stated in this quote. “On 2 September, MacArthur received the formal Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, thus ending World War II.” (Wikipedia, Douglas MacArthur, Page 6) After the surrender of Japan, General MacArthur helped rebuild the Philippines and Japan. This helped settle hatred the Japanese had towards Allied Forces and also helped restore Japan as a functioning country. “Some believe MacArthur may have made his greatest contribution to history in the next five and a half years, as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan (SCAP).” (Wikipedia, Douglas MacArthur, Page 6) MacArthur's actions here set Japan on the right path. Japan became a formal democratic government, and was set on a path to become one of the top industrial powers in the world as stated in this quote. “MacArthur and his GHQ staff helped a devastated Japan rebuild itself, institute a democratic government, and chart a course that made Japan one of the world's leading industrial powers” Overall, Japan ended up a lot better than it had been at the start of the war. It was no longer a fascist government bent on murder and revenge. It was a prospering country which would in time become one of the greatest technologically advanced countries. Frank Lucas had started out with almost nothing in the beginning. Times were rough, and to make a honest buck just didn't provide a life of wealth. Frank Lucas decided to enter a life of crime and form a gang whose job it was to smuggle dope. His innovative spirit came in when he needed a source for his product. Unlike everyone else in his line of work, he cut out the middleman. He got his product straight from the source. “...called Lucas' operation “one of the most outrageous international dope-smuggling gangs ever, an innovator who got his own connections outside the U.S. And then sold the narcotics himself in the street.”” (Wikipedia, Frank Lucas (Drug Lord), Page 1) This allowed him to sell for half the price and twice the quality. Lucas quickly gained wealth in a very short duration of time. He eventually became more powerful than the Mafia in his business. No one could keep up with him. “Lucas rubbed shoulders with the elite in entertainment, politics, and crime, meeting Howard Hughes at one of Harlem's best clubs in his day.” (Wikipedia, Frank Lucas (Drug Lord), Page 1) Yet, a life of crime eventually caught up with Lucas. In January 1975, his downfall began. A combination of corrupt and lawful law enforcement figures took steps to bring Lucas down. “In January 1975, Frank Lucas's house was raided in Teaneck, New Jersey by a task force consisting of 10 agents from Group 22 of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and 10 New York Police Department detectives attached to the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB).” (Wikipedia, Frank Lucas (Drug Lord), Page 1). Lucas's life of crime did not pay off in the end. He was forced to give up all of his assets and comply with the authorities. He managed to put a huge score of corrupt law enforcement figures behind bars in one of the largest law enforcement scandals ever. Steve Jobs is an innovator of epic proportions. In the beginning, with a fellow friend, he created Apple Computer. One of the earliest successes was the Apple II computer. It caused Steve Jobs to become a multi-millionaire and placed Apple Computer in a top position in the computing industry. “Its successor, the Apple II, was introduced the following year and became a huge success, turning Apple into an important player in the nascent personal computer industry. In December 1980, with a successful IPO, Apple Computer became a publicly traded corporation, making Jobs a multi- millionaire.” (Wikipedia, Steve Jobs, Page 3) Steve Jobs innovative genius in the computing world was unsurpassed and unparalleled. Jobs was thrown out of Apple shortly after due to his antics. He moved on to create NeXT Computer. There he sold computers geared towards high-end research and education. His computers implemented very advanced technologies at the time (some we use almost all the time to this day). “Jobs marketed NeXT products to the scientific and academic fields because of the innovative, experimental new technologies it incorporated (such as the Mach kernel, the digital signal processor chip, and the built-in Ethernet port).” (Wikipedia, Steve Jobs, Page 3) He eventually came back to Apple. After a boardroom coup he threw out the CEO and claimed title of CEO once again. From that time, Apple has seen major financial gains and market share gains. Apple designed many successful projects in his leadership. These include: Mac OS X (very stable, secure operating system), Apple iPod (widely popular, high- end, innovative media player), and Apple's line of computers. Jobs is also the lowest paid CEO and holds the title in the Guinness Book Of World Records. “Jobs works at Apple for an annual salary of US$1, and this earned him a listing in Guinness World Records as the “Lowest Paid Chief Executive Officer.” His current salary at Apple officially remains US$1 per year...” (Wikipedia, Steve Jobs, Page 4) Steve Jobs was greatly involved in the personal computer revolution, who played a key figure in the future of the revolution. The revolution is still very much strong and alive as ever. America would just not be the same without innovation. These three figures are only the surface of America's innovative icons. America must continue its tradition of innovative efforts. It is the defining feature that sets it apart from the rest of the nations in the world. None of this would be possible without the innovative people in the mix. People such as General Douglas MacArthur, Frank Lucas, and Steve Jobs are what make this possible. They lead their own lives and paths, they did not let other people tell them what to do. That is the idea of America: for people to lead their own lives without someone telling what to do. In a sense, America can be defined as innovation.