TIME's PERSON OF THE YEAR IS VLADIMIR PUTIN
Every year, TIME Magazine profiles a person, couple, group, idea, place, or machine that "for better or worse has done the most to influence the events of the year". Many times this is a controversial figure, not an admirable person. Examples in the rollcall of the infamous are: Adolph Hitler in 1938, Joseph Stalin in 1939 & 1942, Khrushchev in 1957, Richard Nixon 1971 & 1972, and The Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979.
There was massive public backlash in the U.S. over Khomeini as Person of the Year. After that, TIME began steering away from those generally viewed as having a negative influence on historical events. Still, even with this newfound sensibility, TIME named Newt Gringrich in 1995, Kenneth Starr in 1998, Geo W Bush in 2000 & 2004, and Rudolph Giuliani in 2001 (even though Osama Bin Laden, by all possible criteria, was the Person of the Year for 2001).
Last year, TIME named "YOU" (yes, YOU!) as the Person of the Year for 2006. This gave many people a grand sense of self-importance, and perhaps led to unreasonable expectations for 2007. After all, once YOU have been named as Person of the Year, I think it's pretty much time to retire the whole catagory, don't YOU?
In contemplating a list of possible 2007 candidates for TIME Person of the Year, I must admit, I never even considered Putin. Here are a few possibilites I entertained (in no particular order):
BARACK OBAMA -- for capturing imagination & providing a bright ray of hope as the first african-american with a real chance to be elected president.
AL GORE -- nobel peace prize, academy award for a world-changing film, and (hello!?!) helping to bring the world's attention to bear on saving our planet.
GENERAL PETRAEUS -- for being the scapegoat and/or willing shill in the incredible months-long bush build-up to his flat squish of an assessment of the Iraq Occupation/War (complete with graphs & charts).
BENAZIR BHUTTO -- for risking her life in a self-appointed mission to return Pakistan to democratic government and dedicating her efforts toward a moderate Islam that would marginalize extremists.
THE MONKS OF BURMA -- for standing up & speaking out against a repressive regime, leading the people of their country to protest, even at the cost of their lives and torture of their bodies.
Nope, no Putin anywhere on my list. I guess I should be glad it wasn't Geo W Bush again. But truthfully, one person who scares me more than Bush is Putin. (note: to learn more about Putin, and why TIME selected him, click on above links for multiple-page articles, but I have to say, the more I learn about him, the more I dislike him.)
**** UPDATE: Click here to see the TIME runners up and People That Mattered. Am I nuts? I can't believe some of the names: Gates, Gonzo, Barry Bonds, Don Imus, B-B-B-Britney?!? (I'm speechless) ****
OK, What about YOU? If there is any validity to the concept, who did you think would be the TIME Person of the Year for 2007? Or, if you don't care about TIME and their criteria, which public figure would you say most influenced your events this year? In that catagory, I would nominate Keith Olbermann, for his "Special Comments".
It may not be everyone's cuppa, but I can't get this song out of my head today. The loss of Benazir Bhutto is a failure of humanity.
19 comments:
Hiyyya, DK along with Bhutto may her brave soul rest in PEACE, that Author Naomi Klein ought to be in the running. As her book puts Bhutto's Assination in context.
Shock and Awe informs about the last 30 yrs to present moment, this and other, tragic , planned assinations. Reading it will help all who do, cut through every BIT of propaganda we get, and see the forces are really operating.
"HAVING READ THE BOOK" a line in the beatles song you picked is apropo. And i promise to stop being a broken record ..really i do. I got to keep turning you guys on to this book.
In the new yr united/informed we'll be on the same page. and able to implement solutions/truth all the better.
garenteed you will see the news, hear the words with a NEW lens.
I love you all - been resting reading books
so i haven't done al my bloggie rounds or posting as much this week..but i am around.
and yeah the song is PERFECT !
sychronicity DK, - hope your cold is better !
Bhutto's death hit me the same way it did you.
My choice would have been Al Gore for time's person of the year.
It would have been Al....totally...I don't even understand how the KGB czar even was on the list or the radar of this issue...
I don't get it....at all...
anyways....I am so glad that you found THE SONG....it has been on my mind too, but I did not remember the name of it...
I am so so sorry about Madame Bhutto....The people there are raging with anger, and grief, which now that the Post Mortem is being contrived is going to get worse....Tell Grieving People Lies and take away her Role as a Martyr, this is a slap at her in the grave- it is an attack on her role as an Islamic Woman and leader....
namaste......
oh, meant to say- great post...don't ever doubt yourself....you are a wonderful blogger and writer...
Don't pick on Vlad, he is now hanging out for his new career as centrefold.
but for my choices, well I've aired that one and don't wish to offend any sensitive souls :)
PProg: you are NOT a broken record. We all need a kick in the pants every so often! I've requested Shock Doctrine from our library & been told not enough people have requested it yet. Oh, but they get 10-copies of every Ann Coulter the minute it's published. At this rate, I may be forced to pay the hardback price. ps, I think my cold is gone, thanks!
PoP: if you look at the Times headline link, on the right side is "runners up". The first article there is on Al Gore, written by Bono, who nominated him. I don't know how these things work with TIME, but I agree about Al Gore.
Enigma:
yeah, for me, that song captured how things can change in an instant, even though you think you know what's coming. I second-guessed myself because I felt I hadn't said enough about Bhutto. But then I realized it captured a moment, so I put it up anyway.
***** Hey, E.K. points out I forgot Ahmadinejad and Chavez. And, I just realized "WE" (as in "YOU") were also named Person of the Year in 1966 as "The Generation 25 and Under". Wow, twice in my lifetime! Jeeez *****
Cartledge:
I've drawn a complete blank on who you "aired" & why it might "offend sensitive souls" (unless it was your brother in his long johns). But I DID pick up on your barb about Vlad "hanging out" as centerfold. LOL!
omg...Vlad as a center fold....get me some vodka...lordy....okay so I have rethought this...I really think it needs to be KEITH...period...
d.k., sorry my choices are pretty obscure, but here goes”
Adam Gilchrist, Australia’s star wicket keeper, and his hot pink gloves – British yacht skipper Michèle Colenso with her twin hot pink spinnakers. Both these champions have put their own egos aside during two premier sporting events here to push breast cancer awareness and raise research money. Like Al, they are breaking through taboos to get real messages across.
And now enigma is picking on Vlad :(
Hey dk~ TIME lost me @ Hitler. I mean really.. I know every publication has to delve into sensationalism in order to sell their product, but Hitler as man of the year has to be the quintessential oxymoronic statement, maybe even in a lifetime! Now if they had a "monster of the year", or "horrific nightmare of the century" placement, I could understand his nomination.
But on to this years candidate of Putin.... I guess his most noble action is to have put up with Bush (you can almost see Putin's loathing when in a room w Bush). They just tested nukes that go over 4000 miles, so we have to credit him for not sending one George's way, if you know what I mean. But in a direct slap to Bush, Putin is OK with giving "supplies" to Iran. This is looking like a deadly triangle. So maybe TIME just needs to change their annual award to *Madman of the Year*, and then it would make sense.
But of your list, I would have voted for the Monks of Burma.
The tune you linked was perfect. How 'bout that striking piano chord at the end of the song?
Now Enigma, you know Vlad DID show his pecs to advantage while fishing. I'm sure he scared the carp out of the water that day!
OK, Cartledge, NOW I recall -- while not familiar with the exact people you cited, breast cancer awareness & research is vitally important, I agree.
Fran, while I don't doubt Putin loathes Bush, he has that same look on his face no matter who's in the room. It's the stone-cold stare of a predator, probably honed in his KGB days. Can you imagine sitting across the dinner table with that man? I guess we should acknowledge that under Putin, Russia is back in business, baby, back to supporting some horrid regimes as long as they oppose US. Oh wait, that also sounds like what we do. Holy crap, we are back to the 70's (only without disco)!
Love that long build-up at the end of "A Day in the Life" -- the minor chords frazzling your mind til you almost can't stand it anymore, and then PAAAHH!! all gone, sanity restored, along with sadness, as evidenced by the REAL LOVE sign flashing at the very end.
And Fran, you don't have to choose from my list. Who would you have selected from the vast array of public figures that most influenced events this year?
***** Post Update: I just added a link to TIME's runner ups & other People That Mattered (according to TIME). Unbe-effing-leevable! *****
So how come TIME recognize Rupert and overlook me???
The Queen's new year honour's list come out every year at this time, and without exception some of those honoured leave one scratching one's head and completely speechless. Similarly, so many of those who seemed so obviously deserving are always 'overlooked'.
Forgive a little name dropping/boasting, but last year there was one O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire), which we couldn't argue about. That was a younger brother (Robert) - awarded in recognition for 'services' to the Foreign Office. Though our politics are poles apart we couldn't help being pleased for, and proud of him.
Anyhow, here's hoping everyone had a lovely Christmas holiday time.
I would have gone with Al Gore as well. Bush looked into Putin's eyes and saw a soulmate there.
Cartledge: I guess you're just lucky that way. Would you really want to be included with some of those other People That Mattered?
Richard: So the Queen has a list, and probably checks it twice ... I had NO idea ... has anyone ever seen her & Santa together? Now your bro receiving an O.B.E. is VERY cool. What was he "ordered" to do for the empire? (just kidding) ... we did have a lovely xmas, thanks, here in the bright sunshine, cactus & freezing cold wind.
Tomcat: read the TIME article by Bono, it's in the Runners Up catagory that I linked in a late post update. I wish TIME had named GORE just to piss Bush off ... force him to make another petulent phone call, another eye-avoiding handshake, another soulless smiley face condescending photo-op ... oh wait, that's how he treats everyone not in his inner circle, isn't it?
At least they didn't pick Bush or his gang of cutthroats.
dk- I would stick with the Monks of Burma for my choice.
DK, I'm afraid your right.
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