Don’t get it twisted, TIME Magazine’s annual ‘Person Of The Year’ title is no beauty contest, popularity poll or deduction of the earth’s best human. TIME defines the title as “who (or what) for better or for worse has done the most to influence the events of the year” which inevitably translates to column inches, headline mentions and the subject of watercooler chat. Controversial whistle blower and
The poll is open so head to the TIME website and cast a vote for who you think made the grade. Here’s the full candidate list below:
Julian Assange
Described as a whistle blower for the digital age, Wikileaks’ controversial founder and man with hacking powers to make Lisbeth Salander look a proselyte punk by comparison, has sparked mass dialogue about international goverments’ concept of “need-to-know” public information. Governments are calling him public enemy number one, anti-censorship groups are calling him a saviour and no one knows where the hell he is. One of the most intriguing figures of 2010 without a doubt.
Glenn Beck
American television host, radio commentator, author, conspiracy theorist and outspoken Republican, Glenn Beck refers to his political paradigm as conservative with libertarian leanings while others call him an isolationist right wing or “the lead horseman of the American Apocalypse”, and Jon Stewart once said of Beck: “finally, a guy who says what people who aren’t thinking are thinking.” Politically minded Americans either love him or hate him. Either way Beck’s remarkable ability to polarise has put him high on the list.
David Cameron
British Prime Minister David Cameron is the leader of the nation representing the conservative party following the awkward resignation by Gordan Brown and, remarkably, is the youngest PM in two centuries. His outspoken manner (he once called Brown “an analogue politician in a digital age”), criticism of “old boy” politics and youthful bravado have made him an interesting new figure on the international political hierarchy.
The Chilean Miners
How good was it when that first guy emerged from the shaft, Oakley shades resting above grinning face, wives and mistresses eagerly awaiting that first celebratory embrace? A normal day at work turned out to be a nightmare scenario with the 33 miners being trapped in the collapsed mine that fortunately turned from disaster to miracle when they exited after 10 grueling weeks into sunlight before the eyes of the world. The feel good news story of the year.
Arne Duncan
The U.S. Secretary of Education introduced Race to the Top, a competitive grant program that this year awarded $4 billion to states demonstrating serious commitment to improving their schools. One person in the United States government credited with making a genuine difference.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish politician, former mayor or Istanbul and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey since 2003 and the most important Muslim ally of the United States. That said, shit may hit the fan now that Wikileaks has revealed documentation that the U.S. thinks of Ergdogan as a “power-hungry Islamist surrounded by corrupt and incompetent ministers”. Oh shit.
Jonathan Frazen
American essayist and novelist whose grim and blackly funny debut novel The Corrections about fucked up family relationships and individual pain made critics cream their pants, and his new book Freedom, released this year, has drawn similar widespread critical acclaim.
Lady Gaga
No doubt about it: Not just a pop star but often a moving piece of artwork, provocateur, gay rights activist, liberal political spokesperson, style icon, and with only 2 albums out she continues to dominate the world followed by literally millions of minions in the form of Little Monsters. The first half of 2010 was all about Gaga.
Robert Gates
US secretary of defense Gates spent much of 2010 overseeing the withdrawal of most U.S. forces from Iraq and the buildup of troops in Afghanistan, all while being outspoken about the military’s need to finally end its “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and allow gays to serve their country openly.
Tony Hayward
One of the more disliked people of 2010, B.P.’s former CEO spent a large part of the summer dealing with the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill.
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People’s Republic of China. Under Hu Jintao’s lead, the People’s Republic passed Japan this year to become the world’s No. 2 economy and one of the most powerful – and feared – nations on earth.
LeBron James
The reputation of LeBron James – still considered the best all-around basketball player on the planet – took a huge hit this summer because of The Decision, the ESPN spectacle in which James dumped his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on national television. Brokenhearted Cleveland locals rioted and mourned while his new home city with the Miami Heat went ballistic. Lebron earns approximately $15 million a year and that’s without endorsements. He can do what he wants.
Steve Jobs
Head of Apple, Steve Jobs seems to constantly find a new way to find an apple products in to everybody’s technology craving hands. From the iPhone to the iPad, Steve has helped to revolutionise the brand and their products.
Hamid Karzai
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the first President of the nascent republic. For him 2010 proved to be particularly trying in his attempts to make Afghanistan a legitimate, governable state. Keep trying Hamid.
David and Charles Koch
Co-owners of Kansas based conglomerate Koch industries generates around $100 billion in annual revenue, but they are better recognized for their philanthropy for both cultural and medical institutions.
Lui Xiaobo
Chinese political and human rights activist, and political prisoner received the Nobel Peace prize for his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China. An inspiration who represents making changes to the individual freedom of Chinese people.
Barack Obama
United States president Barack Obama is no stranger to this nomination receiving the 2008 Time Person of the Year. Since being in office he has signed his landmark health care overhaul and financial-regulatory-reform bill into law, fulfilling two of his biggest campaign promises
Sarah Palin
American politician, author, speaker, Tina Fey meal ticket and political news commentator was the first woman elected Governor of Alaska. Better known for controversial blunders and quotes, the politician also has a book and a reality show for TLC. Subscribes to Glenn Beck’s polarising approach to politics.
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi led the 111th Congress through one of its most prolific and productive sessions in the past 50 years. Her last year in the role saw her pass President Obama’s heath care reforms as well as the Dodd-Frank Walll Street Reform and Consumer Protection act.
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
Rauf caused much controversy this year over his plans for Park51, an Islamic cultural center to open in lower Manhattan, 2 blocks away from the Ground Zero site. Some called it disrespectful, but Rauf said Park52 would promte and interfaith agenda, assisting in the centre’s message to heal the wounds of 9/11
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert
Breathing life and comedy into the US political landscape, the two comedians of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report gathered 200,000 of their fans to make a rally to mock rallies.
The Unemployed American
Referring to almost 10% of America’s population unemployed and 20% underemployed though moving forward, America’s jobless still have much work a head of them.
J. Crag Venter
American biologist and entrepreneur was the one of the first geneticists to sequence to human genome. His monumental steps forward in medicine have been both praised and criticized.
Elizabeth Warren, Mary Schapiro and Sheila Bair
All influential in their own individual rights, these women have paved the way forward fighting to fix the male dominated financial industry. Shelia Bair, the chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Mary Schapiro, the chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Elizabeth Warren continue you to regulate Wall Street after the economic crisis
Mark Zuckerberg
The world’s youngest billionaire and creator of Facebook was the subject of much conversation this year after the depiction of his story in The Social Network. The site also reached it’s 500 millionth member this year making it the biggest social network on the internet.
The list is obviously American-leaning, but do you think there are any major omissions? Who else do you think made a major impact in 2010?
Via TIME
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