So TIME magazine chose Bono and Mr. and Mrs William Gates as their “Persons of the Year”. Well La-Ti-Da.
Bono – maybe. He might be a liberal, but he is committed to his cause and he manages to cross ideological barriers that others wouldn’t even try.
The Gates? Super rich people playing philanthropist is nothing new. Yes, they are giving away huge amounts of money for their pet causes. But I’m willing to bet the cash flow over at their 100 million dollar shack ain’t hurting. (As a side note, Time calls Gates the “great predator of the internet”. That’s a hoot!)
Personally, I think TIME’S choice was weak. I believe I have a better choice.
Don Surber suggests it should be the Iraqi woman holding up her purple finger in a peace sign. I almost agreed with him and then realized he didn’t go far enough. It just isn’t her; it just isn’t the Iraqis, although they are part of it. TIME’S Person of the year should have been not a person:
DEMOCRACY!
In 2005, we saw democracy take root in several places around the globe. In the Ukraine, they threw out a would-be dictator. In Pakistan and in Afghanistan, the beginnings of modern democracy were planted along with some small seeds in some of the “stan” countries bordering Russia and Iraq.
If TIME was honest, It would have chosen Democracy. You can fete philanthropists any time, but world changing political changes don’t come around every year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
VW
hey VW,
first of all it was a pleasure working with you guys and you were no trouble. more importantly, pakistan has been a democracy for about 50 years now, they got independance a day before India. It is also true that the current pakistani president was the head of their military and took over power in 02 i think by force and proclaimed himself president. the only reason he has stayed in power is because he has the military on his side. he has never been voted into office. there have been many elections, he lost the first two and nullified them and the next two were held internally, which he was uncontested in. democracy is still a winner, i'll give you that.
there is always a story behind the story, i am not saying that bono and the gates shud be on TIME (i like U2 though, good music)personally i think it shud have been the american armed forces (especially the ones who are dead. they went in and did their duty and even though i am not an american i respect their commitment and valor.
anyways this turned out pretty good a comment i am gonna make this a post on my blog. later.
-r
Posted by: theforeignguy | Monday, December 19, 2005 at 02:14
Wow VW you are way off the mark. Gates isn't "Playing" phillanthropist, he really is one, His foundation isn't new either he has been giving ever since he made it big.
No dissrespect intended but when a man gives hundreds of millions of dollars in charity its rather juvenille to say "well he could have given more" Yeah he could have, he could have also given nothing at all. When you gave to your last charity, couldn't you have given a few dollars more? Could I? Why didn't we?
Time's choice was weak, and yes There have been great leaps in democracy those year but taking Time's poor desicion out on someone who through his good works has saved hundreds of thousands of lives its a little weak to say "it isn't enough"
Posted by: Just another republican | Monday, December 19, 2005 at 04:59
JARhead,
You are correct and really, I'm not dissing Gates' philanthropy. If I had his money, I'd be doing similar if not more. I don't begrudge him one dollar...well ok, all the money I've paid over the years to by operating systems and Office software...OK I'm kidding, but the fact remains, that he is doing some good things. But if it was me, I wouldn't expect to be named Person of the Year.
If I were to think of Gates as the "Person" of the year, it would be in connection with his building MicroSoft into what it is today.
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | Monday, December 19, 2005 at 08:14
R,
You are correct about Pakistan. What can I say, it was a long day with the show and all. It was late last night when I posted that and things get muddled.
Thank you for correcting me!
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | Monday, December 19, 2005 at 08:16
Gates gave half of his fortune to the "Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation."
One of the big reasons for this choice this year has to be the number of natural disasters around the world -- Katrina, Paki quakes, tsunami.
The Gates foundation spends more money on health care for third world countries -- than the World Health Organization has in its entire budget.
So the billions he spent this year amounted to more than some whole countries gave. It's hard to wrap our heads around that kind of wealth.
Posted by: Ronald Reagan | Monday, December 19, 2005 at 12:19