Who's your Person of the Year?

[thatcrazycajun]

Reuters reports here that Time magazine has named its "Person of the Year" for 2007, an annual tradition begun precisely eight decades ago as "Man of the Year" and defined by founder Henry Luce as the person who has most profoundly influenced the world and the news thereof in the year ending, for good or ill. Past recipients have included Adolf Hitler, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, Franklin Roosevelt (the only three-peater), Rudy Giuliani, the entire under-25 generation of 1966 and the personal computer. (About.com has a full list here.)

This year, the nod goes to Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin, and Time's current editorial leadership explains why here. Putin is cited thusly in the kicker: "At significant cost to the principles that free nations prize, he's brought Russia roaring back to the table of world power." I'm still making up my mind as to whether I consider him the most appropriate selection.

Do you agree with the choice, and why or why not? If not, who else do you think should have been chosen? Keep in mind that the designation is not intended as an honorific, but simply an acknowledgment of the public figure's importance to the state of the world—the whole world, not just the US or your little corner of it—as we close out the calendar.

Comments

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I think it's still Dubya. Because everyone's following his lead, or avoiding his 24% wrath, or making their statements because of or in response to him. Heinous motherfucker.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I gotta go with the Current Occupant as well, and for the same reasons.

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

I don't think I would have picked Putin. My vote was for Gore.

Susan

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

I'd probably have selected Al Gore. I can see how they arrived at Putin, though.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Better than last year's bullshit answer.