Time defines the Person of the Year as someone who, for better or for worse, influences the events of the year.
Well, they certainly picked a winner here. In all the years that I have been noticing the “Person of the Year,” I always thought that they picked someone for laudable attributes. It appears this year they chose someone (collectively) for infamous reasons.
It boggles my mind that a group of people who are the epitome of anarchy received such an honor. What does this say as to the days, the climate of the time in which we are living.
I don’t know about you, but I look forward to the media’s end of the year issues. In various magazines, there are lists of who did what, when. There are lists of the ten best, ten worst, etc, and it is a good way for me to catch up with what happened during the past year that I may have missed in real-time.
I am very disappointed that Time magazine has chosen to honor various groups who have been pretty despicable in large numbers. I hate to lump those who are fighting for human rights into the same basket as those who have participated in other less dubious exploits. However, what about those people who have actually made a positive difference in our world? I would suggest we look to these people groups for inspiration:
- EMT workers. They rush into danger with no thought to their own safety. This year our nation has suffered tragic natural disasters, one after another. From the terrible flooding to the raging wildfires, our EMTs have been a lifeline for many families and communities. Where is their collective pat on the back?
- Foster parents. These people rescue the weakest among us and give them a future and a hope. Where is their ‘atta boy”?
- Various world aid groups and their leaders, who go into the back and beyond to bring food and essentials, not to mention education to those who live in less than ideal circumstances. These bring hope to the hopeless. Don’t they deserve recognition?
- Regardless of your political persuasion, we need to give kudos to those politicians on both sides of the aisle who have put at least a partial stop on the out-of-control governmental spending. We have not gone far enough, but we should stand and applaud those who have had the gonads to stand up and say enough is enough.
This is by far NOT an exhaustive list. I am sure there are many other collective groups who have made an impact on the world for good that I have not mentioned. Who, if you were the managing editor of Time, would you have nominated for Person of the Year? Let me know….
Until next time,
Polly
