It is exciting to see the Gateses and Bono receive recognition for their humanitarian effort--and they have not been very subtle about their work this past year. Obviously, this fuels my growing interest regarding the ONE campaign. And Time will receive my $1.50, or whatever they now charge, tomorrow when the issue hits the newsstand.
For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono are Time's Persons of the Year
Since, Time won't give it away for free, I'll try to post some sound bites from the issue. Here is Reuters article:
My concern is that "Persons of the Year" tends to suggest a completed project, or influence--such as the recent Whistle Blowers winner (2003). The same argument could be made about President Bush's influence after winning the Person of the Year in 2004: his political clout and approval rating have dropped dramatically. This decrease of influence, however, is inevitable because, like the SI Cover Story curse, once one makes it to the pinnacle of their career and achieves coverstatus their influence will obviously diminish.
Though Debt relief of $50 Billion was achieved this summer, this is the beginning of the end of desperate poverty (to paraphrase Bono) not the end itself. Therefore, remain aware of the global situation, and not just think that the wealthy Bono and Gateses have achieved the necessary reforms.
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