Time Magazine names YOU the "Person of the Year"

In the December 25th issue of Time (which hits newsstands Monday), the magazine selected its annual "person" of the year: YOU. Or...more precisely all of us. First of all, don't let their selection get to your head; according to the magazine's accompanying article "people who mattered," it seems others on the ballot included dictators, an illegal immigrant, a crass comedian-turned-overnight-smash-success, a news anchor, and a farmer." Wow, we're in elite company. The runner up was apparently Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to Time's managing Editor Richard Stengel. The award goes to the person who, whether for good or for evil, has impacted the events of the year the most.

This isn't the first time that more than a person has claimed the award. '66 saw the 25-and-under generation get the nod, and in 1975 all American women were cited. Most surprising was when the American computer won out in 1982.

Personally I think that--regardless of the competition--it's cool to be noticed. We live in the Information Age, and Time correctly realizes what (or rather who) is behind it. This is the era of wikipedia, youtube, and myspace. Mass-generalization is toppling the media moguls. More people are tuning into youtube than they are episodes of CSI or Prison Break. Don't believe me? Search youtube for "lonelygirl15" or "Evolution of Dance." Not only do these videos have more views than popular network TV shows, but some shows like The O.C. are watched by more people on youtube than they are on TV itself (by the way, that's not legal).

We've watched open-source programs like Firefox change the way people navigate the world wide web (and thereby how they view the world). What used to be reserved for big, deep-pocketed tech companies can now be achieved by millions of regular Joes working together to make something special. And those big companies are taking notice. Even Microsoft followed suit (kinda) by allowing their latest, forthcoming operating system Windows Vista to be tested by thousands of people for feedback and evaluation.

The nine men in black robes may still rule the high court and sometimes act outside of their power, but the American people sure showed who was boss in the recent election, overthrowing the old guard and firmly situating the Democrats in Congress. And it was an internet blog that turned up the dirt on Mark Foley, and activist youtubers who dug up old videos of now-dethroned Pastor Ted Haggard to highlight the hypocrisy. Amazon.com and Ebay changed the way people shop, and WE made it happen. Music piracy killed CD sales, causing retailers to turn to the online digital music market; a revolution that needed to happen, regardless of the catalyst. Now the same thing is happening with movies.

We used to get our news from the network television stations; they painted our reality for us. Now all of the world is the journalist team, and anyone with a digital camera can become famous. And invariably, they have. Like the freelance photographer who photographed a lightning bolt and was instantly in the spotlight (pardon the pun). The camera and video phones have made everyone a walking paparazzi, and no-one is safe anymore; little is private. Questionable police activity is caught on video and uploaded to youtube or google video where the clips can garner thousands of views in a matter of hours. Talk show "oopsie" comments are recorded by amateurs with free recording software, and uploaded to blogs to be circulated among the masses.

We live in a personalized, me-oriented society, especially in the United States where we not only get our daily intakes of media and madness, but we all add to it and affect it. Never before has the average person had so much kinetic influence and power. The implications are uncertain (which causes fear), but they are also amazing. Even the fact that a 17 year old kid is writing articles and opinions like this one on American Chronicle and you (along with hundreds of others) are reading it, is astounding. And I'm not bragging; but I am blessed and grateful to have a voice in this world that I can use, and that will be heard. It is the freedom that Americans, especially, have, and it is a freedom that should not be taken for granted.

Even though the award really isn't a "personal" nod to you or me, let's take it to heart, and try to actually use the sphere of influence we have--no matter how large or small--to impact the world for good, and make it a better place for all those who live in it.