Rashed's View

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by Time magazine’s Person of the Year. I remember Gorbachev being chosen twice in the late 1980’s, Gandhi in 1930, FDR (three times), JFK, MLK, Churchill, and my favorites – the 15 scientists chosen in 1960 (including Watson and Bardeen), and the 3 Good Samaritans of 2005 (Bill Gates, Bono and Melinda Gates). I always thought I would like to be on that list someday (although not for reasons that Hitler or Stalin were chosen). I am glad to say that Time magazine has chosen me as their Person of the Year in 2006. When I picked up a copy at a bookstore, I was surprised to see that they even had my picture on the cover (using, of course, a silvered paper mirror).

Why, you ask? Well, it’s probably best for me to quote Time magazine lest it sound like I am bragging about myself again. The highlights below are mine, as are anything in brackets.

America loves its solitary geniuses—its Einsteins, its Edisons, its Jobses—but those lonely dreamers may have to learn to play with others. Car companies are running open design contests. Reuters is carrying blog postings alongside its regular news feed. Microsoft is working overtime to fend off user-created Linux. We’re looking at an explosion of productivity and innovation, and it’s just getting started, as millions of minds that would otherwise have drowned in obscurity get backhauled into the global intellectual economy.

Who are these people? Seriously, who actually sits down after a long day at work and says, I’m not going to watch Lost tonight. I’m going to turn on my computer and make a movie starring my pet iguana? I’m going to mash up 50 Cent’s vocals with Queen’s instrumentals? I’m going to blog about my state of mind or the state of the nation or the steak-frites at the new bistro down the street? Who has that time and that energy and that passion?

The answer is, you do. [That’s me, and this blog that you are reading is the proof.] And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME’s Person of the Year for 2006 is you.