Bill and Melinda Gates, Bono named Time's People of the Year

[Don't panic]

I think some here are misinterpreting what this 'award' is.
it's not the nobel prize for being good.

it recognizes people who 'made' the news (not just 'to' the news), made a difference, influenced the events more than anyone else in the last year.

and though this year there is a 'good guys' connotation kinda of atttached to it (and it can't be denied that what the gates -and bono- are doing has/will have a huge impact on million of lives), the 'award' went frequently to 'questionable' people also: hitler and stalin were 'honored', along with khomeini, gingrich clinton+starr and bush (3 times IIRC).
it also went in many occasions to groups of people (including the US soldiers in 1993).
it even went to an object, the computer, once.

this year, I would have given it to Katrina as a symbol of the forces of nature and global warming.

 

[GFLPraxis]

Oh no... Waaay off... B&M Gates have given about half their worth to charity... Much more than a couple of billion...

Really? Last I heard it was 5 billion Source? This would of course change my opinion if that was true, but they would have to have donated around 50 billion.

 

[TheMonarch]

Really? Last I heard it was 5 billion Source? This would of course change my opinion if that was true, but they would have to have donated around 50 billion.

Oh yes, not kidding... They've given more than anyone in the world... I give them lots of respect in that regard... I mean, being the richest and most generous... Good stuff...

Source: Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_Foundation

 

[yellow]

Despite my loathing for Gates and most things he touches, he and his wife are very much the philanthropists. They clearly realize what they have is a gift and spread it around to many good causes.

 

[iGary]

if thats the case, then Africa should be Times person of the year. their worse off

That would make sense if people in Africa subscribed to TIME in large numbers.

 

[Malfoy]

I love how almost everyone tries to knock and otherwise take away from the fact that Bill has given large sums of money to charitable causes. Especially the illegal business practices and whatnot. That's just cute. He makes more money than most because he plays the game better than most. Everyone gives him a hard time because he's on top. Boohoo. If he charges for software, it must be price guaging, if he gives it away, it's to kill competition. PICK ONE and quit your complaining.

Just so we are all on the same page, we hate Bill because:

1. He wipes out other millionaires and billionaires and they complain.
2. Buys out small companies and makes them multimillionaires so you complain.
3. Gives away billions to those who have nothing so we complain about the first 2 in hopes #3 never comes up.

 

[freeny]

its good they give their $$$. Keep it up Bill, it takes some of the edge off.
And I thought Bill gates and Darth Vader were the same guy... go figure

 

[solvs]

I love how almost everyone tries to knock and otherwise take away from the fact that Bill has given large sums of money to charitable causes.

I love how almost everyone looks the other way on all of the horrible things Bill has done just because his wife started making him give away some of those ill gotten gains.

 

[illegalprelude]

That would make sense if people in Africa subscribed to TIME in large numbers.

I have a feeling Sadam Housan dosent subscribe to em either and im going to profile people by stereotype but not too many people did in New Orleans either yet both were considered. So no valid point there

 

[MacRy]

this year, I would have given it to Katrina as a symbol of the forces of nature and global warming.

Really? So not the 75,000 people killed and 3 million made homeless in the Kashmir earthquake then? You American chaps do realise that things happen elsewhere in the world don't you?

 

[iJon]

Really? So not the 75,000 people killed and 3 million made homeless in the Kashmir earthquake then? You American chaps do realise that things happen elsewhere in the world don't you?

I agree. Katrina is a huge event that has devastated a lot, but there is worse in my opinion. I visited the tsunami regions when I went to Thailand, and they are far worse. Even visiting places like Cairo, Egypt made me think more about the situations. I really have a strong vibe that no one else in the world really cares about us American's and our hurricanes.

jon

 

[GFLPraxis]

I gotta agree, and this being an American. The United States as a whole is extremely self-centered. 3,000 people die when the World Trade Center falls, and we declare war and start invading countries. 150,000 people die in a tsunami, we send them some money and promptly forget about it.

 

[Counterfit]

150,000 people die in a tsunami, we send them some money and promptly forget about it.

You'd prefer we declared war on the Indian Ocean?

 

[Dr. Dastardly]

You'd prefer we declared war on the Indian Ocean?

Maybe then Bush's approval rating will go up.