The
U.S.-based Time magazine has recognized unprecedented change in the
Middle East and elsewhere around the world by naming “the protester” as
its Person of the Year.
In an article Wednesday, Time said the protest movement is largely
populated by disenfranchised young adults who are frustrated with a lack
of political power and a flailing economy.
In the Middle East, protests beginning in Tunisia and spreading to
Egypt, Yemen and Libya resulted in changes in government. In the United
States and western Europe, protesters demonstrated against the dire
economic situation and disparity of wealth between rich and poor.
The magazine notes that most of the protests this year began independent
of any political party. It says the protests are changing global
politics.
The
runners-up for the Person of the Year are Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei;
Kate Middleton, who married Prince William earlier this year; U.S.
Representative Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee; and
U.S. Admiral William McRaven, who led the special forces team that
killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Time Magazine says Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan was the “People's Choice” for the Person of the Year.
Time says that in an online poll, Mr. Erdogan received 123,000 votes
nominating him as the most influential person of the year significantly
more than any other nominee.
At the same time, the magazine says the Turkish leader received the
largest number of votes — some 180,000 — from people saying he should
not receive the accolade.
The
U.S.-based Time magazine has recognized unprecedented change in the
Middle East and elsewhere around the world by naming “the protester” as
its Person of the Year.