I just got my issue of TIME today, and I'm really pleased with the publication for naming Bono and Bill & Melinda Gates People of the Year, under the title "The Good Samaritans".

I was really upset when they named George W. Bush Person of the Year a year or two ago... I think he's had it twice since he's been President. I'm no big fan of him or his policies/views, and I don't want to debate them... but the truth is, he's a killer of sorts. As Americans, we despise or at least are supposed to despise this Osama bin Laden character (as well as killers among us), when our President is doing the very same thing in other countries. Oh, we can justify his actions till the cows come home, but at the end of the day, he's still a killer... even if what he's doing is right. If someone went out and killed every convicted child-molester they could get their hands on, I'm sure most of us could agree that person was doing the right thing... but they're going about it wrong. I mean, it's a noble cause, but taking another person's life is supposed to be bad, no matter how bad they are. And if we justify Bush's actions, lest we be called hypocrites, we must also accept that there will be those in the Middle East who will similarly justify Bin Laden's actions, or Saddam Hussein's actions. And that's not a very comfortable point of view... so my point of view is that they're all bad. (In fact, part of me is glad we went to war, and that Saddam is facing trial and his sons are dead. I read, in either Newsweek or TIME, that one of his sons (Uday?) was actually a child-molester, would rape children just for the hell of it... maybe to torment or punish their parents, or maybe because he just liked little girls too much... but that's one SOB I'm glad is in Hell.)

But instead of glorifying a killer who happens to fight for our side, for our way of life, TIME instead glorified people who are actually doing good in the world. U2's vocalist Bono has been active in politics and activism for years, supporting the environment, human rights, and the human condition in third-world countries. And I really didn't know how active Bill Gates and his wife were in the same areas, particularly the latter one. I knew he donated computers to schools, stuff Microsoft-related, but I didn't know it went far beyond that. Heck, hearing that, makes me want to be more of a Microsoft-supporter in the tech forums. Or at the very least more fair to Microsoft. (Yes, Stephen, et al, you can quote me on that... or hold it over me.) Bill Gates and George W. Bush are both billionaires. Neither are really under any obligation to do good, or anything more than just spend their money on themselves and their families. Both men are conquerers. While Microsoft's shadier business practices have nothing on Bush's... actions... they are both out there conquering in their different realms. But Gates is out there doing good, as well. I'm sure there are a few things Bush does which can be called good, but nothing compared to what Gates is doing. I think Gates is and has been really going above and beyond the call of duty in his charity work.

What does Person of the Year mean? Who's been in the news the most? Who's got the highest fatality count? Who's made the most money? To me, the person of the year should be the one who's done the most for the human condition overall. That's a pretty lofty altar, and I'm not sure Gates has "done the most", but he's a heck of a lot closer than the other contenders for the title. Kudos to TIME for their choice this year.

Perhaps you missed this thread? I too thought this years decisions were great, no matter what anyone says Bill Gates is good people.