TIME Magazine has published its annual list of the world's 100 most influential people, or what its editors hail as 'the 100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world'. Meanwhile TIME's website conducted a simultaneous poll, encouraging hundreds of thousands of readers to submit their own rankings online.
The results?
Meet Rain, the most influential person on the planet:
I wonder, did I miss something? When did South Korean pop music take the world by storm? When did its global influence surpass that of Nelson Mandela (#24), Bill Gates (#35), Ban Ki-Moon(#51) and others? Should I have been paying more attention?
Two weeks ago, while polling was still open, I admit I spent some time perusing the list for Arab names, hoping at least one of 'our kind' had cracked the top 100. No one had. The closest contender at #134 was Osama bin Laden, read it and weep.
I recall at the time I was furious that this myth of a man -- a man propelled to fame in many ways by the Bush Administration -- could be the perceived as the most 'influential' Arab of our time. Sure Gamal Abdel Nasser and Edward Said are long gone. But who's replaced them? Where's our next great revolutionary, our next great scholar? Is there no other man or woman among us 'whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world'?
The answer would come when TIME announced its online poll results on Friday, and a dark horse appeared out of nowhere. Amr Khaled not only surpassed O.B.L., but he ranked within the top 20 on the list.
So in the end the televangelist has more influence than the terrorist. Good to know I suppose, but forgive me if I'm not quite relieved.
No disrespect to Amr Khaled, but I'd rather be listening to Rain.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Under the Influence
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8 comments:
if you go to the 'talkback' section of the online list. 9/10 people who commented were outraged that George W. was not on the list.
check it out.
its insane.
p.s. Rain is kind of cute though. I dont know about influencial but cute nevertheless. (check out his music videos)
Man
I have been knowing about Rain for a long time. Go ahead and youtube "i do"...good song and he's a better dancer than usher.
Sure Gamal Abdel Nasser and Edward Said are long gone. But who's replaced them?
Why would you want them replaced? Did either of them accomplish anything good for "your kind" ?
Nasser is directly responsible for the Arab world's current predicament. Directly. And if you like where the Arab world is at, then by all means... praise him to your heart's content. But do us all a favor and stop complaining about it if you are so god-damned happy with the status quo.
As for Edward Said... did he ever say anything that was actually true? I've never read anything he wrote that was.
Where's our next great revolutionary
You've already answered that question. He came in number 134.
our next great scholar?
Where was your last great scholar? In Baghdad in the 9th century?
Is there no other man or woman among us 'whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world'?
Good one! Especially the "moral" example! That's very funny! Yeah, you guys may think it's OK to murder anyone you don't like, but you damn sure won't marry a girl who isn't a virgin! Wouldn't wanna be immoral!
Come on, man. If you are unhappy with the sort of people your society produces, change your society. It's nobodies fault but yours. Go back and read some of your own blog postings, and see if you can honestly say you expect better from a culture that produces people who believe as you do?
maher arar--#58 on the list
I think it is fine to hate on Amer Khaled. He is so proud to be in it for the money, I guess cuz God thinks he deserves to be rich, while the rest of egyptians eat fool.
Khaled compares himself to "Kennedy, Gandhi, most of the prophets, Nelson Mandela"
to people who "fight for reform".
Yet he thinks that women that wear hijab in France should wear "designer hats" until they are allowed to wear veil????
What a fighter for justice! How dare he compare himself to Mandela? He bought himself a ticket to London to escape any potential jail time in fighting for reform in Egypt.
I guess fighting for reform can only happen in a place wher his Boss shirts dont get wrinkled
Programmer Craig is tyte! I come here strictly to read how he and Roy tear your postings into shreds.
"Where was your last great scholar? In Baghdad in the 9th century?"
LMOF!
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