Time Magazine’s Man of the Year (which is now rightfully called Person of the Year) is a somewhat dubious honor as it is given to the person that has had the most influence on the world in that year, for better or worse. It’s that last few words there that really open the field up to all sorts of questionable characters. It’s deceptive in that way because by it’s title it implies that that person is good, or deserving of recognition in some way, but it has been given to the likes of Stalin, Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler. Not necessarily people you would want to be listed with.
Jason Cavanagh. Photo: supplied.
Someone who would probably enjoy being on that list and the person who I predict will be 2016’s Time Magazine’s Person of the Year is more than likely going to be Donald Trump, because who in the world is not watching his rise to power with great interest? But on that note, you could make an equal case for Hillary Clinton, because if she wasn’t presenting such a cruddy choice for President Trump would be something of a non-starter. Bernie Sanders is an outside chance. He won the popular vote. Malala Yousafzai – Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate – is a very worthy second place.
My person of the year, as in the person who has had the most influence in my life (assuming that I am excluded from the nomination process myself, which seems only fair), probably has to be my mum every year. I wouldn’t be here without her.
Man of the Year opens on Friday, September 16 as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival. Get your tickets here.
Journey of a Thousand Smiles is also as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival. Book your tickets here.
