Wednesday
Dec162009
UPDATED "Where is My Vote?" (Part 2): TIME Snubs Green Movement as "Person of the Year"
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 6:44 
UPDATE 0925 GMT: US National Public Radio is conducting a parallel poll, so far without throwing out "Iran Protesters".President Obama is the Leader of the Others, with 2% of the vote. Yep, 2%. He's got a way to go to catch those pesky Protesters, who are on 93%.
United4Iran offers comments on the Time affair.
UPDATE 0800 GMT: Iran News Now has a spirited investigation of Time's poll and the dropping of "Iran's Protesters" from the final list for Person of the Year.
It may not rank with the alleged theft of June's Presidential election, but Time magazine just put itself in the role of vote-stealing villain for many supporters of Iran's Green Wave.
Yesterday Time put out the press release:
The seven finalists [for Time's Person of the Year] include Apple [Computers] CEO Steve Jobs, US Federal Reserve Charman [sic] Ben Bernanke, US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Jamaican Sprinter and Olympic Gold Medalist Usain Bolt, Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal and US President Barack Obama.
Also making the lists is "the Chinese worker," a group of people whom TIME says "are an increasingly influential group in one of the world's most powerful economies".
The Latest from Iran (15 November): The Path to Moharram
All credible candidates for the honour of the figure or group who has made a significant impact on the world in 2009 - except maybe the one whose claim is that he runs really, really fast. But the news is who didn't make the final cut from 10 nominees. Apparently "the Iranian People" didn't match up to an American Congresswoman, the man leading the US Long War in Central Asia, or the iPhone guy, let alone an assembly-line machinist in Beijing.
Still, even that rejection might have fluttered into cyber-space had it not been for Time's perverse tribute to democracy.
To boost attention to the award, the magazine held an on-line poll: the top US money-man Bernanke, for example, finished 6th with more than 63,000 votes; computer-whiz Jobs was 3rd with almost 87,000. (Bizarrely, given yesterday's outcome, Pelosi and "the Chinese worker" were not even among the nominees.) The runner-up in the vote was US President Barack Obama, who must be pleased with just under 112,000 endorsements.
But the winner in the poll? With 573,561 votes --- more than a 5:1 margin over Obama --- "Iran Protesters".
So how did Time achieve what Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cannot, making the Green Movement disappear after a supposedly full and fair election? Well, the magazine did put up the caveat, "TIME's editors reserve the right to disagree." And here is the likely explanation:
[While] their courage and determination in the face of a brutal government crackdown demonstrated the depth of their willingness to fight for what they believed in....any hopes that the protests would usher in a flowering of Iranian democracy were shattered by the violent reprisals. And as time went on, it became clear that opposition movement leaders like Mir-Hossein Mousavi were not seeking a clean break with the Islamic Republic, as many Western observers had hoped.
Sorry, folks, you were kinda cute, as well as kinda valiant, in the summer. You might even have spurred an outpouring of popular support as you persisted. But, for Time, your demonstrations no longer exist because you couldn't deliver a "regime change" winding the clock in Iran back to 1978.
Long live democracy. Go away, democracy.
Reader Comments (73)
Amen. Shameful and despicable!
"Long live democracy. Go away, democracy."
Whoever wrote this -- THIS is a VERY stupid thing to say.!! Frankly, I would use the word "juvenile"!
Who cares what Time magazine has on their front cover?? I have never bought a copy of Time in my life.
Barry
Barry,
My motive for the piece has little to do with Time, even while jabbing at them --- it's about what this episode might say about the media's "gatekeeping" of which issues (and people) ultimately matter and why, even as they put up pretences that they are listening to the opinions of readers.
S.
"Who cares what Time magazine has on their front cover?"
Amen to that. Dropped the Time subscription a decade ago. The caveat for their poll: "Rate the candidates — though TIME's editors reserve the right to disagree."
Long live democracy, long live courage, long live 'the will of the people." Time doesn't understand the lexicon, but neither does MSM in general. Expediency rules, anything to increase failing circulation, no matter how exploitative.
Scott
The article is fine --except for that final statement. There is no connection whatsoever between what Time magazine does and Democracy.
Even a connection between "freedom of speech" and Democracy is tenuous - here in Australia, we have one of the best and strongest Democracies on the planet, but we have no guarantee of free speech. (we have libel laws instead) :)
I think maybe we perhaps need to remember that mags like Time are essentially American - and they are mostly written for US consumption - they therefore possibly/probably do reflect the most important things that occupy 300 million average US minds ( such as the 7 persons/issues you quoted) -- Maybe a sad situation - but realistic.
Barry.
Barry,
All fair points. Thanks...
S.
Just further to the above (as it looks like the EDIT function has been disabled) - I find that western journalism is very much based on "what exciting thing happened today?" They do this because I am afraid that the great majority of westerners (including where I live) have short attention spans :)
There are a lot of us who have longer attention spans - as epitomized by all of us here and the 573,561 votes who voted for the "iranan protestor".. But 300 million is a bigger number!!
Barry
Hooray for Scott Lucas:
" .... it’s about what this episode might say about the media’s “gatekeeping” of which issues (and people) ultimately matter and why, even as they put up pretences that they are listening to the opinions of readers."
Absolutely. The 'news hole' of the US vaunted 'free' press, ever determined by circulation numbers, advertising fees and the need to please 'important' news sources to gain access, has always been the gatekeeper.
All of which makes 'Free press' essentially an oxymoron, IMHO. Thank you again for this free press.
What most of us are infuriated about is that the Iran Protesters were not even included in the finalists despite being ranked no 1 in the poll.
It seems to just be another extension of the Western journalism failing to report on the protests in June, or misinterpreting things and calling the Green movement dead. It's also the blatant disregard of what their READERS felt was important and significant.
The smallest achievement of the "Green Movement" in Iran is the fact that we now have a better idea of how much the "Free World" cares about freedom, how powerful the "Super Powers" really are, how profoundly the "Democrats" are concerned about democracy, how responsible and objective the"Free Press" in the "Free World" have become, ... and how "compassionately & Mercifully" an Islamic Regime can govern!!! (MAY BE NOT)!!!
However, maybe for the first time, it showed us all, that how much ordinary people around the world can respect each other's struggle for democracy, true freedom and achieving human rights and privileges.
RE Time's explanation, "any hopes that the protests would usher in a flowering of Iranian democracy were shattered by the violent reprisals. And as time went on, it became clear that opposition movement leaders like Mir-Hossein Mousavi were not seeking a clean break with the Islamic Republic, as many Western observers had hoped."
Compare this with their explanation for choosing Khomeini man of the year for 1979:
A politically active Shi'ite cleric, Khomeini was an outspoken critic of the Shah of Iran's Western-influenced policies and was exiled to Iraq for 14 years before moving to France, where he continued his opposition. By January 1979, public anger with the Shah caused him to flee, and a month later Khomeini returned from exile. By April he had established a theocracy based on strict adherence to Islamic law, with the U.S. as Iran's greatest enemy. ... "Rarely has so improbable a leader shaken the world," said TIME in naming him Man of the Year for 1979. (1/7/80).
http://www.time.com/time/personoftheyear/archive/photohistory/khomeini.html
So Khomeini got it for establishing a theocracy based on strict adherence to Islamic law, with the U.S. as Iran's greatest enemy, and the Iran protesters didn't because they failed to overthrow/seek a clean break with a theocracy based on strict adherence to Islamic law, with the U.S. as Iran's greatest enemy.
??? .....
My point is - don't expect too much from Western journalism. Not because they are nasty horrible people - but they are just people, making a living. There is nothing particularly "noble" about them or their profession - even though they generally claim nobility.
They are just another cog in a very big commercial wheel - that is Western capitalism (nothing to do with Western Democracy). I am a supporter of both - but am realistic enough to realize and understand exactly what they both are.
Having said all that - if I was asked where I would rather live, in the "west" (with all it's faults) or in the "middle East" (with all it's faults) - well I will leave you to guess the answer
Barry
Re "If I was asked where I would rather live..." that's a very common statement from Americans, who don't seem to realise how absolutely "normal" it is that they - like most other peoples all over the globe - tend to prefer the familiar to the exotic, i.e. are happiest living in their own country amongst their own people if-at-all-possible. Home is where the heart is - treasured affections roots and memories, shared emotions and deep attachments to the particular beauties of one's own corner of the world. Writing from Italy, which flooded the so-called New World with tens of millions of impoverished emigrants for the best part of a century: our historical experience is that emigration is fuelled mostly by harsh necessity, seldom by governance-system preferences.
Guys and Gals,
I would encourage you to email the editor of time. The email is: letters@time.com and the editor is Richard Stengel. We need to deluge them to ge them to notice. I wrote something to him below you can use as an example. I have a high level contact in the YPO(Young Presidents Organization) who happens to be the CEO of a small software company I own part of. I am hopeful he will get me Mr. Stengels direct email or another source to get in contact with him. If I am able to get it I will circle back with Scott and hopefully if he agrees we will put something together for him.
Mr. Stengel,
I am writing to you regarding the Who Will be the Person of the Year 2009. It was quite a sad day today when I learned that the Iran Protestors did not make the finalist list. It was shocking taking into consideration Iran Protestors tallied 573, 561 while all the other 9 candidates together only tallied 676,354 votes. To add further insult to injury the mystery candidate The Chinese Worker made the list. Who in the world is The Chinese Worker? Goodness why not add Papa Smurf to the list while your at it. Is this a case of reserving the rights of the editors to disagree? If so you might want to consider that we the public pay your salary. I would have to imagine the 573,561 who voted for Iran Protestors, many whom may be subscribers, are going be a little upset over this.
I would also like to remind you of a few of the core values Time Warner:
Customer Focus: We value our customers, putting their needs and interests at the center of everything we do.
Integrity: We rigorously uphold editorial independence and artistic expression, earning the trust of our readers, viewers, listeners, members and subscribers.
Responsibility: We work to improve our communities, taking pride in serving the public interest as well as the interests of our shareholders.
With all due respect how could have your editorial staff made the decision they did to omit the Iran Protestors considering the values espoused above? Your business depends on the values to remain in the dominant position it does. By compromising them you will only not only be betraying your reader base but the very values your organization is based on. I would strongly encourage you to revisit this topic and take into context the enormity of the events happening in Iran. The US is built on " Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." What better story to strike at the innate conscience of our society as a whole than another people trying to achieve something we often take for granted. If anything the story of the Green Movement serves as a potent reminder why we fight so hard to promote and uphold the values enshrined in our constitution.
Deep down I hope this is just a marketing strategy on Times part to mimic the events in Iran showing the American people what happens when something is stolen from them. If that is the case it will be shear genius on your staff's part, otherwise it will be a slap in the face of the public who told you what they wanted.
Sincerely
Bill Davit
william.davit@printsoft.com
I am not so offended by this, I understood from the beginning that it was an unscientific poll adn they would probably ignore it.
What offends me more is that it is so predictable that TIME magazine would arrogantly ignore the biggest human rights and geopolitical story of the year in favor of more US centric fluff. For example, Neda Soltan, a martyr viewed by millions across the world despite a government ban on journalism in Iran, is a less prominent hero than a pilot that got attacked by a Flock of Seagulls (the birds, not the band) and landed in a river? Give me a break.
Bill Davit
You have had a very good idea; in France we say :
" Somebody who hasn't done anything, hasn't had anything".
Only to hassele him ,(even if we have not a positif outcome), I am OK !
Thank you !
Sorry Scott, the edit function dosen't work yet !
SHAME on you TIME, WHERE IS MY VOTE?
Perhaps we can ask Ahmadinejad. Did he give you free oil and you decided to ignore our vote?
WHERE IS MY VOTE ?????????????????????????????????
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Time magazine is a has been publication. Really not important what they say. Lets show them how wrong they really are.
Chinese workers ? WTF!
They should have also included Indian sewage workers
Time's mismanagement of this is so stupid that I half suspect it is some sort of sabotage meant to create a tax-dodge excuse to shut down the entire print arm of the media empire altogether! Nobody could be this stupid. Iran News Now says Time actually stopped adding votes to the tally ten days ago so it's probably at least a few hundred thousand higher than the half million already recorded!
If it's not a clever mind-game as Mr. Davit suggests, it should go down in history as Blunder of the Year! How could anybody think that this wouldn't result in a HUGE backlash? Plus think of the money lost! They could have sold a HALF MILLION copies if they had validated the public's online vote, even just by honoring it with a finalist mention! Everyone would have bought a copy to show their grandkids, hey, I voted for these guys! We raised awareness and got a half million votes for them, it was great how everyone worked together!" People would say, yes, glossy magazines ARE good for something, it's a nice keepsake record of important events.
Instead we'll be saying to the grandkids, "Oh yes websites used to come on sheets of glossy paper all stapled together. We called them magazines. It used to matter a lot what they printed on the cover; people collected them." There'll be a little section on eBay for "paper hobbyists", but whatever cover Time prints this year won't be one of the sought-after collectibles, that's for sure.
Ange,
The edit function has been disabled because it was causing problems with comments. Mike Dunn is trying to sort. Meanwhile, in event that a post needs correction, just let us know.
S.
Scott
Thank you; it will be a hard job !
When this "vote on Times" petition was going on; I recognized that I could cast several votes; from the same IP!
When I went to the Iranian embassy to vote, I learned that I could in fact vote with my passport (Iranian), my other passports, my national ID, my driver's license, and my birth certificate! The man who was very politely signing me up for vote asked, do you have identity, I asked: "which do you want", he smirked: "give me one for now!"
We have a Persian saying: jang-e aval beh az solhe akhar (Early fight's better than late peace). I guess Iranians who care about such online polls should have protested to Times when noticed this ability for multiple voting.
I know we like to get attention (and compete with Israelis in being the center of the world) but I think in all likelihood Obama's a more popular/global image--had Iranian protesters won, Times would have given the fanatics inside Iran the perfect excuse that the protesters are creation of Western propaganda! So, I am not too unhappy about this "opportunity" being stripped from Ahmadinejad. ;)