Influential? You Decide.

Time magazine this week released its fifth annual "100 Most Influential People" issue and, while I no longer read Time Magazine (I choose not to read magazines or newspapers that try to force their political views down my throat) I find it very interesting to see who makes it onto this honor roll each year. While I certainly don't agree with the inclusion of some of the recipients who made it into this years issue, I did find a few of the choices intriguing. Here are my thoughts on a few of the recipients, but you can click here for the entire list.

In the number one position, under the category "Leaders and Revolutionaries", is the Dalai Lama. Perhaps recent events in China, with regard to the treatment of the Tibetan people by the Chinese government, might have something to do with his placement in the first position, but I find the irony fascinating in this case. After all, it was the Chinese government who forced the Dalai Lama into exile in India, seeking to end his rule of the Tibetan people, who the Chinese government have always considered to be under Chinese rule. And, far from having the desired effect of ending his influence over the Tibetan people, he has actually become more revered in exile for his never-ending struggle to free his people from Chinese rule, for his calming influence on them in their troubled times, and for the wisdom and spirituality he imparts, not only to his own people, but to people the world over. For the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, to be so recognized as the most influential person of the year in the western world is a perfect example of the respect we should all show toward other religions and the acceptance of views which do not always mirror our own. We can all learn valuable lessons form one another, if we just take the time to listen.

At number 3 on the list, also under "Leaders and Revolutionaries" is Barack Obama. While I am not an Obama supporter, I recognize that the man is a very charismatic individual with a unique ability to enthral his audiences and draw them into his camp. My problem with his placement in the third position on this list is that he has yet to prove that he is either a leader or a revolutionary. His tenure as Illinois state senator has been controversial at best, and he has not proven to be revolutionary in any sense. Perhaps he just hasn't had sufficient time to do either, but I think we tend to idolize people far too quickly, which is not only dangerous for us but it is also unfair to the person being prematurely idolized. It sets them up for ridicule and failure if they do not live up to our over-anxious expectations. Who knows if Obama will live up to the hype he has been generating, but I just need a lot more from him than the incessant "time for real change" slogan he has been throwing around at every turn. Surely there are other, more deserving individuals who rightfully earned the title of most influential leaders and revolutionaries in the past year; perhaps they just weren't persistent enough.

Then there is Randy Pausch, slotted at number 33 in the category "Heroes and Pioneers". Perhaps you have heard of Randy, or maybe you have even seen his very popular video on Youtube, but if you have not you should really to take a few minutes to view it (you can view it here ). Randy, a 47 year old computer-science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last August, and was told he had only three to six months to live. But instead of giving up on life and falling into depression, as so many of us would have done, Randy chose to use his dire situation as both a teaching tool, and as a kind of "message in a bottle" for his kids, so that they might someday better understand who their father really was. He made a "last lecture" to teach students lessons that they cannot learn in a classroom; lessons of humility and humor, and living life to its fullest. He taught them about not being bitter about those things which we cannot control but, instead, to follow their dreams and have fun along the way. Randy is a true hero for turning something so personally devastating into something so positive for his students, his children and anyone else who might see his lecture on video and be the better for it.

Finally, in a direct about-face from my normal view of celebrities, I must recognize the selfless actions of Hollywood's biggest celebrity couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. At number 21, under "Heroes and Pioneers", Pitt and Jolie are recognized for their tireless efforts to bring aid and relief to those who have suffered hardships, either from natural disasters or through Governments bent on genocide to rid their countries of "unwanted" religions or tribal sects. They have been ambassadors for peace in Darfur, brought aid and money to those affected by earthquakes in Pakistan and by hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, as well as tending to sick and starving children in Africa. They truly practice what they preach, devoting their time and money to causes that so many others "talk" about contributing to, but never get around to it. And in a time when it seems celebrities only do good deeds for the publicity it generates, Pitt and Jolie appear to carry out most of these acts of kindness under the media radar, not wanting to shift focus off of the cause and on to themselves. I rarely ever agree with most celebrities when it comes to politics, but I know good character when I see it and these two have more than their share of it.

Who would you put on the list? Is there someone who has influenced you in your life, who you thinks deserves such recognition? For me there is no question; it is my mother. Having raised eight children (all born within a ten-year period) by herself, working two jobs to provide the essentials for us while rarely having anything nice for herself, she taught me all the morals and values I carry with me today, as well as some others I can never hope to display in the selfless and dignified way she has shown. Here's to you, Mom.