From a reader:
Jonah,
I would more than love to see the Iraqi voter, Orange Revolutionaries, Lebanese protestors, etc. (or “Democracy Activists Burying Dictators” in general) named as TIME’s Person of the Year. I think it’s a fine idea whose time is ripe.
Unfortunately, the Person of the Year title (as TIME never tires of reminding us) always goes to the person who most influenced the news this year. It’s kind of tough to give such an honor to a group whom the general media has made such a studied effort at ignoring, and thereby denying any such influence.