kwentuhan 2008

In what could be the last shocker of 2006, Time called ‘You’ (or us) as its Person of the Year. And while 2006 produced yet another batch of POY-worthy men and women, Time instead chose those ‘little people’ (armed with keyboards and camcorders) and their collective impact on our planet. Checking the official site, it seems there’s a mixed reaction on this. Some praised the magazine for its timely realization, others, criticized it for completely ignoring those who really mattered (Time, by the way, included a lengthy "People who Mattered" article). A lot of them are asking why. Why the nameless majority? Why them? Why us? Why You?

And why not? Why not You?

What this year revealed, Time said, is the significant shift of ‘power’ back to the people, to You. Blogs, videos, and podcasts made the world a little more smaller, a little more connected, which in turn gave those ‘little people’ more chance not just to express themselves but to change the way world thinks and perceives. Gone are the days when we have to wait for tomorrow’s newspapers to get the latest news, when we have sift through countless commercials just to be entertained. 2006 is the year of the ‘now’ generation. But more importantly, this is the year of the ‘You’ generation. And did we see the results: Bloggers became whistleblowers, amateur camcorders became watchdogs, and podcasters became the next commentators.

You, for the first time, became embedded in the ‘Me’ society, where only significant people made the headlines, where the ‘big ones’ are the only ones who matter. This time, we get to share the limelight. It is a big responsibility, though, and some apparently are incapable of handling it (just head over Youtube and watch some random videos, including mine). But some are brave enough to try. Brave enough to share what’s on their mind without doubting their right to do so. Free speech suddenly meant something to the Lilliputians. It became a call, and thankfully they responded in droves.

Which is why You (or we) deserve to be Time’s Person of the Year–because we now hold the power to change the world–and we are happily wielding it. With the canvass waiting just a few mouse clicks away, the world is inviting You (or us) to put a dent, however small, on a world shaped by the Gullivers of our time.

Let’s make the most of it.