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Time’s 2020 Person Of The Year Has Just Been Announced
Time’s 2020 Person Of The Year Has Just Been Announced
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Time’s 2020 Person Of The Year Has Just Been Announced

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Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have become Time magazine’s 2020 person – or persons – of the year.

“Together, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris offered restoration and renewal in a single ticket,” The magazine said. “And America bought what they were selling: after the highest turnout in a century, they racked up 81 million votes and counting, the most in presidential history, topping Trump by some 7 million votes and flipping five battleground states.”

The magazine has been choosing the year’s most influential person since 1927.

Donald Trump also won the award as president-elect in 2016. His predecessors Barack Obama and George W. Bush were each named person of the year twice after their election victories. Last year, the winner was climate activist Greta Thunberg.

 

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    78-year-old Biden will be the oldest person ever to assume the presidency and he is also the oldest ever to be named Person of the Year by the magazine.

    Harris is the country’s first female, first Black, and first South Asian vice president-elect.

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    “If Donald Trump was a force for disruption and division over the past four years, Biden and Harris show where the nation is heading: a blend of ethnicities, lived experiences, and worldviews that must find a way forward together if the American experiment is to survive,” the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal said.

    Image credits: Time

    The Person of the Year title hasn’t always been an “honour”. In 1938, it was given to Adolf Hitler.

    Even though the magazine admired him for stealing Austria “before the eyes of a horrified and apparently impotent world”. It is the final line of its announcement that’s the most chilling: “To those who watched the closing events of the year it seemed more than probable that the Man of 1938 may make 1939 a year to be remembered.”

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    Along with its Person of the Year honor, Time magazine named its Guardians of the Year

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    The people had mixed feelings after the news was announced

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    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

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    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Writer, Senior Writer

    Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

    What do you think ?
    Jack Holt
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This seems very american-centric. Especially when the country has tragically completely failed to control the virus. I am glad that Biden and Harris inspire hope, as hope is desperately needed. However, I think the whistleblower Chinese doctor Li Wenliang who paid for his life trying to alert the world to tgis deadly virus would've been more deserving.

    H Edwards
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are all the butt-hurt Trumpers forgetting that their guy won it in 2016?

    Mike Parr
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Biden and Harris did NOTHING of consequence in 2020. Award it to the front-line workers and vaccine manufacturers in the battle against the coronavirus.

    Cherie of Numenor
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    After the horror show of Trump, this is a most welcome change. And yet, Trump is still acting like a petulant child whilst our new President is forging ahead and ignoring Trump's tantrums. I admire Biden and Harris.

    Kitty Twinkle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I admire them too. Trump is a disgrace to our country. He tried to drag the reputations of Supreme Court Justices through mud, and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths.

    Load More Replies...
    Katinka Min
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not that I am not relieved the Americans got their s**t together and electd a sane president, but person of the year?? What have they done except the usual campaigning?

    Looloo
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Sane president?! 😂 I totally agree with the rest of your comment though

    Load More Replies...
    Kitty Twinkle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, well done Time! The best thing about Time is that they don't give horrible people the People of the Year award. Last year they gave it to Greta Thunberg, not Donald Trump. I cherish that copy.

    Load More Replies...
    Toasty
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I voted for Biden. This is a crock of s**t. Don't award someone before they have actually done something. All Biden has done is won himself the opportunity to prove that he can make the right decisions. I hate this on so many levels.

    Toasty
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm reading that it is a tradition to award this to the president elect. I wasn't aware of this, however, that doesn't change my initial opinion.

    Load More Replies...
    Wolfstar
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not even going to respond to the trolls in the comments. Anyways, well done Time for choosing Biden and Harris (even though it's tradition). And awesome choices for the Guardian of the Year!

    Jonathan Armstrong
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is tradition to give it to the president-elect. Whether you like the guy or not, we shouldn't mess with tradition.

    Doggo
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    bunch of people just commenting "no" basically. please look at another post that makes you happy.

    Steve Cruz
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One of my favorite reactions: TRUMP WAS INFURIATED. I keep hoping help have a stroke, but a brain is needed for that.

    Sherry Harvey
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wasn’t there also peace between Israel and the Arabs for the first time in many, many years? Seems the author of that peace would have better deserved it. But hey, Time also named Adolf Hitler once, so who cares what they think? I sure dob’t.

    kjorn
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Health workers deserve it and so much more

    Bev Vee
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Really? If anyone should be on the cover it’s our frontline responders!!!!!

    Aragorn II Elessar
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I personally don’t think they’ve done a whole lot yet. The person of the year could go to President Trump, for being a wonderful example of what not to do. Biden and Kamala are going to be wonderful in the White House, I’m sure, but don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. By the way, take a look at the tone of the Trump comments (insulting, hateful, angry, ad hominem) and the tone of the rest of the people (ya know, sane), if possible, from a non biased perspective and see which side you’d rather support based on the others with you.

    Kitty Twinkle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is definitely appropriate, we've seen a huge change to American history. Not just Biden, but also Harris. The first woman vice president, the first black vice president, the first indian vice president...the combinations go on and on! So I want to say thanks to everyone who voted for them. They are truly the better choice.

    Kathryn Baylis
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They keep repeating that Biden is the oldest person elected President, which kind of bugs me. Thing is, he may be old biologically, but he’s the most youthful old person I’ve seen. He doesn’t look—-or act—-his age at all. He’s more exuberant than a lot of people his age (and younger!). I like seeing older people who don’t act like they’re on their way out yet. Yes, take appropriate precautions, of course, but you don’t have to be the stereotypical aged parent/grandparent wearing a shawl, sitting in a rocking chair next to the fireplace all day.

    Scyth
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    He is the type that sniffs girls hair and talks about how he loves little girls jumping on his lap. The creepy type.

    Load More Replies...
    Chich
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is there ANY way we can make american politics go away?

    Mewton’s Third Paw
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Go live off the grid if you don’t want to be impacted by politics.

    Load More Replies...
    Kevin Donegan
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    One person is going to be pissed ... the morbidly obese pathological lying vindictive narcissistic imbecile with the emotional maturity of a toddler, and now loser, (AKA tRump). As time goes on and tRump becomes even more obsolete than he is now, he will slowly whither away and die. A narcissist detests one thing above all else ... having the limelight placed on someone else.

    Tomasz Jackowski
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good thing there were no worldwide events this year that could have been considered more important than US presidential election, and therefore a person that could be considered more influential this year. Such events would probably be terrible.

    Looloo
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Wow. I thought this was a joke! People of the year?? Why?

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    The Chinese whistleblowers who defied their government are unsurprisingly absent.

    Hedgielover98
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Careful, if you arent a liberal sheep, you get bashed and down arrowed here.

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Here's what I can find on Porche Bennett-Bey. She represents BLAK (Black Lives Activists of Kenosha) and spoke to Biden while on campaign. Link below to video of her speaking. https://www.mediaite.com/news/blm-activist-unloads-her-anger-over-racial-injustice-during-biden-event-i-was-told-to-go-off-this-paper-but-i-cant/

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    an article on Assa Traore https://www.npr.org/2020/07/22/893009058/in-france-a-sisters-fight-for-justice-and-black-lives-gains-momentum

    Load More Replies...
    Bill
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited)

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    News media in bed with politicians should scare the hell out of everyone. Why the media blackout on Hunter Biden? And the President elect's own brother now too

    Mewton’s Third Paw
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because nobody gives a shít about Biden’s son’s corruption when Biden is the only other choice besides trump.

    Load More Replies...
    Scyth
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Hell yeah, a person who locked up thousands, most of them black people, for cannabis possession definitely deserves that. Don't forget the other person who was second in command in destroying Lybia and Syria, that's definitely heroic. Sarcasm aside, it's a wonder what saying 3 simple words, BLM, can do to change public opinion.

    H Edwards
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think that Joe or Kamala are 'the devil' either. But anyway, the point is that the person of the year is supposed to be influential, rather than 'good'. So stop whining.

    Load More Replies...
    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    100% not surprised they picked who they did. I would be surprised if they picked anyone else, but they won't, because they are biased and they will always pick their media darlings to win the award. And its their award to give and they can give it to whomever they like, whether they deserve to be awarded or not in my opinion.

    Titas Burinskas
    BoredPanda Staff
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    A warmonger and a harsh prosecutor, truly the heroes we deserve!

    Jack Holt
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This seems very american-centric. Especially when the country has tragically completely failed to control the virus. I am glad that Biden and Harris inspire hope, as hope is desperately needed. However, I think the whistleblower Chinese doctor Li Wenliang who paid for his life trying to alert the world to tgis deadly virus would've been more deserving.

    H Edwards
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are all the butt-hurt Trumpers forgetting that their guy won it in 2016?

    Mike Parr
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Biden and Harris did NOTHING of consequence in 2020. Award it to the front-line workers and vaccine manufacturers in the battle against the coronavirus.

    Cherie of Numenor
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    After the horror show of Trump, this is a most welcome change. And yet, Trump is still acting like a petulant child whilst our new President is forging ahead and ignoring Trump's tantrums. I admire Biden and Harris.

    Kitty Twinkle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I admire them too. Trump is a disgrace to our country. He tried to drag the reputations of Supreme Court Justices through mud, and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths.

    Load More Replies...
    Katinka Min
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not that I am not relieved the Americans got their s**t together and electd a sane president, but person of the year?? What have they done except the usual campaigning?

    Looloo
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Sane president?! 😂 I totally agree with the rest of your comment though

    Load More Replies...
    Kitty Twinkle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, well done Time! The best thing about Time is that they don't give horrible people the People of the Year award. Last year they gave it to Greta Thunberg, not Donald Trump. I cherish that copy.

    Load More Replies...
    Toasty
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I voted for Biden. This is a crock of s**t. Don't award someone before they have actually done something. All Biden has done is won himself the opportunity to prove that he can make the right decisions. I hate this on so many levels.

    Toasty
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm reading that it is a tradition to award this to the president elect. I wasn't aware of this, however, that doesn't change my initial opinion.

    Load More Replies...
    Wolfstar
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not even going to respond to the trolls in the comments. Anyways, well done Time for choosing Biden and Harris (even though it's tradition). And awesome choices for the Guardian of the Year!

    Jonathan Armstrong
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is tradition to give it to the president-elect. Whether you like the guy or not, we shouldn't mess with tradition.

    Doggo
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    bunch of people just commenting "no" basically. please look at another post that makes you happy.

    Steve Cruz
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One of my favorite reactions: TRUMP WAS INFURIATED. I keep hoping help have a stroke, but a brain is needed for that.

    Sherry Harvey
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wasn’t there also peace between Israel and the Arabs for the first time in many, many years? Seems the author of that peace would have better deserved it. But hey, Time also named Adolf Hitler once, so who cares what they think? I sure dob’t.

    kjorn
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Health workers deserve it and so much more

    Bev Vee
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Really? If anyone should be on the cover it’s our frontline responders!!!!!

    Aragorn II Elessar
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I personally don’t think they’ve done a whole lot yet. The person of the year could go to President Trump, for being a wonderful example of what not to do. Biden and Kamala are going to be wonderful in the White House, I’m sure, but don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. By the way, take a look at the tone of the Trump comments (insulting, hateful, angry, ad hominem) and the tone of the rest of the people (ya know, sane), if possible, from a non biased perspective and see which side you’d rather support based on the others with you.

    Kitty Twinkle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is definitely appropriate, we've seen a huge change to American history. Not just Biden, but also Harris. The first woman vice president, the first black vice president, the first indian vice president...the combinations go on and on! So I want to say thanks to everyone who voted for them. They are truly the better choice.

    Kathryn Baylis
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They keep repeating that Biden is the oldest person elected President, which kind of bugs me. Thing is, he may be old biologically, but he’s the most youthful old person I’ve seen. He doesn’t look—-or act—-his age at all. He’s more exuberant than a lot of people his age (and younger!). I like seeing older people who don’t act like they’re on their way out yet. Yes, take appropriate precautions, of course, but you don’t have to be the stereotypical aged parent/grandparent wearing a shawl, sitting in a rocking chair next to the fireplace all day.

    Scyth
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    He is the type that sniffs girls hair and talks about how he loves little girls jumping on his lap. The creepy type.

    Load More Replies...
    Chich
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is there ANY way we can make american politics go away?

    Mewton’s Third Paw
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Go live off the grid if you don’t want to be impacted by politics.

    Load More Replies...
    Kevin Donegan
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    One person is going to be pissed ... the morbidly obese pathological lying vindictive narcissistic imbecile with the emotional maturity of a toddler, and now loser, (AKA tRump). As time goes on and tRump becomes even more obsolete than he is now, he will slowly whither away and die. A narcissist detests one thing above all else ... having the limelight placed on someone else.

    Tomasz Jackowski
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good thing there were no worldwide events this year that could have been considered more important than US presidential election, and therefore a person that could be considered more influential this year. Such events would probably be terrible.

    Looloo
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Wow. I thought this was a joke! People of the year?? Why?

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    The Chinese whistleblowers who defied their government are unsurprisingly absent.

    Hedgielover98
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Careful, if you arent a liberal sheep, you get bashed and down arrowed here.

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Here's what I can find on Porche Bennett-Bey. She represents BLAK (Black Lives Activists of Kenosha) and spoke to Biden while on campaign. Link below to video of her speaking. https://www.mediaite.com/news/blm-activist-unloads-her-anger-over-racial-injustice-during-biden-event-i-was-told-to-go-off-this-paper-but-i-cant/

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    an article on Assa Traore https://www.npr.org/2020/07/22/893009058/in-france-a-sisters-fight-for-justice-and-black-lives-gains-momentum

    Load More Replies...
    Bill
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited)

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    News media in bed with politicians should scare the hell out of everyone. Why the media blackout on Hunter Biden? And the President elect's own brother now too

    Mewton’s Third Paw
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because nobody gives a shít about Biden’s son’s corruption when Biden is the only other choice besides trump.

    Load More Replies...
    Scyth
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Hell yeah, a person who locked up thousands, most of them black people, for cannabis possession definitely deserves that. Don't forget the other person who was second in command in destroying Lybia and Syria, that's definitely heroic. Sarcasm aside, it's a wonder what saying 3 simple words, BLM, can do to change public opinion.

    H Edwards
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think that Joe or Kamala are 'the devil' either. But anyway, the point is that the person of the year is supposed to be influential, rather than 'good'. So stop whining.

    Load More Replies...
    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    100% not surprised they picked who they did. I would be surprised if they picked anyone else, but they won't, because they are biased and they will always pick their media darlings to win the award. And its their award to give and they can give it to whomever they like, whether they deserve to be awarded or not in my opinion.

    Titas Burinskas
    BoredPanda Staff
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    A warmonger and a harsh prosecutor, truly the heroes we deserve!

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