My 2009 Persons of the Year
Last year I began a tradition of naming someone my Person of the Year, usually someone who did something newsworthy that year. There are no formal criteria, but I consider what the person did and what it personified. Many things can count -- the inaugural winner was a woman (who later contacted me!) from Arizona who went out for a jog in the desert and got attacked by a fox who ended up biting her on the arm. A typical jog in the desert you might say, but here's what made the woman a badass and my 2008 Person of the Year: the fox wouldn't let go so the woman jogged the mile or so back to her car WITH THE FUCKING FOX STILL ON HER ARM. She then somehow managed to dislodge the fox, throw it in her trunk and drive to the hospital.
For 2009, I had three contenders.
The first was US Airways Captain Chesley Sullenberger who, in case you've been living in a damn cave, landed an airplane in New York's Hudson river after he lost both engines to a flock of geese. (Damn'd geese!). FYI, Captain Sullenberger is a California native.
The second was Captain Richard Phillips of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama. In April 2009, Captain Phillips' ship was steaming past the coast of Somalia when it was hijacked by a group of pirates. Captain Phillips got his crew off (I think), but in doing so got taken hostage by the pirates aboard one of the Maersk Alabama's life rafts.
The third is actually a group: Captain Phillips was freed after5 days when said pirate hostage takers poked their heads out of said life raft -- and got them blown off by three US Navy Seal snipers on an adjacent US ship.
In a world in which laws are rarely enforced and people have forgotten that actions speak louder than words, there can only be one choice amongst this group of three.
For exhibiting ingenuity, selflessness, tenacity, grace under pressure, and the strength of character to persevere against any and all odds to get the job done, my 2009 Persons of the Year are the 3 US Navy Seal snipers who in a split second stood up for what was right in the world by rendering swift and deadly justice. Those 3 brave men will remain anonymous forever, but wherever you are, gentleman, this American salutes you.
For 2009, I had three contenders.
The first was US Airways Captain Chesley Sullenberger who, in case you've been living in a damn cave, landed an airplane in New York's Hudson river after he lost both engines to a flock of geese. (Damn'd geese!). FYI, Captain Sullenberger is a California native.
The second was Captain Richard Phillips of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama. In April 2009, Captain Phillips' ship was steaming past the coast of Somalia when it was hijacked by a group of pirates. Captain Phillips got his crew off (I think), but in doing so got taken hostage by the pirates aboard one of the Maersk Alabama's life rafts.
The third is actually a group: Captain Phillips was freed after5 days when said pirate hostage takers poked their heads out of said life raft -- and got them blown off by three US Navy Seal snipers on an adjacent US ship.
In a world in which laws are rarely enforced and people have forgotten that actions speak louder than words, there can only be one choice amongst this group of three.
For exhibiting ingenuity, selflessness, tenacity, grace under pressure, and the strength of character to persevere against any and all odds to get the job done, my 2009 Persons of the Year are the 3 US Navy Seal snipers who in a split second stood up for what was right in the world by rendering swift and deadly justice. Those 3 brave men will remain anonymous forever, but wherever you are, gentleman, this American salutes you.
posted by Andy!! at 7:13 PM
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