Magazine names gay couple top newsmakers

[Spazito]

TORONTO - A court ruling declaring Canada's legal definition of marriage a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was the inspiration behind Time magazine's 2003 Canadian newsmaker of the year.

The publication chose Michael Leshner and Michael Stark as top newsmakers for playing a key role in the legal battle for same-sex marriage rights.

<snip>

The current definition of marriage is invalid and the laws must be changed, the court said.

Jean Chrétien, then prime minister, later announced the federal government would not appeal the ruling. By the end of summer, the Liberals had drafted legislation to formalize the decision and sent it to the Supreme Court for review.

more

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/news/2003/12/21/newsmakers031221

[Jack Rabbit]

1. I'm shocked -- shocked! -- that Time Magazine would cop out again

Time Magazaine's Man of the Year Award is to go to the person or persons who, for better or worse, most influenced news events for the previous twelve months.

In 2001, Time named New York Mayor Rudolph Guiliani for his admirable leadership in wake of the September 11 attacks. While Guiliani handled the situation magnificently, the Man of the Year should have been the evil genius who planned the attacks, Osama bin Laden.

In 2002, Time named three whistle blowers as Women of the Year. Nothing has come of their whistle blowing. Meanwhile, George W. Bush was plotting a war based on lies, the result of which would cast asunder international institutions established to keep peace and resolve conflicts in the wake of World War II. For this reason, Mr. Bush should have been named.

For 2003, we have this. This is the year that Bush carried out his colonial design; there are some who will argue that Bush made the world a better place for simply ridding it of Saddam and some, including your humble servant, who will argue that Bush did this in the worst possible way and made the world a darker place in the process. Nevertheless, that is the most influencial event of the year and Mr. Bush was the man behind it.

Those who Time actually named deserve recognition. All of them influenced these dark days in a positive way and their courage should be lauded. However, to say that they influenced the events of our time more than Bush or Osama is simply ludicrous. The impact that Bush and Osama have had over the last three years has been ugly, but it has been greater.

One might guess that Time is avoiding tough choices in order to keep their circulation numbers high. Perhaps, had they named Osama Man of the Year for 2001, some ingnorant people would have cancelled their subscriptions, just as some did when Hitler was once named.

Nevertheless, Time, like too much of American mainstream journalism, is shirking its responsibility to inform. Instead of directing its readers to hard issues, Time chooses to present fluff.

This choice is another cop out. That has been par for the course for too long.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Are Bush or Saddam Canadian now? (n/t)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Oops

I got snared on that one.

[davidinalameda]

4. deep breath

[baldguy]

5. TIME USA picks people who spread death & distruction.

TIME Canada picks people spread love & tolerance.