Staff Writer
Of the eight finalists
on the shortlist for TIME's Person of the Year, The Ebola Fighters are the 2014
winners. TIME’s Person of the Year is chosen by the editors, although there is
a separate poll for the public to vote as well. Winners fit a certain criteria
of ‘individuals, or group of individuals, who have had the most impact on the
news over the year, for better or for worse’.
Nancy Gibbs, TIME’s
managing editor, stated, “These men and women
did the hard and dangerous work in treating patients and protecting the rest of
us," She applauded the fighters for demonstrating an "exceptionally
great amount of courage and kindness and bravery."
Several outbreaks of
Ebola have occurred since its initial discovery in 1976, but the current
epidemic is the largest and most complex case the world has seen. Since it was
rediscovered in West Africa, March 2014, there have been thousands of deaths.
The epidemics incited global panic and elaborate precautions to quarantine the
disease. The Ebola Fighters include all sorts of health care workers such as,
patients, doctors, nurses, ambulance attendees, and even burial parties.
Five different covers
were printed, depicting a nurse, two doctors, an ambulance driver, and a health
caregiver. Dr. Kent Brantly, one of the doctors featured on the cover, and the
first American infected with Ebola said, “This is not simply a historic event
that we’re looking back on,” he said. “It’s still happening. Ebola fighters are
not just people who did something brave and courageous. They are still in the
trenches fighting that war as we speak.”
The runner ups to the
prestigious TIME title include:
The Ferguson Protesters,
who were initially fighting for the death of Michael Brown and again after the
declination of indictment.
Vladimir Putin, the
Russian president who has been very active over the course of the year. From
the civil conflicts in eastern Ukraine, to the hosting of the Olympics in
Sochi, Russia, he has proven to be very influential.
Taylor Swift, a popular
musician, who recently released her album ‘1989’ in late October. She also
removed her music from Spotify, under the explanation that they should
compensate artists more.
Former teacher Jack Ma,
founder of a Chinese e-commerce business service Alibaba which had its first
stock sell for $25 billion.
Tim Cook CEO of Apple,
who introduced the new Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the Apple Watch, and
Apple Pay.
Masoud Barzani, the
president of the Iraqi Kurdish Region, has influenced the drive for
independence from the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria.
Roger Goodell, the
commissioner of the NFL whose leadership was called into question as he dealt
with negative incidents such as the domestic abuse case involving player Ray
Rice.
