A comment was posted by a friend, Todd11ny on my Bono - Influence post. What he had to say was too interesting to not bring to your attention. I figure this will likely draw a bunch of posts on its own.
Out.
-----
Ok I'm not even going to really focus on arguing the Bono issue - I googled 100 most influential people and came up with Time's list they post every year - 2005 has 20 entertainers...Bono isnt one of them but Kayne West, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp & Quentin Tarantino are...so lets leave this question to rest - strong NO on "Is Bono the most influential person on earth"
However, it'd be pretty easy of me to just come in, list of Time's list (which I believe they've researched considerably more then you or I would) and leave it at that...
As promised - Here's my vote
Osama Bin Laden (and no I'm definitely not a fan, follower, Islamic Militant or support any of his actions in the war against the US today).
Thinking back to 9/11 (as one item on a list I'll open up), Bin Laden has radically changed core culture and economic stability within the only remaining World Super Power. Today, CNN especially takes time to report on the color scheme of how safe America is, Red and Orange seem to predominate that list - and FEAR seems to be the overwhelming emotion amongst Americans. George W was re-elected on his crusade to end Terrorism and finish what was started in Iraq - again, HUGE push from Bin Laden - and this is just ONE incident over the past twenty years. Speaking of Super Powers, ever wonder what happened to the U.S.S.R. and their crusade to spread Communism? Well in the least publicized war of the 20th Century, Bin Laden rallied the Muslim community into Jihad and defeated the Soviet Union in their own back yard - between 1980 and 1989, Afghanistan played out as U.S.S.R.'s own personal Vietnam - living in the western world, we were not kept up to date on actions similar to how we are when the US or UK are involved. - So if your keeping score = its Al-Qaeda - One, Super Powers - Zero.
Now, mind you, 2004 & so far in 2005 have been pretty quiet years, but he's gone into hiding before and I'm pretty sure he's still tops on the CIA most dangerous list. Since Afghanistan in the 80's where he became a legend among Muslims, He has the following rap sheet.
Two attacks on the World Trade Centres (one successful in 2001, one not in 93), Two US embassy's destroyed in Africa in summer of 1998 - Kenya and Tanzania - throw in a Planet Hollywood in Capetown, which I visited a couple days after and you've got a pretty aggresive summer on the African Continent. He's bombed the USS Cole in Yemen, a major Night Club in Bali, a train in southern Spain orchestrated three Civil wars in Sudan, Algeria and Sierra Leonne and defeated the US within Somalia & personal funded or fund raised Billions of Dollars for his al-qaeda network.
Here's a couple ideas on how he's gained so much momentum and control within the Muslim community (taking reference that the Middle Eastern Muslim community contains a population base quite similar to the entire Western World of North America & Europe).
First off, situational advantage for Influencing people has to go to an area strucken by war and poverty. People within the Western world have too much to lose to follow and idealogy - houses, cars, careers, RSPs, technology, etc - while deep down you may have a stirring passion - it becomes harder to become involved in a cause when you've got infinite amounts to lose. This is not prevalent within the Middle East. Islam within the Middle East dominates culture. Everyone are extremely devout Muslims, with shops closing down during prayer times, mass migrations to Mecca a mandatory life event and the devotion of these people far surpasses what I see within the western world to any major religion. Poverty would have to play a spark in this, if you have nothing but God, you respect and worship and live up to the promises required for a far superior afterlife. Al-qaeda can finance your entire family while you enlist for training and activities - if this was Canada/US, these would be $Million jobs for some perspective.
Secondly, Martyrdom - or however you want to term it - Osama (which means Lion) Bin Laden's an icon in the Islamic world because of his work within Afghanistan in the 80's - at that time the Soviet Union was seen in the same lite as the US then and now, Invincible - He toppled it, in their own back yard, in the name of Allah on a Jihad mission promising eternal life. Here's an example of the faith his men would have in his word. They would sleep in White tents in the middle of a pasture or opening to draw fire - Dying during a Jihad promises immediate assention to heaven.
Third, Devotion - he's successfully combined a core cultural clash between Western and Middle East values and culture, added in the Infidel trespassing within Muslim lands (and these go far and beyond the Israel - Palestine deabte - encompassing as far stretching as southern Spain which used to be a predominately Muslim area sometime around the Ottoman Empire pre WWI) and to continue an already LONG sentence, added in passages from the Koran for clarity and support from none other then God. Quite similar to the Crusades message within the Christian church during the turn 1300's (dates might be off, I'll have to wait for the movie :) )
"Never think that those who were slain in the cause of God are dead. They are alive and well provide for by the Land" The Koran 3:169
"Let there be no two religions in Arabia" Prophet Muhammad
"Defending Muslim territory is the most important Duty. This duty will not end with a victory in Afghanistan; jihad will remain an individual obilgation until all other lands that were Muslim are returned to us so that Islam will reign again: Before us lie, Palestine, Bohkara, Lebanon, Chad, Eritrea, Somalia, Phillipines, Burma, Yemen, Tashkent, and Andalusia (southern Spain)"
"To stand one hour in the battle line in the name of Allah, is better then sixty years of Night Prayers" AzzamConsidering the technological advancements al-qaeda operates behind, the billions of $$ backhauled for support and the shear devotion of his followers to fight for Islam and Allah, I'd have to put Osama Bin Laden far above Bono on this list of influentials within the world today...
here's hoping Bono's messages of Peace and an end to Poverty move up the list...
