'Time' Magazine's Person(s) of the Year are Ebola Fighters

By
Time Inc. Magazine Company


Time
magazine
is recognizing those who fought against the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus this year with Person of the Year covers. While this tribute is certainly well deserved, the list of runner-ups is missing some familiar faces.

The publication did not call out any celebrities this year, but rather named Ferguson protesters, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Chinese Alibaba founder Jack Ma and President of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq Massoud Barzani as the four runner-ups.

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Pope Francis was the 2013 Person of the Year, and President Barack Obama got the cover in 2012. 

So, why did the Ebola fighters beat out protesters and world leaders? "2014 is the year an outbreak turned into an epidemic, powered by the very progress that has paved roads and raised cities and lifted millions out of poverty," Time magazine contributor Nancy Gibbs writes. "Anyone willing to treat Ebola victims ran the risk of becoming one."


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"Which brings us to the hero's heart. There was little to stop the disease from spreading further," Gibbs continues. "But the people in the field, the special forces of Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the Christian medical-relief workers of Samaritan’s Purse and many others from all over the world fought side by side with local doctors and nurses, ambulance drivers and burial teams."

Among the celebrities thought to be Time's Person of the Year was Taylor Swift, who was initially teased as an option earlier this week. The singer has had a phenomenal year with record-shattering album sales, headline-making moves against Spotify and multiple GRAMMY Award nominations.

Did you predict the Ebola fighters would be on the Person of the Year covers this year? Who was your pick? Let us know below and tweet #ETnow.