Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005

Some Past Cover Subjects Give Their Picks for This Year

FRANKLIN GRAHAM 1996 President of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Son of Billy Graham 2005 is the year of the Volunteer. In all my years of relief work I've never seen such a spirit of community. The number of people volunteering, the extent people gave of themselves and sacrificed to serve those in need, has been inspiring.

ANTHONY ROMERO 2005 A.C.L.U. executive director and one of TIME's 25 Most Influential Hispanics I nominate "Ghost Detainee X," representing almost 30 prisoners held incommunicado, without legal rights or access to counsel, in a network of secret prisons in Europe and Asia. Their existence raises serious doubts about whether or not we are betraying the best of American values.

JILL KER CONWAY 1975 First woman president of Smith College, one of 12 women honored in 1975 I'd select Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. She is the most important woman in the environmental movement right now, single-handedly raising awareness of consequences of deforestation in Africa. The Kenyan government has persecuted, jailed and beaten her, but she has never deviated from her message.

ANDREW WEIL 2005 Founder of the Weil Lifestyle and a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine My vote is for Mother Nature. Ours is a very active, ever-changing planet, and we are constantly reminded that human tenancy on it has been brief and remains uncertain. Others worthy of honor this year are "the unknown Iraqi victim" and the Google Guys.