Okay, Okay! A political correction even before I start. I suppose it's now TIME Magazine's "Person Of The Year" - but don't tell that to "The Computer" which made the yearly cover in 1982, or "The Endangered Earth", in 1988. We've come a long way with both of those topics ... and speaking of "coming a long way...", the 1975 Time Magazine "Man-of-the-Year" was "The American Woman" for goodness sake! But there I go again ... digressing. And speaking of "there I go again"... yes, Mr. Reagan won the honor twice ... once, by God, with a Russ-kee. Enough.

Each year, a good friend and I try to predict who'll be named the MOTY (or, POTY, pah-leeez). And I have my prediction. But first, a question: Is it an "honor" to be named, or not? I remember the grief TIME editors had last year with the possible selection of Osama bin Laden, before His Honor Mister Mayor Rudy stepped up, and frankly earned the title, both as a "statement", and as an "honor".

But TIME editors insist it's NOT designed to be an "honor" - but rather is an acknowledgment of those "who have most influenced history, for good or, bad in the previous twelve months." Hitler made it in 1938, and Stalin a year later. Khomeini in 1979.

So, with all options open - good guys ...errr... people, bad g... ahh... people, groups, classes, politicos, statespeople, business, scientific and entertainment leaders, inanimate objects, etc., the possibilities are global.

It probably won't be a woman. Of the 75 past covers, only three have been women. Not exactly Title IX, eh? The late Ms. Aquino of the Philippines in 1986, Elizabeth II fifty years ago, and the lady who married her uncle, Ms. Wallis Simpson, are the only three women to receive the nod, other than "The American Woman" as a class in 1975. Now, that's Title IX!! And, while I can think of several who deserve the recognition this year, I don't see a woman on TIME's POTY radar screen.

If it's an American this year, it'll be Dubya. But that would be two out of three years if he did. Only Roosevelt and Gorby did that, and Nixon shared a second consecutive cover with Mr. Kissinger. Is he still around? Oh, and George "41" made it twice in the same year - remember - "The Two Faces of George Bush", in 1990.

No, this year I think it will be a group ... a class of people (or, lack of class). And if I'm right, it'll be highly unusual... in that former groups or classes have been ... well ... good ones; "U.S. Scientists" in 1960, "The American Fighting Man" in 1950, and "Middle Americans" in 1969.

I think it'll be "The Worldwide Terrorist", which includes the Osamas and Saddams and the home grown ones who steal our cars, and mug our tourists, and ... well. Pretty sad state of affairs that worldwide terrorism could ever gain that level of notoriety, eh? But hopefully, all will come out in the wash, some day. 'Cause the good guys ... err ... people, always win, don't 'cha know! At least, we can hope.

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