It’s About Time! Germany’s Angela Merkel Named “Person of the Year”

If Angela Merkel walked down the street of any city in America, it’s doubtful she’d be recognized.  

She’s only the most powerful woman in the world and in the opinion of many who follow global affairs, arguably the most respected head of state, at least, so far in this century.  Just in case you’re still caught in the headlights drawing a blank stare, Merkel just so happens to be Chancellor of Germany, an elected post she’s held since 2005.

Merkel was named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” today, an annual ritual that recognizes and ranks political, economic, and social influence and power.  In 2015, Merkel impacted the world in a big way, particularly hundreds of millions of people not just in her own Germany, but all across Europe, even extending into the most troubled parts of the Middle East.  She’s faced crisis after crisis, made a series of difficult decisions and avoided senseless rhetoric.  Moreover, she has steadfastly refused to demonize her opponents.  Merkel has behaved not as the typical detestable politician but has acted as a true global statesman.  Get out your pens, Republican political candidates.  This is what’s defined as “leadership.”  Try and look it up sometime.

However, breaking news of Merkel’s selection didn’t stop one egotistical maniac from expressing his bitter resentment in a Twitter post, copied here:

“Person who is ruining Germany?”  Really?

Facts won’t matter, of course, given all the ugly rhetoric this slime maggot has been slinging for months now.  His deluded enlistees in his army of hate won’t care one iota.  Most of them couldn’t point to Germany on a map.  But I’ll post some facts anyway for the rest of us to ponder.

According to a recent poll by the European Union’s Eurobarometer (cited in a recent article which appeared in The Economist), a whopping 84 percent of all Germans are satisfied with the state of their economy — the highest share in the EU.  Eighty-four percent of the population!  Want to venture a guess as to how those approval percentages compare with Americans’ overall view of the economy?  The most recent poll conducted by Gallup back in August 2015 says about 25 percent [SOURCE HERE].  So, that’s 84 percent (there) versus 25 percent (here).

Here’s a thought:  Can we please get Chancellor Angela Merkel to come over here and “ruin America?”

Indeed, what frightens conservatives and Euro-baiting bigots over here is Merkel’s unmistakable affinity for democratic socialism — her love for all the terrible evils that conservatives loath….things like nationalized health care, protection of workers’ rights, effective government programs which welcome and help to assimilate foreign immigrants, reluctance to engage in civil wars where the national interest isn’t threatened, protection of the environment, and so forth and so on.  Merkel, who consistently embraces progressive causes on all fronts, is essentially the European version of Bernie Sanders — only she’s electable, because the Germans totally get it, while Americans remain pretty much obsessed with guns, greed, and god.

Sure, they’d like to keep her record a hidden secret and ignore her decade of strong leadership.  Well, that’s not happening anymore, and at the very least, mass recognition from Time will pique some curiosity with many people in this country as to who this remarkable woman is, and what she stands for.  Let’s take a closer look.

Merkel was raised in East Germany — the old DDR.  She earned her doctorate in chemistry.  Translation:  She’s a scientist.  She’s smart.

After Germany’s reunification in 1990, Merkel was elected to the Bundestag (Germany’s Congress), and has held the same elected post for the past 25 years.  In the meantime, she’s served as Minister for the Environment under conservative premier Helmut Kohl during the 1990s (those pesky Germans do things a little differently than we do, opting for cooperation and coalition).  She eventually became head of her own party, and by 2005 was appointed Chancellor, the first woman ever to hold that post in Germany.  More biography from Wikipedia:

Merkel is because of her status as head of state of the most powerful European country considered as the de facto leader of the European Union and was ranked as the world’s second most powerful person by Forbes magazine in 2012 and 2015, the highest-ranking ever achieved by a woman.  On 26 March 2014, she became the longest-serving incumbent head of government of the EU.  Merkel is currently the Senior G7 leader.  In May 2015, she was named the most powerful woman in the world for a record ninth time by Forbes.

So, why was Merkel finally recognized by one of the world’s leading media outlets this year, and not earlier?  The answer is all in the timing.  In the past 12 months, she’s demonstrated extraordinary political courage in the face of many issues where there appeared to be no good choices.  Even her critics had to acknowledge her tough decisions weren’t going to be popular back at home with many voters.  Aside from handling the complex affairs of the EU and G7, in addition to governing the Federal Republic of Germany, she also helped to orchestrate the bailout of Greece which effectively stabilized the euro, averting a crisis and potential meltdown that could have caused another global recession.  Then, in a remarkable gesture of humanitarian restitution, she came out in full support of accepting what’s projected to be as many as 800,000 Syrian refugees, fleeing civil war in the Middle East.

Sure, it’s far easier to play to the mass ignorance of hate, anger, and fear as so many American politicians typically do in order to rally support and win votes.  It’s far more difficult, and accordingly far more commendable to stand up and do what’s believed to be the right thing and have to defend policies that require far greater sophistication and nuance.  Again, please look up the definition of leadership.

Time’s commemoration of Merkel as its 2015 “Person of the Year” is little more than window dressing on a crowded and dangerous street.  Yet, as we stroll past the metaphorical panes of glass exteriorized on magazine racks at checkout counters and in airports and in doctors’ offices all over the world, emblazoned in 35 different languages and see Merkel’s face of concern, compassion, and conviction, on the cover, the rest of us become all the wiser to the deep and empty void which exists between our mutilated political systems and lopsided economies versus Merkel’s Germany under the policies of democratic socialism.

Somewhere in Merkel’s remarkable story and extraordinary leadership, there’s not just a lesson for us all.  There’s also a proven sense of direction should we wish to follow it.