The Year of The Protester

Time Magazine's 'Person of the Year' for 2011 did not go to the Navy Seal who put a fatal bullet into Osama Bin Laden.  Nor did the title go to Kris Humphries for putting up with Kim Kardashian as long as he did.  No.  The honor has been bestowed upon the year's most fashionable identity--The Protester.Thanks to uprising in the Middle East, China, Europe, Libya, and even here in the U.S., the idea of 'we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore' brought standing up for your right into pop culture.

"Massive and effective street protest" was a global oxymoron until — suddenly, shockingly — starting exactly a year ago, it became the defining trope of our times. And the protester once again became a maker of history.