Why Franklin Graham Should Be Deemed the Most Influential Person of 2006

Franklin Graham, son of world famous evangelist Billy Graham and an evangelist himself, should be deemed the most influential person of 2006, in my opinion.

I know an evangelist is not the kind of person some may think of when the word influential comes to mind. Some might think the most influential person is someone who passes laws that affect the lives of everyone, and some might even have a particular member of the House of Representatives or Senate in mind. Others might think of the President of the United States, who can sign or veto laws passed by Congress and sometimes sends American troops into battle. Some might think diplomats who negotiate in an attempt to bring peace to the world or a particular area are the most influential people. Still some might say a teacher in a public school or a professor in a university is the most influential person on the most people. Others might say judges are the most influential people. I do believe all of these people are influential.

I believe Franklin Graham is the most influential person of the year, however. I think of the word influential in a slightly different way than some, and that might be why I think of Graham, not any of the other people mentioned as wielding the most influence in America and throughout the world in 2006. I think some people, when they think of the word influential, might think of someone whose life affects others greatly. I do believe an influential person will affect the life of others, but I believe there is more to it than that. According to a dictionary definition of the word influential, an influential person or influential people are those whose lives have a power, to be a compelling force on, or affect the actions, behavior, or opinions of others. In other words, according to the dictionary, someone of influence not only affects the life of others but changes others.