A Sign of the Times? Quote Me Bro!!!

This week, Fred R. Shapiro, editor of the Yale Book of Quotations, came out with his top 10 quotes for 2007.

Number 1 on the list wasn’t George Bush, Britney Spears or even a little known scholar… rather a senior at the University of Florida. His quote now heard around the world was “Don’t Tase Me Bro” while being hauled away by campus police during a speech by Senator John Kerry.

Two things struck me with this quote… the first was the use of the word “bro”. No way would anyone have cared about this quote unless the student hadn’t used the word “bro”. The second… how a little known person became so famous. In this age of information where a couple words can make you instantly known around the world thanks to the web and YouTube, this student has a claim to fame that should be reserved for heads of state and such.

Keep in mind… this is the most quoted person of 2007… ahead of such outspoken people like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Makes you wonder who'll be the most quoted person of 2008…

-posted by Andrew