The major media would have you believe that the most important death of 2009 was that of pop singer Michael Jackson. I would have to respectfully disagree. Just days ago one of the most important figures of all time died yet the name “Dr. Norman Borlaug” wasn’t on the front page of any newspapers.

The King of Pop may have touched millions of fans around the world, however, Norman Borlaug saved 1 billion people from dying.

Trust Penn and Teller to tell it like it is. While the rest of the country is distracted by celebrity deaths like Michael Jackson and Patrick Swayze, they bring up an unknown figure who is more important than all of them. If it weren’t for Borlaug, countries like Mexico and India would be suffering from famine today.

“You can’t build a peaceful world on empty stomachs and human misery.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.