Being the last day of 2007, I feel I should reflect a bit on the year that was.
I say, "Good riddance, 2007!"
I usually say "good riddance" to the old year, probably because the future, the New Year, holds possibility and promise.
I'm not going to spend time going through all the big events of the past year. (That's what archives are for.)
Charlie Sykes has written a column that sums up 2007, "The Forgettable Year." Read that for an overview of the frivilous and the eventful.
In terms of the news, there are a few stories that define 2007 for me.
Locally, the big one is crime. I think of the innocent children who were killed or wounded, caught in the crossfire of the thugs. I think of the many incidents of horrific violence. I think of gangs and the Bay View crime spree. I think of the violence at Milwaukee public schools, involving students and assisted by their parents or other adults.
Thugs are killing each other. They're killing the victims of their crimes. They're killing bystanders. They're killing Milwaukee.
And the most pleasant surprise of 2007 -- THE PACKERS!
Nationally, the big one is Iraq. Yes, that surge that wasn't going to work, worked. In 2007, things in Iraq turned around and much to the dismay of the Dems, it doesn't appear that Election 2008 is going to be a referendum on Iraq. It seems that Bush might not be on the ballot after all.
I can't begin to predict what 2008 will hold. Of course, like every other year, it will hold its joys and sorrows. There will be events that horrify and that inspire.
We're guaranteed to have a new president. That I can predict.
I don't know why exactly, but I feel like 2008 will be a momentous year, a year of tremendous turbulence and upheaval, kind of a 1968 revisited.
I think that stems from what's certain to be a really ugly election year. And also, there's no end in sight when it comes to the continued moral deterioration of Milwaukee, the country, and the world and the ensuing violence and death. I'm definitely uneasy about 2008.
In less than 24 hours, it will be here.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! (I hope and pray.)
Monday, December 31, 2007
Good Riddance, 2007! Hello, 2008!
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4 comments:
I think 2007 is forgettable as well. Particularly for the State and Milwaukee. Doyle has his hands in our pockets and Barrett has his head up his butt . . . in the mean time legislators are trying to ram rail down our throats. Something no one wants. And refusing to do the obvious good by expanding the freeways. Something everyone wants.
The global warming deniers are fighting back . . . hard. We've had a break through in stem cell research vindicating those who believed we were decades away from any real "promise" with ESCR, if it worked at all.
Torture became the new pink. Morality when it's convenient. Somehow the left could care less about a fetus minutes away from being born yet cares about the rights of someone potentially wanting to kill us all. Wow.
With the elections coming, I'm not so sure 2008 will be much better.
But, as you mentioned, there are the Packers. I predicted 10 - 6 and thought they'd make it to the playoffs. They did. But the cruised to the playoffs! With a bye week and one home game. They could go to the SuperBowl. Amazing.
Well, I'll think of everyone tonight at midnight. While things ain't that great, it's still great to be alive and being part of this thing called life. Give the ones close to you a hug, kiss, and some kind words.
Happy New Year!
You're right, Jimi. Things aren't great, but it's great to be alive.
The New Year is so often seen as a time for looking back and looking ahead; but it's also good to look at NOW and be thankful for this moment, as well as the many blessings in our lives.
Happy New Year to you!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, WS!
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