Out with the old, In with the new

[Boston Guy]

It seems as if it was just yesterday when we were worrying about Y2K and what to call the new century and everyone was learning how to spell millennium and we watched the year 2000 roll in around the world on television as the hour of midnight crept around the globe. And, yet, here we are, three years later.

 

Y2K was a non-event, fortunately. We got into the 2000s with great success and stopped worrying about what to call them, blissfully ignorant of what was about to occur. As we threw away all of our checks with "19____" written on them and looked optimistically at the future, few of us would have predicted the bursting of the dot-com bubble, the recession, or Enron and all of the related problems.

 

At the beginning of 2000, with the world pretty much at peace, how many of us would have seen a world three years later engaged in a new kind of war against terror, on the brink of a new war in Iraq and possibly another in the Pacific? How many would have foreseen an American government seemingly engaged in carefully-calculated actions that restrict both the rights and privacy of American citizens -- with the acceptance of the American public?

 

December 31st is a good time for reflecting on what has gone by and what will yet come. It's a natural watershed and the river of time will flow down a new year in just a matter of hours. What will this year bring for us? What do we want for it -- not just for America, but for all people?

 

For me, peace first. Peace wherever possible, whenever possible. I hate the idea of using young men and women as cannon fodder to fulfill the geopolitical goals of old men safely ensconced behind desks far from the front and I think of the mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers of those who are or will be slain. But some wars and some battles are necessary to preserve fundamental principles or protect allies or maintain a more lasting peace. I hope 2003 will be a year when the world can avoid war. But I fear we will soon see another war in the Middle East, a war that may well not be won as quickly as some Americans think or hope. North Korea presents another opportunity ripe for conflict, possibly nuclear. And al-Qaida isn't going away any time soon. I hope the Bush administration proves equal to these challenges but, for once, I am not optimistic.

 

Next, health. AIDS is more of a scourge than ever, devastating Africa and growing elsewhere. As progress does continue on the medical front, more and more people continue to become infected, more and more are sick and more and more are dying. We don't see it as closely now, because it's not hitting our community in quite the same way. But it's still growing. I hope we see much more progress against it in 2003. And I hope, for America, that a solution will be found for the 45 million Americans without healthcare.

 

For the world, I hope the recession doesn't continue to worsen. Unfortunately, most large economies are stuck in it and some -- Germany and Japan come to mind -- seem unlikely to emerge from recession in 2003. That will greatly complicate the ability of the US economy to move forward. I have to hope that the new Bush team is able to maneuver through the economic minefield and provide the leadership the world needs right now.

 

I'm usually quite optimistic in my outlook. And I expected this message to be considerably more positive. But, reading back, I realize that I see a world in recession, a world on the brink of war, a world fighting a new kind of terror, a world lacking clear leadership.

 

We'll get through; we always do. But 2003 may well be a year that poses many challenges for all of us.

 

I wish you all Godspeed, good health, and good fortune. I hope 2003 looks out for you and yours and that there is love and happiness in your life. In twelve months, we'll be contemplating 2004. I hope we're all here to do so and I hope your journey through 2003 is a good one.

 

Bon Voyage!

BG

[+ Lucky]

Thanks BG. You have accurately summed up some of the biggest challenges we face in the coming years.

Happy New Year to you as well.

[btmstudnyc]

Solutions

 

These are the simple solutions to the upcoming year....please feel free to add on:

 

EAT, DRINK and be MARY!!

 

Happy New Year.

 

JIM

[+ Charlie]

"We'll get through; we always do." As a philosophy, I find this pretty lame. I hope it's not the only thing that is underpinning our national policies.

 

But I hope my wishes rather than my fears come true in 2003. So, Happy New Year, BG!

[shy]

<"We'll get through; we always do." As a philosophy, I find this pretty lame. I hope it's not the only thing that is underpinning our national policies.>

 

hey, it's not quite a philosphy!

 

interesting thoughts bg, a happy and prosperous new year to you also.

[+ deej]

BG, a happy and prosperous new year to you, too!

 

Like you, I have concerns for the condition of "things". Fortunately, I'm personally starting the year in a better position than ever before. I finally rebounded from a 14-month period of unemployment in a rather fabulous way.

 

In a way, I'm hoping that my personal change of fortune is a harbinger of a general improvement but I'm doubtful. I was a victim of the recession before anyone was using that word, so it would be fitting that I'd be an early beneficiary of a recovery, but life just isn't that tidy. (It's gonna have a positive impact on a few escorts' economic condition, but I suspect that's all that'll be affected.)

 

Still I don't believe we'll get through just because "we always have". I think we'll get through because we *want* to. I know I sure do!

[VaHawk]

Congratulations! Does this mean we have to wait until the Oscar ceremony to find out who the lucky winners are?

[+ deej]

You can read my reviews along with the rest of 'em. ;-)

 

I'm more like Ebert & Roeper than the Academy.

[Guest Love Bubble Butt]

Well Deej, happy that things are looking up for you. And you're giving me cause to be more optimistic. I was laid off a year ago. But if you can bounce back after 14 months, then maybe I can too.

 

<fingers crossed> :-)

[jackhammer91406]

BG,

A very thought provoking post. Our ability to rise to the occasion (all right, no comments on this one) has been a trademark of our democracy and now that we seem to be the policeman for the world, our responsibilities seem to far outweigh our resorces in statesmen. I am hopeful that we will see real statesmen emerge through this time of crushing realities and that our backbone, while challenged , will not be broken

[+ deej]

You'll be fine, I'm sure LBB.

 

Part of my hiatus was self-imposed. When I got laid off I took stock and realized I had no debt, plenty of money in the bank, and hadn't had a real vacation in 10 years. So I decided to take the summer off.

 

It was FABULOUS! I was several weeks into it before I realized how truly burned out I'd been.

 

Just when I was ready to go back to work, 9/11 happened and NOBODY was hiring. It was just a matter of waiting it out after that.

[BigD]

>...and now that we seem to be the policeman for the world...

 

We need not be. It is really our own self interest that motivates

our policing mentality. My hope is that in 2003 we will surrender

our national desire for global dominance and see the other nations

of the world as our neighbors. Any policing that needs to be done

can be accomplished through the UN.

 

Peace,

BigD