Well, saying goodbye to 2004 has many mixed feelings for me. How about you?
The U.S. Presidential election is history; and thankfully, we are all spared having to see anymore of the associated ads (mostly attack ones) . . . regardless of whom you favored in the election. Of course, speculation for who will run in 2008 started a few minutes after Senator John Kerry gave his gracious concession speech and before President George W. Bush followed with his thoughtful remarks.
Iraq and Afghanistan remained major news events with Iraq being a daily headline. The personal toll was great too . . . with the loss of more of our valiant troops and the many more still suffering from their wounds. Having a son, who served in Iraq and nearly missed the casualty list, I can imagine the indescribable pain of the loss of a loved one . . . My heart goes out to all with a silent prayer for them and that the mission concludes successfully with 2005 seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. (I happen to know someone who lost a loved one in Iraq . . . so a special heartfelt thought goes out to her.) And then there are others who sadly lost a loved one and/or friend from an illness, accident, natural causes, or other unfortunate act.
Reflecting on what they meant to you seems very appropriate, as it is the time to wish all close ones a Happy New Year and making resolutions to do better. (You can find poems about mourning / grief and family / friends at Poetry Galore that might express how you feel.)
Depending on your faith, convictions, political leanings, relationship status, and numerous other human attitudes / reasons . . . there were some movies in 2004 that received strong reactions from all sides, but were still box office winners. The "Passion of The Christ" is just one example that I am sure could lead to interesting conversations and emails if I were to add my personal thoughts about it. Instead, I will just mention my poems... Free Will, Choices, and Why?
What about the 125,000 plus deaths in the Indian Ocean region from the tsunamis created by the strongest earthquake (9.0 magnitude) in 40 years? It is one of biblical proportions that might exceed 200,000 deaths (many being children) once disease, starvation, and lack of drinking water take their toll. It even surpasses another catastrophic event that happened to occur in the same geographic region over a century ago in 1883 . . . when the Krakatau volcano exploded, resulting in tsunamis that killed 36,000.
Needless to say, it is now a test on how mankind can unite and react outside of political and cultural differences to aid the living who have been impacted by one of nature's greatest wraths. (The same should be done to quickly end genocide occurring in Sudan and elsewhere.)
Another sad time in 2004 was the death of President Ronald Reagan . . . His impact on world events and U.S. politics really came to the forefront like never before as the nation honored this great man for who he was and what he did!
So, 2004 has come to an end . . . and for this American . . . I feel very blessed for what I do have with nothing more important than my loved ones, friends, and freedom.
Wishing you and all those who you care for . . . a safe and rewarding 2005!
Special thanks... I want to thank James Chenoweth for his three years with NetNacs! as editor for the retired GenXnow and LegalBits features, where he brought canny insight, humor, and relevance. He did so while earning a law degree at NYU. He starts practicing law in mid-January with one of the very best firms.
