Archive: Opinions

The New Year arrived much too early as they seem to do more frequently.  The calendar clearly indicated that January 1 was scheduled to arrive on time, but my family and I were trying to catch up to the events in our lives from the fall of 2010.  We were unprepared for the beginning of 2011, but the forces of nature did not heed our request to postpone, even briefly, the start of the New Year. 

Our celebration of the event included a ritual repeated by many.  We were visiting at my mother-in-law for an extended weekend vacation.   On New Year’s Eve, she served us a delicious roast with baked potato, broccoli, and an assortment of olives, pickles, raw carrots and an item that I could not identify.  At some point in the meal, my wife whispered something about marinated artichoke hearts while motioning with a facial gesture to the item in question.  She is so considerate when it comes to my limited culinary experience. 

During our meal, we spoke about the events of 2010.  Our conversation jumped from topic to topic as each family member recalled some event that brought significance into their life.  Our son expressed his joy that he had reached the age of 16 and had finally gotten his driving permit.  He “aced” the written test and was eager to start up the car and see how the other half lives.  So far, he has done very well in parking lots.  He will advance to rural roads very soon.

There are no disappointments or regrets in 2010 for us.  Our country appears to be heading out of the “Great Recession” with the stock market moving higher and unemployment slowly inching its way down.  The Republicans have regained the House, a good number of governorships, and a handful of Senate seats.  Beginning this week the GOP now holds the power, and the blame, depending upon the outcome of legislation and factors too numerous to mention.

The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team established a new record for most consecutive wins by a college basketball team at 90 surpassing the UCLA men’s team record of 88 set back in the 1970’s.  Not long ago, John Wooden, the UCLA basketball coach during those years, remarked that women college teams would eventually surpass all records set by the men’s teams as they were more disciplined and worked together as a team.  

Along the same lines of winning streaks, the world witnessed a truly spectacular victory with the release of Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi.  For 15 of the past 21 years, the Burmese Military regime kept her locked up in prison and then under house arrest.  Armed with the teachings of non-violent resistance, she stood up to the most feared military dictatorship in the world and offered her nation of 50 million hope that the voice of one crying in the wilderness is loud enough for the entire world to hear. 

Uncertainty remains in Iraq while the war in Afghanistan continues without any major victories.  In a recent interview, an Afghan historian reminded the world, “It is easy to enter our country, but very difficult to leave.”  Let us put hope in our President and Congress that our brave men and women will be brought home soon before we become another name added to the list of foreign armies who regretted their military presence in Afghanistan.

Look back at 2010, one might see it as the launching pad for the Decade of the Woman.  With UConn and Suu Kyi standing tall after their noble victories, perhaps Hillary Clinton might take one more try for the White House in 2012.  If she does, remember you read it here first.  And that is to the point. 


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