Archive: Opinions

There is a lot of good news out there if you know where to look.

Amidst all of its bickering, Congress is finally working out a budget that should have been passed back in October 2010. Democrats are complaining that too much has been taken out of social programs leaving, women, children, and the poor without hope. Their Republican counterparts argue that the cuts are not deep enough and hope that the 38 billion dollars will be enough to placate members of the Tea Party.

On the global scene, our military-economic-political experiment in Iraq is beginning to show modest gains. As our troops withdraw from the country, more Iraqis are being recruited to fill positions in the military and political sectors of society. Oil production, which had fallen below pre-war capacity, has reached those levels again and appears to be increasing each month.

Afghanistan continues to face many uncertainties, but the increase in American troops has forced the Taliban to change its tactics. Some ten years after we entered the country, tribal leaders still hope for a Taliban free Afghanistan without the presence of nearly 200,000 American and NATO troops. We need to convince the Afghans that we do have an exit strategy and will not remain as invaders.

Across North Africa and into the Middle East, dictators, monarchs, and family-run governments are facing serious challenges to the status quo. The idea of democratic principles, once thought of as western idealism, is emerging with great fervor among the populace. Struggles, skirmishes, and even civil war pose a threat to short term stability; however, the long term benefits for individual nations and the world will be seen in achieving freedom and prosperity universal ideals shared by all.

Most importantly, Japan is recovering from an earthquake and tsunami that unleashed a wave of destruction that surpassed previous natural disasters. There are still many unanswered questions, especially concerning the safety of the damaged nuclear reactors. Nonetheless, the Japanese people have responded with a sense of calm and quiet dignity that should serve as a model of how to respond to such horrific devastation in the future.

While on the topic of natural disasters, many Americans continue to assist with reconstruction efforts in New Orleans and Haiti. As you read this article, area residents are on their way to those places to help rebuild homes, schools, churches, and community centers. Recovery efforts continue though few news services cover these stories.

Events are occurring around the world that paint a very different picture than what many media outlets are reporting. Good news is out there. We just need to search out those venues that report on the positive forces at work here and around the world. These are not the end times. These are times that are "a-changing."

Many are preparing to celebrate the Feasts of Passover and Easter in the upcoming week. The themes from these ancient traditions, hope and rebirth in the face of uncertainty and overwhelming odds, are especially meaningful. They are a reminder that every generation faces challenges, and every generation has the means to overcome obstacles that stand in their way toward freedom and prosperity. And that is to the point.

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