A Look Back - and a Prayer for the Future

How often do we get the opportunity to look back on a year like we can this one?

Well, Every year, but this one seems particularly special.

We have had some interesting things happen this year – A historic election, A Historic Inauguration, A New Justice, a New Flu and a New Buzz.

The historic election of Barack Obama
Historic Protests after the Iranian elections
Drug Wars in Mexico
The reelection of Karzi in Afghanistan with little doubt of voter fraud
The War in Afghanistan gets worse for our troops
the growing bombings in Pakistan
Iran’s Nuclear ambitions hard at work
North Korea tests 4 long range rockets, 1 underground Nuclear device and holds 2 American journalists against their will
Healthcare reform
America’s diminishing role in Iraq
Tea Baggers protesting the new administration
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is impeached and removed from office
the “balloon” incident
The Shooting at Fort Hood Texas
1 miracle and 1 tragedy on the Hudson River
H1N1
the USS New York (made from WTC Steel) Enters the fleet
Governor Palin Resigns
The Justice department decriminalized Marijuana
And a Tiger Crashed his truck.

We saw the closing of many family owned business and some Giants too.
Circuit City, Saturn, Pontiac, Kodak(Chrome), Encarta, Max Factor, Expo(HomeDepot), Gourmet Magazine and Saab are just a few of the businesses to go under.

Some of our largest companies filed for bankruptcy protections.
Six Flags, Chrysler, General Motors, Eddie Bauer, BearingPoint, Chicago Cubs, Ritz Cameras, 100’s of news paper companies and tons of personal filings.

We certainly can look at the Great events that took place in 2009. Bill Clinton visited North Korea and rescued 2 jailed journalists. Jaycee Dugard came home 18 years after being kidnapped. The reckless economy settled down and the housing market started to pick back up. We saw a new Justice – Sonia Sotomayor sworn in. We saw our first viable woman candidate for president – Hillary Clinton. And a Pilot that landed a jet in the Hudson and saved so many.

It’s hard sometimes to think of all of the good things when so much we remember is so sad.
We had the Passing of Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett, Walter Cronkite, Brittany Murphy, Mary Travers, Edward M. Kennedy, Robert Novak, Les Paul, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, John Hughes, Robert S. McNamara, Steve McNair, Karl Malden, Billy Mays, Ed McMahon, David Carradine, Chuck Daly, Dom DeLuise, Jack Kemp, Bea Arthur, Angels pitcher Nick Adnehart, Ron Silver and long time NBC sportscaster George Michael.

So as we enter 2010, yet another year that will bring us tears of joy and sadness, let us promise to listen to each other for the greater good of all. Let us remember what one small year can bring, and take. Let us keep our hearts focused on bettering not only ourselves, but our community.

I wish you all a Happy New Year!