Now that all the champagne has been poured, the gifts opened, and we've all had our fair share of debating the appropriateness of saying "Merry Christmas", the holiday bills are adorning the mailboxes of North Americans everywhere and our planet is still in a tipsy state of affairs.
The remains of the Arab Spring of 2011 are still acting upon Global affairs in full force. The revolution that was so sought after by Egyptians now leaves them with an iron fist military rule which continues to lead to country in the opposite direction of democracy and Syria still finds itself in an uprisen state of violence, oppression, and danger for all of it's citizens.
Another sad circumstance is the European crisis, which sees the most magnificent continent on our planet desperate to formulate some manageable EU strategy to hold things together.
America has managed to spent it's way into oblivion with no effective means of reducing it's gargantuan debt and if the trend continues, the entire world will fall into the same hopeless pit. Another disturbing and shockingly TELEVISED occurrence is that of U.S election campaign advertisements, one of which directly states "I believe that marriage is a union between one man and one woman only". WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? And more importantly, who ELECTS these people? Why isn't bigotry as dead as Bin Laden?
"Occupy Wall Street" protesters have moved under the radar and continue to be shunned by the media, although they are the most admirable mentions thus far, because it's true that an idea cannot be occupied and someday their perspective will bring us great change, I'm sure of it.
Of course, let's not forget that on the home front Steven Harper's Conservative government continues to prove that they're about as intelligent as the man who thought "people would tire of looking at a stationary box" when the television was invented. Canadians are speaking out (but not really) against the ridiculous copyright act and tougher crime laws implemented with minimal sentencing (just to name a couple of key issues). And we're stuck with this, for four years. I certainly hope we're immeasurably pissed off enough by the end of these four years to elect some kind of change into our strong, proud nation, and more importantly, that the change we'll be looking for is available on our voting ballots.
Is there ANYTHING really "New" about this year?!!
SO, am I an eternal pessimist, a somewhat off center realist, or am I just a hater? Well, I'm actually quite the opposite. Amongst all the turmoil and trouble that this great big world is buried beneath, there are more than a few bright lights that can lead us home. There are some pretty brilliant human beings out there (some of which, like myself, are buried under 30k + in student debt) just waiting to share their ideas and perspectives with the rest of our planet. There are innovative, inspiring individuals all around us and I think our best tool heading into this "new" year is to connect and collaborate with each other; be inspired by and learn from all those around us in conjunction with our own outlooks and ideals to turn this mother ship around and head it back toward some kind of peaceful, manageable existence. Go ahead and send that e mail to your MP, apply for that conference, attend that protest, and let your powerful voices be heard.
This January when you shake hands and exchange hugs with friends, colleagues, and strangers, make sure that your "Happy New Year!" greeting really counts, and spread good, positive, ideas, love, and energy with all you encounter.
Like those holiday credit card bills, it'll take time to pay off our worldly debts and end less than optimistic circumstances, but if we cling to our hopes and dreams with every ounce of our beings, we just might breathe a sigh of relief someday and be a 6 billion people who are living a life that's 'livable" again.
All the love in the world to you, planet earth! Make this one count!
-Jess
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