The New Year Can Bring New Fear!

Ok, the title is pessimistic. Scary even. But isn't that what many of us feel? As it looms large over our relatively routine lives, we either load up on "resolutions" or dismiss it as just another day. Many party wildly. While others can't wait till the whole thing just blows over. A lot of this behavior stems from fear. A new year means change. Change brings fear.

As a natural optimist, New Year's doesn't fill me with dread. Also the notion that it's the start of new things always rang pretty false with me. Sure, it can be, but far too many people prop it up in a realm where it seems criminal not to aspire to "change." Lose weight, make more money, go out and get that romance you deserve! All worthy things to be sure, however, the goals we set - or sometimes those forced on us by others - around this time can be amazingly unrealistic.

It might be helpful to let go of immediate concerns. Forget those tight jeans. True romance will come along in time. How about goals for our human community? Let's talk about setting goals and resolutions for something larger than ourselves.

Iraq

The Iraq situation still looms over us. President Bush wants to send in more troops - he claims this is mandatory, before we can think of properly pulling out; we need a stronger force to finish the job. This approach of sending in more military manpower as prelude to an eventual exit strategy isn't supported by many others, so now we face the prospect of continued debate while more of our soldiers do their duty. What's the major fear after we leave? There are lots. The most gripping and perhaps the most likely is Iraq's instability in the region which could become even more of a hotbed for terrorism.

Global Warming