Hard day on the Planet

Poster by Nenad Cizi and Toni Tomasek

I think this image captures beautifully the essence of what was wrong with 2007.

As I look, with relief to 2008 I have trouble coming up with happy images.

Not that I have been totally miserable or anything, but it really has been a tough year for all of those around me and the world as a whole.

Personally, my Grandmother died at 94, which was difficult for myself and my mother. My father was in the hospital, and is still not back to his old self yet, though the worst is over.

There are other bits of worry and uncertainty- unsold houses, possible job losses and pay-cuts, anxiety over family members, and arguments.

All around, the year was sprinkled "liberally"-ha ha- with such discomforts. This combined with the horrendous national and international glut of bad news, largely propagated by our own current government, gives a pall to 2007, that means my new year's eve message this year is:

GOOD RIDDANCE!

out with the old, and in with the new!

At the stroke of midnight I will be on a plane to Paris, hopefully in a window seat, bundled in a blanket and sporting earplugs for a nice snooze....

This seems an optimistic start to the year, escaping the good old US of A for a bit, allowing myself the illusion of escaping the responsibility of bearing our government's shame and greed, to be a temporary outsider.

Until you leave, it's difficult to realize how really weird the USA is- coming back into the country drives that all home. The excess security at the airports, full of propaganda posters with eagles and flags, about liberty and freedom. The news broadcasts in Europe are so damn different- how they see the war, our international policy, daily life. CNN makes everything sound like an AL qaeda plot, and fox news is all about celebs in rehab, and reality shows featuring scantily clad plastic looking people...

Also, How is it that religious extremists call the shots here?

No teaching evolution in schools?

and how can we complain about other religious extremists around the world when we are loosing against our own?

who put them in charge?

As you can see, I need a time-out. This country is so screwed up I find it overwhelming.

on that note:

Happy New Year!

let's make this new one, a better one!