2016

2016.  It wasn't a very good year and I'm glad to see it go.  No, I don't have a death wish and, although the older I get the more precious time becomes, 2016 is best banished to the scrap heap of history.

The disappointment of 2016 was at times overbearing.  I recall so much about the Presidential election that weighed on me.  First was the choice of the two candidates.  How could Americans who were paying any attention at all allow people like Don Trump and Hillary Clinton anywhere close to the White House, let alone be the candidates?  I remember my devastation with both and still don't know if I'm more or less devastated that Trump won and Clinton lost.  How distressing to be in a lose-lose situation and esp a lose-lose situation with stakes so important!

This goes to the state and local levels, too.  The non-politician in the governor's seat has been a major disappointment, in his headstrong and naive belief that government should be run like a business, everything depending on the bottom line.  Note what's happened in Flint, with Detroit, with the very undemocratic emergency managers, etc.  Lansing remains as sneaky (I'm being nice here.) as DC.

From the slight gleam of opportunity to overhaul the corrupt system came more disappointment.  I think, without question, the anti-Establishment movement has lost.  Trump was the anti-Establishment candidate to many people, but he's about as Establishment as they come.  Note, for instance, his appointments so far.  It appears the Republicans and Democrats alike have not learned the lesson and I am convinced people are either still convinced Trump is the one (to "drain the swamp") or are ready to give up, the fight being too draining itself.

It's been very disappointing to see the reactions of people whose intelligence/intellect I have respected resort to the tools of the ignorant, esp name-calling.  Oh, I've experienced that, name-calling, over the years, particularly in the field of education.  When ideas can't be defended, at least not well defended, against criticism, attack the critic with barrages of epithets.  And that's what happened this year.  Instead of standing back and taking stock of what has really happened--the frustration and anger of a large segment of people who feel marginalized or even ignored--it became, once again, easier to call that large segment names--"racist," "bigoted," "stupid," and even "Nazis."

Perhaps it's the curmudgeon in me setting in, but I am increasingly upset by the state of our culture, the direction in which our morals seem to be plummeting.  I read a book a while ago from which this has stuck with me, "Morality belonged to our ancestors."  That, of course, has multiple possible meanings, not many of which are good.  This wrong direction is not a recent thing, of course, but seems to be intensifying in its speed.  I've written much about this in the past, from our abdication of the value of human life (abortions, daily murders in our cities, etc.) to our greed for more "bread and circuses."  But just consider this one that has stuck with me.  Does anyone remember when Mother Teresa died?  I'd wager not.  But it was a few days after Princess Diana's death.  I'm not at all diminishing the life of Diana, but c'mon......Mother Teresa!

I don't even recognize education any longer.  The lower levels are dominated by "test, test, test," while the upper levels are transfixed on not upsetting students with a variety of ideas, esp ideas that might upset them.  Although I realize that the media, mostly newspapers and magazines in our history, have always been biased, at least in the past that bias has been overt.  People knew when they read a newspaper which way it leaned.  Now, in their arrogance, the LameStream media claim to be "fair and balanced" or whatever the latest catch-phrase is.  And, unfortunately, most people accept that they are, as long as the opinions, er, news, coincides with their own beliefs.

2016 did have some highlights.  The Cubs won the World Series.  The deaths of some celebrities was distressing but, although I question the sometimes fawning adoration we give them, perhaps it's good that we recall the memories they provided us.  There were some personal times I'd never trade, too.

It is good, too, that the likes of Obama, Kerry, the Clintons, etc. are gone, we hope for good, never to cross our paths again.  If anyone needs to see the pettiness of these people, their adolescent petulance,  just look at Obama's/Kerry's last runs at Israel.  (If all this was really necessary, why did they wait until a few weeks to do it??????  Might I suggest moral cowardice?)  But I fear others, soon inebriated with power, will continue along the same paths.

But it's increasingly upsetting to see time running out, time in which so many things I'd like to see happen just won't happen.

The optimist in me hopes that 2017 will be a better year.