2016 and Its Less Than Stellar Reputation

Not every year is considered a gem.  2016 has been considered more of a nasty lump of coal than a shiny diamond in the temporal sky.

This was not completely without justification. There seemed to be an unusually large number of deaths of celebrity icons.  Global warming accelerated at an alarming rate.  The military and economic security of the world seemed shakier. And we had an election that, no matter what side you took, was nastier and fouler than any in recent memory, pitting two highly disliked people against each other, and leaving many voters feeling like that had no choice but to hold their nose and vote for whoever they perceived as the least of the worst.

From the tone of what I read, many suffered personal losses during the year, of both friends and family.  Our small church was particularly hard hit, with both death and illness.  It was a steady beat of news that was very depressing.  I feel like I attended more funerals in 2016 than the total I had in the prior ten years combined.

But were there more celebrity deaths in 2016?  I don't know.  I haven't seen any statistics.  I think what we had were more deaths of iconic figures to baby boomers and Gen-Xers.  Whether it was music, with beloved figures like Prince, David Bowie, and George Michael, sports with the most famous athlete in the world Muhammad Ali, or movies and TV with characters and actors we grew up with, including Alan Rickman and Gene Wilder, Florence "Mrs. Brady" Henderson and Alan "Dr. Jason Seaver of Growing Pains" Thicke, they were names familiar to many. For baby boomers in particular, it was a shock considering many were in their age range.

At the same time, they are many older celebrities that survive and thrive, and are still making contributions today.  Betty White, Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke and Mel Brooks are just some in their 90s still making their voice heard.  And it was also the year we celebrated Kirk Douglas's 100th birthday.

Global warming remains a serious issue.  It is troubling that so many in this country dismissed it as an issue to care about.  But there is a growing recognition in other countries, and there are solutions, if we ever have the will to grasp them.  There is no question that the electoral college election of Trump made our climate future more perilous, but there is still hope that we can still do what we can, including entrepreneurial solutions brought about by  far-sighted private interests, and other countries more willing to lead us into a better future.

The electoral election of Trump has put a real damper on the year for me, no question about it.  The team he is placing behind him represents the destruction of America's economic progress, the end and reversal of improvements in civil rights, and rampant corruption, including the privatization of public functions for personal gain. His connection to Russia is troubling at best, and criminal at worst.

But our politics are cyclical.  There is a good chance that the extreme nature of this administration will be a wake-up call to a new kind of politics.  When polled on individual issues, the public almost always sides with the progressive solution.  Once we get beyond identity politics and fear ginned by candidates and the media, we are a good and generous nation that cares deeply about the condition of themselves and their fellow man.  I believe, with all my heart and soul, that there will be a new progressive majority in this country by 2020, and that it will combine the best of conservative and liberal solutions.  To not believe otherwise would be to give in to despair.

If we examine our personal lives, I think many of us will find that, outside of tragedy, there were also good things that occurred, positive things that assured you of hope and the spirit of life.  Weddings, births, small and large victories and awards achieved by yourself, your children, or other you care about.

Hang onto your faith and your loved ones.  Embrace what is best about this world.  Progress towards a better world is not always straight and true.  There are many challenges and blocked roads, and sometimes you have to zig-zag, and adjust your path.

2016 was rough, but so are many years.  Future years will also have their ups and downs.  If we let each other go, and charge blindly down the path thinking only of ourselves, then the future looks very dark indeed.  But if we hold onto each other, if we embrace each other in good times and bad times, if we support each other in adversity and prosperity, than I think the future is very promising indeed.