Christmas Crossroads---Danger Ahead??

So--- this was Christmas 2010 and the world seemed to have slowed as if to take a breath from the monumental and the mundane of world affairs. But still the world turns and behind closed doors and curtains of secrecy, events are taking place which will affect all of us in the year to come. Even now, before the new year begins, we have seen important legislation passed such as the extension of the Bush tax cut--for everyone. Thank you Republicans, and Mr. President for compromising on this controversial issue. At the same time, unemployment benefits will extend for another 13 months and our social security taxes will go down a little. All this is hoped to boost our still lagging economy, which seems inexhorably tied to the general mood of the public and the market place---anxious uncertainty about the future. While some indicators show a little up tick in consumer spending, corporations that drive big business and thus the market place are holding on to their capital. Even President Obama, who met with several business leaders, a.k.a "fat cats' in his earlier vernacular, was not able to persuade them to spend. Maybe they have a tiny problem with name calling. And after all, while he may be the CEO of the country, he's not a man who's ever lived in the business world, much less looked at a balance sheet and wondered whether he should order more widgets or hire more employees when he still has widgets left over from last year, and he's laid off most of his crew just to keep afloat this year.

The prospects for 2011 are not that clear or rosy looking. We want to feel optimistic, but when unemployment still hovers around 10 percent, we hear unsettling news of more and more states going broke, and our own budget and its advisors are insisting on cut backs, conservative spending, and a general attitude of austerity, it's hard to feel that "happy days" are here again. We have a ways to go. If we are to get our house in order, it appears there must be dramatic changes, yet the government continues to ignore this advice, simply printing up more money, and loading our debt to the hilt for the next generation.

Defeating the heavily earmark loaded Omnibus bill last weekend was a start in the right direction, but many more dramatic changes will have to be made. Pension plans, bonuses, and other generous state and federal employee benefits are all under heavy scrutiny as states like California are struggling to keep from buckling under their debt load. Is California the canary in the coal mine? Are we seeing a paradigm shift that could eventually change our entire structure of individual, independent states? It appears we are at a tipping point; yet the "lame duck" congress in a last ditch effort to win Democrat agenda victories, quite aptly pushed through legislation that has been on the back burner for months and which will add even more debt. They of course knew that the holiday urgency to get things done and wrapped up, gave them an edge in rushing through their bills without as much thinking and debate time as they should require. But did they not get the message,stated loud and clear at the last election? It is time to heed the warning signs and stop the out of control spending, even if it is dressed in well meant benefits for much deserving groups. The money simply isn't there, unless it is taken from other sources, which never seems to be acceptable. Europe and their staggering economies are showing us the result of too many government entitlements and is eventually unsustainable---like a boat that keeps taking on too many passengers, it will not continue to float and we may be left with a country we no longer recognize. Already, many feel that we are losing respect in the eyes of the international community, as they watch our financial house start to crumble and we continue to fight among ourselves over what to do about it. It would seem it is time for far fewer politics and more more merging of the minds to achieve practical solutions. But instead, we watch helplessly as our so called representatives continue playing politics at such a crucial moment in our history.

And as if we don't have enough to worry about---in a recent Time magazine article, editorialist, Mr. Zakaria wrote that he felt the over riding concern of the immediate future for America is something called microterrorism, or smaller attacks, and our seeming inability to come to terms with the insidious nature of the enemy. Scattered throughout the world, in places hard to control, prone to suicide bombs, and without western values, they are difficult to find and fight. They are determined to destroy not only us, but our entire way of life--- not necessarily by huge devastating events, but by slowly chipping away at our security,what the terrorists call "a thousand cuts" in order to "bleed us to death", rather than staging large scale events, such as 9/11. Mr. Zakaria depressingly goes on to predict that as technology allows more accessability to information, the violence will increase. It is a terrifying thought, and one we will have to grapple with in the coming years. This is not a problem that's going to go away or beaten back by traditional methods. It would seem we could better define our offensiveness by recognizing the enemy by calling them such and naming their attacks "war". But the current administration in an effort to play down the drama of the situation is against this type of labeling. We must be above this sort of childish behavior, it would seem is Obama's attitude. All well and good, if the stakes were not so high. Yet, the behavior goes on as we hear of many more thwarted and yet to be attempted attacks. Last year alone, according to the Department of Homeland Security, saw more acts of terrorism attempted in this country alone, than in any one previous year. Again, it would seem it's time to focus more on the reality than on the politics. At least, let's look the enemy in the eye, call him out for what he is, and finally become what we must-- even more acutely aware of the possible danger ahead, perhaps more pre-emptive, and just as determined as the enemy to win. But even if it means giving up some of our civil liberties? We, who fancy ourselves the "shining city on the hill", with freedom and justice for all-- perhaps now must fight to save ourselves with intolerance and suspicions for some? It is the great conundrum this nation now faces.

Bah-humbug? Sorry, but Christmas, 2010 finds us with little political good news to write home about. On the other hand, nobody promised us a "rose garden", did they? In spite of evil there are forces for good everywhere---while South and North Korea rattle their nuclear swords, we are working with Russia to encourage peace and minimize the manufacturing of nuclear war heads via the START treaty; and after years of discrimination, hate crimes, and endless debate, gays are finally not forced to lie when serving in our military. The repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" was the right thing to do, is another huge step in the right direction. President Obama is to be commended on both of these peacemaking issues. We will all keep trying to get it all right, because that's who we are as a people. For all our faults,when you boil us down to our essence, our better instincts and desire to be good bubble to the surface and will guide and sustain us. As the full moon gazes placidly down upon us, and the winter solstice brings longer days which sends the message that light always overcomes darkness, we can hope that "happy days" will come again.

The webs that man weaves for himself are only that---webs of his own making. But the human spirit is not of our own making----it is divine in source, and can soar above earth's troubles and hope that all things will eventually work themselves out. Webs can be untangled, relationships healed, wars ceased---miracles can happen. Isn't that what Christmas is all about---"I bring you tidings of great joy-----"? Take a moment to consider the meaning of that message. The messenger went on to say, "Peace on earth, good will toward men".What a timeless thought---if the angels thought it possible, why can't we?