Happy New Year
It’s difficult to believe yet another year is about to come to a close. The old saying certainly seems to ring true – time appears to go by faster as a person gets older!
This past year certainly brought much in the way of news -- locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. We witnessed sweeping political and social changes in countries overseas – Egypt and Libya come to mind. Syria is now undergoing intense, violent conflict as citizens struggle for change.
We saw European countries caught in an unprecedented debt crisis, with the looming threat of plunging the world into further recession. Financial growth, much less a sense of economic stability, continued to be elusive on a global level as well. The ‘Occupy’ movement, symbolizing the frustration of thousands with politics, the economy and how both are handled, also dominated headlines for months.
The Somalia famine hit that region with horrific force this year as well, threatening millions who already live in unimaginable circumstances. Images of distraught, war-ravaged and starving Somali people struggling to make it to Kenya for refuge brought the hardships of the continent to worldwide attention once again.
When we look around us, Canadians should take time at the dawn of a new year to consider how blessed and fortunate we are to call this nation home. There are hardships to be sure, but what we endure compared to what many face puts things into clear, sobering perspective.
It brings to mind an image circulating on the Internet. One side of the picture shows emaciated children with their hands extended, presumably reaching for food. The other side shows frazzled Christmas shoppers with shopping carts loaded up with every gadget imaginable. The words ‘Define necessity’ underlines the images. It’s a powerful reminder of what matters.
In spite of the spectrum of events that 2011 held, New Year’s Day, as it does every year, brings with it a sense of optimism. It gives us the feeling of having a fresh start, adding to the sense that whatever hardships may have been endured, there’s reason to press forward with hope.
It’s also great to see how Red Deerians band together to lend a helping hand. That’s always abundantly clear during the Christmas season, too. And whenever there is some sort of crisis, you can always count on the generosity of local residents to help ease the pain. Time and again, we in the media hear about how helpful local citizens are to others in need.
Knowing that we have a community that consistently steps up to help does offer a kind of tonic for frazzled nerves in today’s constantly changing world. Strength does lie in that sense of community, and that’s something we can count on in 2012.
