OK, no excuses – back to Sounding Off.
I hope all of you finished 2022 on a high note, and that 2023 will bring all of you happiness, prosperity, and better luck. 2022 was certainly a tumultuous year, what with Russia invading Ukraine, a hard-fought midterm election here in the US, the death of England’s longest-reigning monarch, and more storms and wildfires thanks to climate change. On the other hand, 2022 did see the Republican’s hoped-for red wave turn out to be a red ripple, and Ukraine has proven to be Putin’s tar baby. Rich countries promised to help developing countries cope with climate change – well, they promised, but that is something.
2023 could be a good year. We may see Russia forced out of Ukraine, possibly even Putin removed from power. Hey, we can always hope! We may see renewable energy making more gains. We may see some endangered species increasing their populations; the numbers of Bengal tigers and kakapos – the largest extant parrot, and the only flightless one – have been rising over the past few years. We might even see the Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl.
I certainly have high hopes, but my optimism is cautious. We will win for Team Good Guys/Gals only if we keep fighting, only if we keep signing petitions and contacting our elected officials, only if we keep voting and making sure our kith and kin as well as our neighbors are registered to vote, only if we make sure everybody who can vote has access to the ballot box, only if we keep demonstrating and protesting, only if we keep raising hell. As the hoary old cliche goes, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Now a few thoughts on writing these essays. Different people have pointed out, in different ways, that various works of art, ranging from paintings to movies, are not finished so much as they are abandoned. I endeavor to polish my essays thoroughly, thinking about what each word and clause conveys, trying to make sure I express myself clearly. When I do post an essay on Politics Plus, I sometimes feel that I haven’t really finished it, even after re-reading it a dozen times, changing words, rearranging sentences and paragraphs, and agonizing over the message it conveys to the readers. Uploading an essay is, in a way, like saying goodbye to a grown child who is heading out into the Big World.
Happy New Year, everyone.
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