...and a Happy New Year

Hola! Xin nian kuai le! Een gelukkig Nieuwjaar voor iedereen! Feliz Año Nuevo!

It is true that January 1, 2006 is pretty much the same type of day as December 31, 2006. The sun rises, the sea roars, the rain falls, wars are fought, people feel and live and love – another glorious day of being alive. But I suppose what makes January 1 a special day is the demarcation of a new beginning – a mental mark of a physical day in which to make the difference to live a better life. For we all make mental resolutions to do better and to do good, we all want to feel that this is the year when beautiful things happen.

In the last year, the world has seen much change – but relative to 2000 years ago, it is still similar, isn’t it? The sun rises, the sea roars, the rain falls, wars are fought, people feel and live and love. So what could make that extra difference this year you ask? You know the answer… “you” of-course. Even if you believe in reincarnation, the form and means by which you exist today is singularly different from any other time, so you could make all the difference simply by existing in this today. It’s easy to forget that tomorrow is promised to no one – not to the king, not to the rich, not to the strong, not to the educated, not to saints or sinners – it’s just this today. I forget this all the time. I forget that “manyana” is just a hopeful illusion. Every year, I make resolutions, sometimes I even make the extra effort of buying a glossy journal to record my disciplinarian guidelines – and then I immerse myself in tomorrow and forget today. “Tomorrow is good, but making today great, will make my tomorrow even greater” – this is my New Year’s resolution. And given that different cultures embrace different days for their New Year’s, it gives me every reason to renew my promise to myself every day – at least in the interest of being a citizen of the world.

Philosophy aside – on reviewing the latest NSA security situations for my Securities class this coming semester, I have become most interested in the perspectives that otherwise elude my basic logic. Here are two editorial from two diametrically opposing editorial views:

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20051230.html

http://www.nationalreview.com/editorial/editors200512210614.asp

Thank Heavens for democracy that allows people the basic right to live and think as they wish to (within the law)! But how exactly is democracy defined? And is there only one standard of democracy that can be applied throughout civilizations and cultures across the world? What about “when in Rome…”? Who is right, who is wrong? What is worth a single life? And what can compete with the raw emotions of humans; the anger, the happiness, the prejudices, the insecurities, the personal and professional agendas? Who knows – but should you consider that tomorrow is not promised to you – you may be inclined to live your best day, every day, and allow someone else the same privilege.

The best part of my 2005 was the pleasure to be in a free country like the United States – where freedom does reign. What I know for sure is that if the rest of the world were to know the ordinary citizens of the US, they would understand exactly why this is the greatest country in the world. In my travels, I have observed what I term as the “national identity” of different countries, defined not by the government philosophies, but by that which exudes from normal people. For the U.S., it’s “freedom” and “laughter” and “generosity of spirit” – it is true.

May this year, be your best year ever - with much happiness, laughter, joy, and achievement - and may beautiul things happen for you! Talking of beautiful things, the best team in the world, Manchester United, won 4-1 against Bolton Wanderers.