New Decade

AS this new year unfolds and the beginning of the next ten years takes place, we remember the hopes and fears of the past ten years as we found a nation divided by war, by class, by every difference that has driven us apart beginning with the issue of knowledge. It seems hard to believe that just over ten years ago we saw our friends scamper to protect their information as the threat of Y2K robbed every tech savvy citizen of their waking hours. Banks went on alert, businesses backed up their inventory lists fearing the "bug" would wipe them out, and the home office began to explore the concept of using the calculator. The year 2000 passed without any major hoopla as did most of 2001, but as our mind were eased and our pride bruised by speculations of defeat our enemies readied and pounced in our hour of rest. This started the lengthy process of our nation being at war. Many lives lost, destroyed and broken, we saw little victory in our efforts to retaliate, but in the business of retaliation, any victory can be celebrated, yet will never suffice. Our nation, with a damaged pride, still debates the merits of war. Some take the stand against moving forward while others take the stand against remembering the past. Where is it one nation stands? And when is it that a nation falls?