When you take a step back and look at what 2011 brought the world, you will probably remember a few important things: Kim Jong-Il dies, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are no longer married, and OMFG did you hear Russell Brand and Katy Perry split up because of irreconcilable differences?!?!? No seriously, that is probably what you remember because that seems to be all that’s on the news these days. The media has become so convoluted, biased, and utterly distasteful that the most objective news I've found that actually covers stories important to our lives is Al-Jazeera—ironic, don’t you think so? While Fox News seems to be leaning so right that it might supplant the Leaning Tower of Pisa as the most right-leaning tower of bullshit (for those of you who have seen the leaning tower of Pisa, you will understand the reference). On the other hand, CNN, once thought to be the objective standard of news (Ted Turner still believes this), has been subtly, yet not-so-subtly promoting a liberal agenda. Thus, the best source of our domestic news is from a foreign news agency, not that we should be surprised, as it seems that everything foreign has become better than anything made in America.
Why the seemingly anti-American sentiment? Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-American, I'm just critical of the direction that the country is headed. The year has brought to light the ineffectiveness and entirely worthless nature of our politicians. To compound this vanity, members on both sides of the aisle, along with so-called objective political pundits (an oxymoron in and of itself) have spent more time squabbling over who is right than drawing up viable plans for the future of the country. I could go on and on about the political mess our nation finds itself in, and other parts of the world find themselves in, but not even a book the size of the 7th Harry Potter book would suffice. The debt crisis has brought forth crippling effects on the world economy and has left much of the so called first-world looking as desperate as a third-world.
Mother Nature also didn't care for 2011 apparently, as the world saw her wrath multiple times from the crippling Japanese earthquake to the fierce tornadoes that swept through entire towns like Joplin, Missouri. As a whole, Mother Nature took the lives of several hundred thousand and brought some humility and sense of perspective to a world otherwise occupied by the hubbub of political nonsense. It humanized even those that tout their superhuman-ness, like Donald Trump and Sarah Palin, and saw a global effort, putting aside political banter, to help those in need.
While these tragedies do bear a great weight, the year also brought about a few positives. Osama bin-laden was finally captured and killed, a symbolic victory in our perpetual fight against terrorism. America finally closed a chapter in its book of mistaken wars, after the last troops exited Iraq in an almost ten-year struggle that saw the loss of several thousand servicemen and women. The world witnessed some of the most spectacular, organic uprisings in history with Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya, ousting inept leaders in hopes of a government by the people and for the people. In sports, Novak Djokovic dominated en route to one of the most magnificent seasons in men’s tennis history. Also, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the Indian cricket team for winning the 2012 World Cup against its neighbor, Sri Lanka, in a hard-fought match.
All in all, 2011 can be summed up by watching 2 seconds of C-SPAN –boring, ridiculous, and upsetting. Though, this makes the prospect of 2012 that much more exciting, except for the fact that the world may end. But for me, this year brings much to look forward to as I will be graduating from college (hopefully) and my parents will be celebrating 25 years of torturing each other, I mean, of pure wedded bliss. Thanks to all my friends and family who have supported me throughout the year and for the years to come. Let’s all raise our glasses (of champagne since I’m 21, finally) and drink in, I mean ring in, the new year! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Cheers,
BK
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