With the approaching end of each year, and this year being of no exception, my thoughts are brought back to an excerpt from Dickens.  It reads:

The New Year, the New Year.  Everywhere the New Year!  The Old Year was already looked upon as dead; and its effects were selling cheap, like some drowned mariner’s aboardship.  Its patterns were Last Year’s, and going at a sacrifice, before its breath was gone.  Its treasures were mere dirt, beside the riches of its unborn successor. Charles Dickens, The Chimes.

Oh! – if I may borrow such an interjection from Dickens – what hope is offered in this passage.  A New Year – and the potential riches of its unborn.  The yet to be in the succession of life.

Yet there is something more, something much more telling of human sentiment that Dickens describes in this passage.  He offers us an insight; that beside prospective bounty we are led to the desire of relinquishing the treasures of the past year.  To sell them off – to short the market.

This is due only to our the temporal proximity.  Invariably, as is the case, time passes, and our memories are drawn back to those moments and days that defined years past.  We look back upon those treasures that were once mere dirt, and years which were once looked upon as dead and sold for cheap.

And what will our temporal distance show us of the year 2009?  What will posterity speak of when referring to this year?  What moments will define it, what people will speak for it?

Politics

The President

I must submit to the fact that this section could be considered a carry over – that is, also a defining moment of 2008.  This year, however, saw the inauguration of the once President-elect as the 44th and first African-American President, Barack Obama.

Prior to January 20th, there was the “whistle-stop” train ride from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. – harkening back to the clandestine ride of our 16th President.

The inauguration saw the Lincoln Bible and the invocation of Rick Warren.  The departure of the 43rd President, George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Chief Justice Roberts incorrectly reciting the oath of office – it was re-administered the next day in the White House Map Room.

And then there were the speeches.  There was the non-State of the Union, State of the Union speech in February to joint session of Congress, the speech in Cairo to the Muslim world, the speech he gave for school children, the joint session Healthcare speech, the United Nations General Assembly speech, the Copenhagen speech, the Nobel Peace Prize and subsequent speech in Oslo.

There was the $787 billion dollar Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Detroit bailout, Lilly Leadbetter and Mathew Sheppard Acts, the team of rivals as well as the appointment and confirmation of the first Latina Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor.

There were the nonproliferation talks between President Obama and President Mededev of Russia regarding the strategic arms-control treaty and the lessening of the two contries’ nuclear weapon arsenals over the next decade.  Furthermore, there was the decision in September to abandon the 2007 ballistic missile defense program in eastern Europe, in favor of a redesigned short and medium-range interception system.

There was the executive order to close Guantanamo Bay and the unequivocal ban on the use of torture, as well as the order to send an additional 30,000 additional troops into the Afghanistan theater of war – at the wishes of General Stanley McChrystal – and subsequent speech at West Point to the U.S. Army Cadets.

The Governors

Aside from President Obama, it was also a certainly interesting year for the Governors of our Union.  An abundance of treasures!  The beginning of 2009 saw the handling of the United States Senate seat, vacated by the President, lead to the impeachment and unanimous removal from office of everyone’s favorite son and hairpiece, Democratic Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich.  Yes, Blago is also a carry over from 2008, but this year proved to be much more entertaining. January saw the frenzied media blitz in the attempt to clear his name.  His comparison of self to the persecution of Gandhi, M.L.K., Mandela and Jesus Christ.  His continuous claim that the ‘fix was in,’ that he was the anti-Nixon – we are still waiting to hear the exonerating tapes about which he endlessly spoke.

The middle of the year saw the emergence of another punch-line ridden Gubernatorial scandal.  Hiking on the Appalachian trail has now become synonymous with infidelity due to dealings of our next Governor, the Republican Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford.  The “A” was correct, the location however was different; it was Argentina, and I do not think that you would call what he was doing hiking.  He, unlike the aforementioned Mr. Blago, was not impeached – although he did resign the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association.

And what conversation about Governors in 2009 could be complete without mentioning the omnipresent former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.  Yet again, another carry-over.  This year, however, saw the abrupt non-forced resignation of her incumbency.  After which, there was her memoir “Going Rouge” – a best-seller before it even hit stores – and subsequent book-signing tour turned rally (fitted with tomato and photography controversies, winks, nods and waves).  There was the Oprah interview, tweets and Levi Johnston.  And of course, the ever burning question of her 2012 candidacy.

Some smaller yet equally interesting stories also emerged from our Governors this year.  There was the threat of some to decline money from the Recovery and Reinvestment Act for their states.  And yes, Texas is still a State in our Union despite what Governor Rick Perry had to say.

The Congress

A tale of two bodies really – just in keeping with the Dickens motif.  Along with the Acts and confirmation aforementioned in the Presidential section, 2009 saw Congress take measures to end funding for the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, as well as allocate 3 billion dollars in Federal funding for the incentive based ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program.  They introduced, and subsequently discussed legislation regarding both financial and environmental regulation – upon which only the House has to date acted.

But who am I to kid, 2009 saw the Healthcare debate.  There was; universal healthcare, medicare for all, single-payer, medicare expansion, public option, triggers, opt-in, opt-out, exchanges, tort reform, competition, premiums, untenable, unsustainable, affordable, deficit spending, deficit neutral, C.B.O. scoring, arbitrary deadlines, town halls, grass roots, astro-turfing, death panels, death to granny, tea parties, Waterloo, funding for abortion, funding for illegal aliens, filibuster, 60 votes, super-majority, and cloture.  It was; fractious, splintered, ultra-partisan, aisle widening, misinformed, exaggerated and hyperbolic.  Household names were made of; Bachman, Stupak, Cantor, Wilson, Pelosi, Nelson, Baucus, McConnell, Durbin, Grassley, Conrad, Reid, Liberman, Snow and Collins.

Eventually, though, when the oratory, criticisms, posturing and politicizing had run its course there was the passage of a Healthcare Bill in the House of Representatives on November 7th, and in Senate on Christmas Eve, after 24 consecutive days in session – the first time the Senate had been in session on Christmas Eve since 1963, and the first  time such a vote was held since 1895.  Now on to the conference committee and merger! A treasure beholden to next year!

Enemies

Foreign

In the immediate aftermath, there was a sense of an unprecedented occurrence – the sense of a potentially burgeoning democracy.  There was a 70 percent voter turnout, long lines and energy as well as a youthful and female involvement.  Perhaps there would be a changing of the guard, or at least a reformation.

And then, there was the materialization of that fledgling feeling into just that – a feeling.  The democratic facade was quickly unmasked with the abrupt calling of the election, revealing the underpinnings of the enduring control of the theocracy.

There was in fact an happening, however.  The Iranian election in June proved to be one of the most observed occurrences of the year.  Not only for the election marred in fraud and manipulation – although that was extensively covered.  Rather, the observance was in part due to the continuing revolutionary developments in the wake of that election – proceedings that persist to the present day.

There was an open and defiant indignation at the Supreme Leader Khamenei, President-elect Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Government coalescing in the ever-galvanizing clashes of anti-government protests and demonstrations with the Revolutionary Guard and paramilitary Basij who attempted to suppress them.  The bloodshed and shooting death, caught on camera, of Neda Agha-Soltan, provided the symbolic martyr of the opposition movement. For its part, there was the involvement and influence of the internet in the opposition’s coverage – due primarily to the removal of foreign journalists from the country.  And the sentiment of solidarity characterized in wearing green, the campaign color of the reformist Presidential candidate Mir Hussein Moussavi, was adopted not only in demonstrations in Iran but around the world.  There were candle-lit vigils fueled by prolonged nighttime raids, and the chant “God is great” – directly referring to the incantations of Iranian Revolution 30 years prior.

The continuing episodic saga of the diplomatic dealings between Washington and Tehran was also imbedded in this past year.  Primarily centered around their nuclear ambitions, Iran was again thrust into center of controversy in 2009.  September saw two major announcements out of Iran in such an arena.  First, that there existed a secretive underground facility which could be used to enrich uranium; outside of the holy city Qom.  Secondly, that the Revolutionary Guards test-fired missiles with a range wide enough to strike Israel as well as parts of Europe.  Following the former’s revelation, there were discussions of potentially sending out their uranium for enrichment as well as potentially receiving it from outside sources – neither of which has yet to bear fruit – and there continues to be discussions on possible sanctions, supervision and confrontation.

Pyongyang, like Tehran, came under considerable international scrutiny over the course of this year due to its activities.  In March the two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were detained and charged with espionage after crossing over from China into North Korea.  In June they were convicted of illegal entry into the country and sentenced to 12 years in hard labor camps.  An unannounced special envoy including former President Bill Clinton was then sent in August to retrieve the captives – and who could forget the picture of Clinton and Kim Jong-il to mark the occasion.

Seen by many as a potential bargaining chip, North Korea endeavored into many controversial activities within this same time frame.  Rejecting numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions as well as nonproliferation discussions and verifications, Pyongyang conducted another nuclear test in May as well as an unsuccessful test of a long-range, three-stage rocket in April – one which both Japan and the United States threatened but neither shot down.  On two other occasions this year Pyongyang also tested several shorter-ranged rockets off of its west coast.

Afghanistan, like both of the nations previously mentioned have had their impact and have offered defining moments over the past years.  Thus, I grant again that they can all be considered carry overs.  Yet, like the previously mentioned countries and stories, Afghanistan has also provided defining moments for 2009.  Like Iran, Afghanistan also hosted elections speculated as fraudulent in this past year.  Principle opponent of the incumbent, Abdullah Abdullah, after the cancellation of a run-off, inevitably succumbed to the duplicitous results of the election, thus, Hamid Karzai maintained his Presidency.  Furthermore, there was the controversy regarding President Karzai’s brother and both of their involvement with the drug trade within the country.  Not to mention, there was also a little bit regarding the war and its strategy.

As was mentioned, Afghanistan was also thrust into the spotlight amidst the debate over troop escalation, implementation and eventual removal.  In the midst of some calling it dithering, while others deliberative, President Obama ordered a 30,000 troops surge in order to secure populated areas of the country.  After the decision, some claimed that it was too many troops or that we should not send any at all, while others argued that he did not fulfill the general’s wishes.  And still others would argue about the decision to include a withdrawal date – both those in favor and opposed.  For these and many other reasons, Afghanistan would remain a mainstay in the collective consciousness of American’s throughout this past year.

As would its neighbor to the east; Pakistan.  Much was discussed this year about the porous boarder between the two countries and militants in the remote Waziristan region.  Following from this was discussion of the clandestine drone attacks taking place within the Pakistani boarders – those same drones whose intelligence was subject to scrutiny due to their hacking by a 26 dollar computer program used by insurgents in Iraq.

A fitting segue to Iraq, as Iraq is the surprising subject of notable omission thus far within this discussion.  It is not that fighting has ceased, or that insurgents have stopped bombings, or that there has not been killings or bloodshed.  None of which could be further from the truth, as all have continued throughout the year.  It is just as simple as this; Iraq has slipped out of the dominating lexicon of this country in the past year.

Nations outside of the usual ‘axis of evil’ terminology also provided stages for foreign enemy combatants.  Somalia was once such theater and a record breaking theater it was.  Pirates off of the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden attacked or hijacked 214 seafaring vessels this year – that a record – 12 of which are still being held for ransom to date.  Most notably, to those of us in the United States, was the hijacking of the U.S. flagged cargo ship in April off of the horn of Africa.  The resulting hostage-taking of the ship’s captain, Richard Phillips, and ensuing standoff between pirates and the U.S. destroyer Bainbridge captivated audiences here in America.  With the authorization from President Obama for the use of force, snipers shot and killed 3 of the hostage takers, finally retrieving the once captive captain.

Another such theater had many in this country wishing it was more foreign and less domestic, as unfortunately it was quite close to home.  The bloody battles between the drug cartels and law enforcement in Mexico proved to be another enduring saga this year.  Guns from the United States coupled with wealthy cartels who intend to use them demonstrated a very real and serious threat to national security on both sides of the boarder.

An unfortunate last minute addition to this section has seen another theater emerge in the consciousness of the American public.  The attempted bombing of Northwest trans-Atlantic flight 253 on Christmas Day by Nigerian-born 23 year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has brought the nation of Yemen into full-view.  Claimed to have been trained in and provided the explosive device from the Arabian Peninsula country, Abdulmutallab attempted to bring down the plane and 278 passengers during its final approach, over Detroit airspace.  Instead, passengers on board restrained Abdulmutallab before he could fully detonate the explosive.  Nevertheless, the connection between the attempted bombing and its Al Qaeda links in Yemen offer a disturbing prospect of the ever-continuing war on terror.

Domestic

As is part of the oath for the armed services in this country, enemies can be encountered both abroad as well as on domestic soil.  No more significant a reminder of this fact could be offered than the shootings at Fort  Hood, Texas in November.  On November 5th, dressed in full military uniform, Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, opened fire on his fellow service men and women – killing 13 and wounding 30.  It was one of the deadliest killings ever on a military base in the United States.

Another such reminder was in the murder of Dr. George Tiller.  In May, Dr. Tiller was shot to death inside his church in Kansas.  One of the few late term abortion doctors operating in the country, Dr. Tiller marks the potential dangers of those who would take the rule of law and matters of such into their own hands.

Unfortunately, the dreadful matters aforementioned; the threats, wars, killings, violence and bloodshed have stained not only this year but many years hitherto and still pose perilous dangers in the years to come.  Hopefully, there will be fewer incidents of the like to define future years as they have this one.

Entertainment

Outside of the realms of politics and international relations, there were also many treasures to behold in the world of entertainment.  Well O.K., maybe not completely outside the realm of politics but nonetheless entertaining (although significantly disturbing), were the ‘gate-crashers’ at the Obama’s first state dinner held for the Prime Minister of India.  I mean, they wanted to be reality stars.  There maybe a be a better way to build a resume other than trespassing.

There was Phil Spector, who was convicted this year for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003 and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.  I always loved his music, but he is a mildly eccentric fellow.  A wall of sound replaced by a wall of concrete – that was too easy, I know.

Another entertainment icon also found himself in trouble with the law, film director Roman Polanski.  Granted, he has been in trouble with the law in the United States since his conviction of sex with and minor and subsequent fleeing of the country in 1977.  But it was in Zurich where he, now a French citizen, was arrested and detained this year – stemming from the same incident.  He is still detained, albeit in a chalet, and extradition is still pending.

Guiding Light aired its final episode after 72 years of broadcasting – 15 years on the radio and 57 years on television.  There was another program ending this year, well an announced ending really.  Oprah Winfrey disclosed that she will end her talk show in 2011.

There was the balloon boy hoax and the Octomom – more reality star hopefuls – and Miss California, Carrie Prejean with her belief in opposite marriage.  And that’s all to be said of that.

And now to the heavy-hitters of entertainment.  Michael Jackson. Although this should belong to the following section, the news just sent too many shock waves through the world of entertainment for it not to be mentioned here. The self-proclaimed ‘king-of-pop’ died.  It just dominated the headlines.  It even gave a brief respite to the coverage of the health-care town halls. Didn’t it seem like Jermaine was on Larry King every night?  Every channel, every award show payed tribute.  His wake and gold casket were televised on every network – it was at the staples center, with tickets!  There was a movie made about his rehearsals.  The autopsy and toxicology.  What was he on?  Exotic drugs, medically induced comas.  Was he murdered?  It was everywhere.  Demonstrations, rallies, dance congregations, parades all showing solidarity in mourning.  Was he still a freak?  Still a molester in the court of public opinion?  Peter King certainly thought so.

From the year’s most publicized death, to its most publicized fall from grace.  Tiger Woods.  Voted the athlete of the decade – 56 tour victories and 12 majors in the 2000′s.  He dominated – wore out the competition!  And now allegedly that was not all he attempted to wear out.  The incident on Thanksgiving proved too odd to just be a single car accident.  And it was; there were the text messages, the voice-mails, the alleged nude photos and the women – how many are there now?  The once do-no-wrong prodigy from Stanford who mesmerized spectators and brought a new generation to the game, the richest athlete the world has ever known; now a cheater.  Not at the game, but to his family.  And still not a word publicly.

Miscellaneous

There are a couple of stories of note this year that didn’t seem to fit any of the previous sections.  The first of which started the year.  The ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ began the year on an seemingly optimistic path.  Just days before the Presidential inauguration, captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III landed a U.S. Airways flight destined for North Carolina in the middle of the Hudson River.  With no one killed, we were left with the iconic photo of those passengers standing on the wing of the plane.

A more sullen aviation story came via the crash of Continental flight 3407 near Buffalo just a month later.  Unfortunately, this flight saw the death of 49 passengers aboard and one person on the ground.  It did seem like there were a lot of plane crashes this year.

Still two more bizarre stories came out of the field of aviation.  First of which was the unannounced photo-op fly-over of the backup plane to Air Force One over the New York City skyline, which then lead to the evacuation of several lower Manhattan buildings.  Secondly, was the Northwest Airlines flight that overshot its intended Minneapolis airport by 150 miles – were the pilots sleeping or perhaps arguing over benefits and pay?

Outside of air transport and into the field of medicine, 2009 presented us with the dangers of the Swine-flu.   Amid fears of a pandemic outbreak, comparing its potential to that of the 1918 influenza virus, we were asked to quarantine ourselves.  Schools were closed, children were kept home and employers were asked to give leeway to parents.  Pigs were slaughtered in Egypt and there was a rush for vaccination – some of which has been recalled.

Another potential danger was introduced by way of the CERN particle accelerator or the Large Hadron Collider, in Europe.  Attempting to recreate conditions fractions of a second after the Big Bang, and in search of the mysterious ‘God-particle,’ the collider would accelerate subatomic particles around a 17 mile track located which lies beneath French-Swiss boarder and smash them into one another.  But what of the potential of creating a black-hole here one earth?  It didn’t.

One danger of the past year does still linger.  That is the ongoing recession and unemployment.  Yes, the Dow did crack 10,000.  But there is another alarming 10 – that being the percentage of those who are still unemployed in this country.  A number that is still significantly higher in many places throughout the Union.  Say nothing of those who are under-employed.  This is too a carry over.  A carry over from the worst economic breakdown since the Great Depression.  And it may yet carry into future years.

The gay rights movement – that is, in referring to the legal right of homosexual marriage in this country – saw both signs of promise and uneasiness in this past year.  Gay marriage laws passed in Iowa, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, joining both Massachusetts and Connecticut.  Yet, Maine would see the law repealed by referendum, the New York State Senate voted down the proposal and there was the California courts’ decision to uphold the marriage ban.  Argentina did see the first gay marriage performed in Latin America, but there is also the controversial legislation still pending in Uganda.

Deaths of 2009

I would be neglectful not to mention those who died in the past year.  There was the lion of the Senate, Edward Moore Kennedy – it would only be fitting that a Healthcare Bill would pass out of the Senate in the year of his passing.  His sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.  Robert Manamara.  Walter  Cronkite. There was the aforementioned Michael Jackson.  Karl Malden.   Farrah Fawcett.  David Carradine.  Les Paul.  Patrick Swayze.  Steve McNair.  Arturo Gatti.  Britney Murphy.  As well as many others who passed on this year.

Conclusion

Have a very Happy New Year.