An important thing to remember as we start a New Year
Summary: As we start a new year we can gain courage by looking at the good aspects of our past and the glimmers of good fortune that lie in our future. The opening of this post was originally posted on 29 December 2007.
Believe me when I say that we have a difficult time ahead of us.
But if we are to be prepared for it, we must first shed our fear of it.
I stand before you now, truthfully, unafraid.
Because I believe something you do not?
No!
I stand here because I remember.
I remember that I am here not because the path that lies before me, but because of the path that lies behind me.
— Morpheus speaking to the people of Zion, from the film The Matrix Reloaded
As we start a New Year I find it useful to review my core beliefs. It is easy to lose sight of those amidst the clatter of daily events.
We are a people with a great past.
The challenges ahead are no greater than those behind us.
The American people can surmount these challenges if we work together.
We will be what we wish to be, if we but make the necessary effort.
For posts discussing inspirational lessons and advice from our past
See these FM Reference Pages:
Good news about America
Lessons and even advice from the past — and notes from the future
A few posts about good news:
Good news: The Singularity is coming (again), 8 December 2007 — History tends to look better over longer time horizons. For example, consider one bit of good news: the Singularity is coming.
Some good news (one of the more important posts on this blog), 21 December 2007 - I do not believe we need fear the future, despite the tough times coming soon. This remains a great nation, not because of our past but because of us and our polity. We differ from almost every other nation. The difference consists of our commitment to our political order, of which our Constitution is the foundation. In this we are like Athens more than our neighbors …
Washington’s Gift, 24 December 2007 — A summary of and link to an article by the author Thomas Fleming, published on the Opinion Page of the Wall Street Journal.
A crisis at the beginning of the American experiment, 27 December 2008 — Looking at the problems looming before us, it is easy to forget those of equal or greater danger that we have surmounted in the past.
Is America’s decline inevitable? No.. 21 January 2008 - Why be an American if one has no faith in the American people? How can you believe in democracy without that faith?
Let us light a candle while we walk, lest we fear what lies ahead, 10 February 2008 — Many people look to the future with fear. We see this fear throughout the web. Right-wing sites describe the imminent end of America: overrun by foreigners, victim of cultural and financial collapse. Left-wing sites describe “die-off” scenarios due to Peak Oil, climate change, and ecological collapse - as the American dream dies from takeover by theocrats and fascists. Most of this is nonsense, but not the prospect of massive changes in our world. But need we fear the future?
Fears of flying into the future, 25 February 2008 — Reasons we need not fear the future.
Good news about the 21st century, a counterbalance to the doomsters, 9 May 2008
A snapshot of our engines of innovation, as they develop new energy sources, 12 May 2008 - There are many solutions under development to the energy crises. These things just take time, even decades, to mature.
What does $120 oil mean for the global economy?, 15 May 2008
“America’s Greatest Weapon” , 25 May 2008
Some thoughts about the economy of mid-21st century America, 12 January 2009 — Optimistic words from the greatest economist of the 20th century.
Good news: air quality in the US has improved!, 12 March 2010