If we were serious about

Having a Happy New Year

We’d stop talking like Barry McGuire and think more like Canned Heat:

Our notional leaders in Congress would do well to remember:

We all need to keep in mind that there are more of us who love this country and what it stands for than there are whose goal is personal power and the destruction of the freedom that generations have fought and died for.

We’ve made tremendous progress over the years toward achieving the goal of equality under the law for everyone and there’s no reason to let go of it now just because those who fear change feel backed into a corner and threaten violence if they don’t get their way.

We’d remember that there is only one God and the word you use depends on the language you speak. Everything else is a human construct and not all of them are based on the principles that God’s prophets have conveyed to us.

The earth we live on together is remarkably resilient and with some help from us, will recover and support life for as long as any of us can foresee and well beyond; we, however, need to provide that help.

We’d recognize that there are thousands of people every day going through physical and financial pains to reach this country because they see it as a haven of freedom and opportunity that far outweighs the price they’re paying to get here. We should welcome them and give them the respect they deserve as fellow human beings instead of treating them like invaders. The Russians trying to take over Ukraine are invaders, and we should stand united against that with everything we have.  

We’d remember that words have meanings and use them as they’re intended. Abusing language is an essential tool for those who would divide us and prevent us from working together.

This happened to pop up on YouTube Music, sometimes the algorithms are spooky:

Our happiness depends on our reaction to things that happen and we alone can choose how we respond to any situation. It’s not often easy, but the results are invariably worth the effort. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=what+a+wonderful+world

Happy New Year everybody and a blessed 2024 for each of us and all of us.

Peace.