Moving Forward

Obama has announced he is officially closing Guantanamo. I think a hallelujah is in order, and cannot help but feel relief that such a sad and ugly chapter in our history will finally begin to close. I pray those still held might find some form of justice and that we can find ways to deal with truly dangerous people without inhumane or illegal actions. It's still difficult to comprehend we've held so many for six years without access to the measures of justice, balance, and humane treatment upon which this country was founded.

I also heard today on WBDX (our local community radio station) that a research group has determined there is a 90% probability that the world's food supplies will be devastated and in severe shape by 2100 due to climate change. Pretty sobering for someone who already worries about economic disaster, global meltdown, and the safety of her family all the ding dang time. My hope is that, even for those who don't believe in such things, there might be a collective decision to work toward resolving any potential crises because it's better to be safe than sorry.

Meanwhile, Blagojevich has been half-impeached and we in Illinois are, I think, simply shaking our heads and waiting patiently for the proverbial axe to fall. It's embarassing to come from a state that couldn't even steer clear of scandal in the runup to one of its greatest moments since 1861. Luckily, it looks like Burris will be seated, Blago will be impeached, and perhaps by February we Illinoisans can finally turn our eyes to the exciting and unquestionably significant impact of Obama's presidency and feel a little bit of happiness and pride to be connected in some small way to such an historic moment in our nation's life.

Down, Down, Down

I think those of us who live in Illinois knew it was just a matter of time before Rod Blagojevich made a big enough mistake to warrant arrest and probable impeachment. Yet, it's still a rather embarassing and disappointing thing to have happen.

I was born in Illinois and have lived here for the majority of my life (with a sizeable chunk spent elsewhere in the middle). I think I've spent more time in this state than any other... and I do consider myself a Midwesterner at heart (with a little bit of farmgirl thrown in for good measure).

I'm not sure what it is about our political system - and especially our governors - that seems to lead to unquestionable corruption. Perhaps the unavoidable ridiculousness of this latest gaffe will spur our civil servants into more ethical and professional behavior in the future. One can only dream, I suppose.

In the meantime, I hope those already struggling to make ends meet and survive the sickly economy are able to do so despite the inevitable fallout in the months to come. With budget cutbacks and an increasingly rocky climate where healthcare is concerned, we may see darker days to come.