New World?

For the first time in seven years, the new year started out without a personal crisis on the horizon. I'm still gun-shy and each new good thing makes me wonder when the other shoe will drop.

For the first time that I can ever remember, even my mother was revved up about the upcoming inaugaration of Obama. Mom is a life-long republican but has always voted for the best person for a political job no matter what the party affiliation. This time, for the second time, she not only voted for the Democratic ticket but voted for a black president. In our household and among our friends, the "anything is better than Bush" thought is prevalent though obviously I do not want anyone in the White House who cannot do any better. Bush's shoot now and ask questions later approach was how things worked in the Old West but not in modern America. I still do not understand why we have not been waging the war where Bin Laden lives. Maybe Bush was too chicken to take the war to Bin Laden's front step. If we are going to fight a war, let's go where the enemy lives. I'm all for smoking Bin Laden out or making it impossible to do business. But being in Iraq isn't doing all that.

I believe Bush was too afraid to go where Bin Laden lives because it is not a traditional war situation for our troops. Just going in and start shooting isn't what's needed. I think Obama (and hope) will go where our former president did not in the quest to protect ourselves from those who wish to harm us.

It's wait and see.