The end, on a positive note

From social, civil, and political unrest abroad, to our own battles at home, 2005 has been plagued with overwhelming controversy and underwhelming success.
We watched in disbelief as U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s top aid, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, false statement and perjury charges for allegedly lying about how and when he learned and subsequently disclosed to reporters classified information about the employment of Valerie Wilson by the Central Intelligence Agency.
We witnessed the ending of the Rehnquist court era with the death of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who died unwilling to vacate the seat his health would no longer allow him to occupy and looked on idly as the court entered a new more conservative era with John Roberts taking the helm. As Justice Sandra Day O’Connor penned her letter of intent to retire, bitter battles emerged over who would take to the swing vote. We wept as one when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita’s catastrophic events brought the nation to its knees and President George Bush’s approval ratings to the lowest point of his presidency.
We became outraged as Louisiana’s Governor, Kathleen Blanco, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, and FEMA, played the game, “Who’s to blame?”
We watched as Terry Schivo was starved to death in Florida, and congressional power was checked.
As the U.S. continued to fight a never-ending war in Iraq, oil and gas prices soared right on the side of the U.S. deficit.
We said farewell to an icon, Rosa Parks, who proved that one out of many really could make a difference. We saw a new world order come about for the Catholic Church, with the death of Pope John Paul II and the rise of his successor Pope Benedict XVI.
Right here at home, we watched racism rear it’s ugly head as black students at Louisiana’s “flagship” university protested the waving of the purple and gold confederate flag and remained unsuccessful in their endeavors to have it banned. We saw ignorance reign supreme, we realized as blacks we still have to struggle, even today.
Of course, much more has happened, but to recap the whole year, I might as well write a book. As the year quickly winds down, it becomes more and more difficult to fathom how so much could happen in such little time, but then you begin to realize how much could happen in a day, let alone a year. But, no matter your plight, your gains or your losses, God has given nothing that we can’t handle, be it together, or individually.
There have been many personal battles that I thought I would not be able to handle with family, friends, school, you name it. But for those of you that are familiar with the story of “Footprints in the Sand,” it is through your most trying times that God carries you. He has carried me through hatred, frustration, aggravation, discrimination, intimidation, love and loss, and I’m still here just as strong as the day before.
The trials we face today shall serve as lessons learned tomorrow. The small stepping stones that stand in our way now will enable us to defeat the mountains we will encounter in the future. I know not everyone is religious, so naturally you will attribute your success to wherever it is you place your faith. But for me, and those of you who do believe, God has been here every step of the way, but it has always been up to us to recognize him. I’m optimistic about 2006 because I know, I will conquer the challenges of today, and embrace those of tomorrow, and you can do the same. Be blessed.