It's hard to imagine anyone looking back at 2008 and feeling nostalgic. In fact, it's hard to imagine anyone looking back at this entire decade and feeling nostalgic. Talk about 'Lost Generation'? This one practically qualifies as a 'Lost Decade'.
First, there are the lost opportunities since 2000: on the environmental front, on fostering peace and democracy in the Middle East and elsewhere, on improving the lives of average Americans and ensuring that one generation is more successful than another. It just hasn't happened. And that's more than enough to warrant 'Lost Decade' status.
But added to this are all the ways we've actually lost ground and moved in a negative direction: we've lost ground economically and militarily; we've lost ground in our overall quality of life and in the opinion others have of us. Worst of all, we've lost ground spiritually and morally, dragged down by an ideology that values aggression, self-gratification and small-mindedness over tolerance, generosity and inclusion.
It's been a rough couple of years.
But before we write off this period entirely, it's only fair to acknowledge the glimmer of hope on the horizon.
We have a new president and increased Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. It may take us another decade to repair the current mess but this dramatic shift is like a huge collective shout-out to ourselves and to the world, never to count us out -- never to underestimate the resilience of American democracy.
This glimmer of hope is our chance once again to move forward. It's our chance once again, in the tradition of what's best in this country, to help make the world a better place to live.
UPDATE: Blast from the past...
