Hopefulness for the New Year and Joyfulness

1. The so-called PATRIOT ACT was not given the indefinite extension the bushbaby playpenalers had petulantly shaken their rattles at Congress to demand !
THAT'S GOOD NEWS
2. Great Britain has joined the ranks of more civilized countries by passing legislation to enable gay and lesbian couples to "wed" in civil unions !
THAT'S ENLIGHTENMENT AND PROGRESS
3. More courts - even "conservative" judges and justices - in the US are saying NO to the bushbaby-cheneygang efforts to circumvent the constitution by denying due process for captives. Maybe soon they will no longer be able to imprison you without a trial - something some Americans believed was accomplished with the founding of the country: there was a war with England about just that, a constitution written, and a bill of rights immediately appended.
THAT'S A REASON TO HOPE!
4. The new "Chancellorette" of Germany, Angie M., whom everyone thought would probably snuggle up in W's behind, made life uncomfortable for him and his Ricey Concubine by reminding them that Germany will not abide any obstruction of justice or infringement of human rights in a supposed fight against terror.
THAT'S ALMOST A MIRACLE
5. The new pope, as stiff as a tobacco pole, appeared in an outfit as ridiculous as he himself is with his antiquated reactionary views on everything from homosexuality to the pill. A Santa Claus hat, a cape in a not-well-matching second shade of red, and all of that with a white suit ... a mixture of Lawrence Welk and Heino....
THAT'S REFRESHINGLY CLEAR

So there's hope for the Enlightenment, that people may continue to press for truth, justice, freedom and not tolerate intolerance, not stand for idiocy ---
and they even took away Arnold's name from the stadium they had "christened" after him in Austria to remind him Europe is OPPOSED TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Not only did he allow the state of California to commit murder, he renounced his honorary citizenship with his hometown for their reaction and even sent them back their signet ring...
VALUES ARE RETURNING TO EUROPE

READ - THINK - SPEAK OUT - LEARN - LIVE - ASSERT JOY IN LIFE !