2007: A Retrospective

In the world of journalism (in its many incarnations), the passing of one year and the ushering in of the next typically means schmaltzy overviews from sappy editorialists, self-congratulatory top ten lists from obscure critics out to prove their tastes are far more refined than yours, and gushing remembrances from those out to salvage hope for the human condition. We use perceptual soft focus to make our plight less harsh, less severe, and are thus left with one more glowing year to deposit in our nostalgic memory banks. ‘Tis truly the season of faux-sentimentality.

You won’t find any here.

2007 was defined by war, scandal, and global malaise.

We saw America’s struggles in Iraq and Afghanistan grow increasingly complex (and apparently futile). There is officially no end in sight and public perception of the U.S., due to the daily revelations of new shady dealings and our politicians’ complete lack of moral courage, has taken a serious hit.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Darfur rages on, Somalia has been overrun by Islamic Fundamentalists (and is now a greater humanitarian crisis than Darfur), the Rwandan genocide has spilled over into the Congo (and we all thought that was ancient history), Israel and Palestine continue to shoot indiscriminate rockets over the border, Turkey is ready to go to war with the Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, the Burmese military tightened its strangle hold on the country, arresting thousands of monks in the process, the entire Middle East is a suicide bombing waiting to happen, and seemingly no one is immune (as demonstrated by the recent assassination of Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto). Iran and North Korea (and Russia, for that matter) refuse to cooperate…with anything. And perhaps wildest of all, Canada is ready to go to war with Russia: http://erikgruber.blogspot.com/2007/10/canada-on-warpath.html. (I’m sure I’ve missed some. I beg your pardon).

2007 was also the year of celebrities running wild (and making complete asses of themselves). Perhaps the big winner in this category was Ms. Britney Spears, who shaved her head, checked in to rehab, left rehab (clearly before she was rehabbed), lost custody of her children to Kevin Federline of all people, and unintentionally put her undercarriage on display for the world.

Tied for second (though not far behind) are Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie (inmates # 57990287 and 79009378), and Mel Gibson (who includes as hobbies driving intoxicated and strongly disliking Jewish people). Lindsay Lohan had a rough go of it, as well. Comment with other nominees.

2007 was the year we lost America’s pastime, and our boyhood heroes. With the revelation that major baseball stars such as Roger Clemens (say it ain’t so, Rocket), Barry Bonds (shocker) and Shane Monahan (who?) were using steroids to increase their strength and longevity. Every record set in the last 10 years will need an asterisk. Maybe we’d be better off not knowing.

I realize this is a grossly abbreviated list of everything that went wrong over the last year. I couldn’t possibly include every misstep.

Now, to close things out, a message for 2008: Thank God 2007 is over. Let’s see if we can’t do better.

Thanks for reading.