Allow me on the last day of the year 2009, a few personal words and a personal account that goes beyond the actual subject matter of this blog also:
It's time again for the very sentimental hours in the course of a year: the final hours. You can look back on the past twelve months, and remembers with joy or sadness to moments or whole days that have remained in my memory for good reason: because they excel especially beautiful, particularly bad, or in some other way were. Everything else we shall call the ordinary, to which we do not remember us in detail.
taking into account these lessons: What was good what was bad? What could have been done better? And in the best case is withdrawn from the answers useful lessons to be one next year to help.
As for the topic of this blog, was the big bang, the place was ready in 2009, at the very beginning: George W. Bush on 20 different January from the office of President and was the former President Bush. From one day to the day it was over with his public appearances and the daily news about him and his policies. Unlike Dick Cheney, Bush disappeared almost completely. He retired to Texas, where the Those of the next term to initiate: the construction of his presidential library and the publication of his first book on the presidency. No big interviews, only an official appearance at the funeral of Ted Kennedy, and only one public speech on 4 July, which was in the media but at best mentioned in a subordinate clause. George Bush's time was really over. To eight years daily public presence was the almost complete absence. For every Bush supporter a break which had to be digested only once.
The departure of a president meant the arrival of another: Barack Obama. Ultimately, it is probably gone the way we (that we blessed with intelligence Obama-skeptics) that could be imagined: Obambi had to realize that the world now is no time Ponnyhof that politics is the drilling of thick boards that can not appease tyrants and terrorists by a few kind words and concessions, and that much rhetoric no action or results to replace. This disillusionment was held not only for Obama but also for his followers. The first opinion research institutes see Obama in the U.S. approval ratings below 50%. But at least see a few men in Oslo in Obama nor the Messiah. In any case, they made the decision, the Nobel Peace Prize to the White House to send for the head shaker of the year.
As for the German policy in 2009 was above all: a federal election year. Really the focus of the election, however, was just around the election day. An election took place that is virtually not at all. The still ruling grand coalition made it possible. Steinmeier and Merkel could not would not. Ere were only two possible situations: another grand coalition or for the first time in eleven years black and yellow. Germany's election with a shrug of the shoulders, decided on 27 September but then quite clearly for the latter.
For me it was the politically by far the most enjoyable day of the year. I had it for eleven years on this Coalition maintenance.
In the history books is the entry "2009" are (and this is certainly a personal choice) that Barack Obama became a U.S. president that was rampant throughout the world swine flu and financial crisis that NATO , the Federal Republic and the Fall of anniversaries, celebrating the Lisbon Treaty entered into force that the second grand coalition of black-was replaced yellow, that another black-yellow its 100th Birthday celebrated that courageous demonstrators in Iran reported that in Italy the earth shook, it was a turbulent year for Opel, that died in a massacre in Winnenden 15 people that Afghanistan no later than by the bomb attack in Kunduz back into the spotlight moved to the World Athletics Championships in Berlin by Usain Bolt was ruled that the Nobel literature prize went to Germany, and that the death of Michael Jackson the world and the suicide of Robert Enke shook the Federal Republic.
And then there's always the personal history book: I can say
that 2009 was for me a year without any major disasters or tragedies - and nothing is nearly as important as this course, disappointments, failures and difficulties have been there - but death and disease are absent. Again, nothing is nearly as important as this And all in all, I have no doubt that the happy hours were more numerous than the dark. However, knowing that the former without the latter have no meaning.
has otherwise distinguished himself this year for me in that I have met some new people that I have not met only in passing, but which have become something of a part of my life and my daily life and have enriched both. It's funny when you think about it: When entering this year, I knew some did not even know existed and now, at the end of this year, they are just hard to imagine - even those which are ultimately not stay permanently, but have created memories.
And it raises the question of what people will respond to 2010, which we know still do not have to be in twelve months but leave their mark.
This year also marks the end of a decade. Again, the division between world events and personal experiences. The decade began with terror (9 / 11) and ended (the failed terrorist attack in Detroit). For those who want to see it that way, says Time magazine from a "decade of hell."
For me personally, is that in this decade the most important part of my Youth held. So forgive me if I can the Decade 2000-2010 is difficult as the "decade from hell" look.
What does the new year at all? Basically, this second mark, twelve midnight on the clock 31.12, neither an end nor a beginning -. But a continue, as it put Hal Borland. It is indeed but all the same. And yet there is this breaking a new page, this new beginning, which held a charm, according to Hermann Hesse lives.
You stand on the street, looks at the fireworks and hear the bells ringing - twelve times for each of the past Once a month - and for each of the next.
Rolf Ramin writes about this moment: "Just look at the good old wall clock, eternally doubting her fearful. Equal to the two hands are on the rack, the big and small. And they are pointing up, straight up. Is there a better, a valid symbol for hope? Listen, this was the first strike ... second .... the third. We want to establish ourselves firmly on the hands and smile. Aware of it for your good friends, that smile. We will be able to use it "
has ultimately been one in 2009. That it on and on goes - whether George W. Bush now assigns, minarets banned in Switzerland, Usain Bolt dubious record establishes, Jacko dies or you must go in person by one or the other valley.
Whatever happens - 2010 will not be there otherwise.
Good luck!
