In Celebration of a New Year's Opportunity

Hours Before Midnight of the New Year:

If one accepts the western definition of time as that of a sequence of linear events containing a beginning and an end then in the next few hours many people will be celebrating new years day that was recently celebrated in my time zone and although far too many people will get drunk most will make resolutions most of which will not be kept.

I won’t be getting drunk but I will reflect on that one defining moment in 2006 when my darkest suspicions were confirmed that our constitutional liberties were indeed being eroded incrementally with little or no objection as I experienced the chilling realization that big brother does exist, he is watching, and this representative republic has taken one jackbooted step toward a police state i.e. a state which uses the police to maintain and enforce political power through violence or arbitrary means if necessary. In such a state “there is no meaningful distinction between the law and the exercise of political power by the executive.” This is the state in which I now exist.

A fellow traveler once reminded me that once upon a similar time which tried men’s souls someone responded to this similar realization by suggesting to let big brother watch, maybe he’ll learn something and although I have no rational basis to accept that conclusion nor even hope it is possible, the Remembrances of the Buddha make me responsible to provide that opportunity to learn because who I am now is a result of all my past actions and what I do now will influence who I will be in this lifetime and beyond.

Hours After the New Year:

After reflecting on the last paragraph I wrote on january 1, 2006 (“and it seems another year passes with questions demanding a new year’s resolution to have the serenity to accept that which i can not change, the courage to change that which i can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”) I realized last year’s resolution had manifested itself into an opportunity to accept that which I cannot change and have the courage to change that which I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

At 60, wisdom accepts that tomorrow is guaranteed to no one and is compelled to ask:. "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?"

The Day after the New Year:

To that end I offer what was said to have been spoken by the Buddha in the Five Remembrances in the hopes that big brother will learn about the big picture the one in which at the end of the day we cannot escape the consequences of our actions neither as individuals nor nations:

I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature too have ill health. There is no way to escape having ill health.

I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.