A Year in Review: 2006

As is the case with the passing of another year, new events, people, and stories permeate into our lives regardless of who we are or where we may reside in this world. 2006 distinguished itself with an array of innumerable measures that surely cannot be compared to any other time in history. The American presidency again dominated the headlines, but for all of the wrong reasons. George W. Bush plunged America even further into his “War on Terror” on the other side of the globe with tragic effects on both the Iraqi and American psyche, not to mention the countless lives that have perished on both sides. Immigration issues once again came to the forefront of America, as over 500,000 people marched in Los Angeles in late March to protest Bush’s crackdown on illegal immigrants to a country that prides itself on being the melting pot of all people, regardless of race or nationality. The American presidency made headlines again with the passing of our 38th President Gerald Ford late this month. Ford’s presidency further demonstrated the resolve of America and the very Constitution that binds this great republic together.

For the first time since 1994, the U.S. Congress will now be controlled by the Democrats. Voters turned out in mass to appraise the actions of the GOP controlled Congress and the voters articulated their disenchantment in resounding numbers and giving us hope for a sincere Congress starting in January 2007. Samuel Alito was sworn in as the newest justice of the Supreme Court in January, the latest conservative added to the highest court in the land by the Bush Administration. Dick Cheney showed us that even vice-presidents are human by accidentally shooting a friend in the face with a shotgun while on a hunting trip in late February. The nation’s economy also prospered, with the DOW Jones Industrial soaring to new heights on a monthly basis and hitting a new high of over 12,500 in December.

The digital music revolution further helped the economy to flourish with the 1 billionth legal song sold on Apple’s ITUNES which occurred in late February. The economy and corporate world also was served justice with the sentencing of Jeffery Skilling to 24 years in prison for his role in the biggest corporate bankruptcy and fraud case to ever strike the world in the Enron debacle. The Southern United States managed to further the healing process from the devastating hurricane season of last year, with a little help from mother-nature herself. The New Orleans Superdome reopened its doors for the first time in over a year in September with an inspiring performance from the Saints.

In April the U.S. lost a valued ally in Ariel Sharon, as he was removed from the office of the prime minister of Israel after succumbing to a stroke in January. A new coalition government would take their seats in May, a monumental change in the government of Israel. Israel also engaged in a conflict with Lebanon, which ended in a ceasefire in August under the guise of the United Nations. A close neighbor of Israel, Iran made headlines throughout the year with the government’s firm resolve to be apart of the exclusive nuclear power club. A country that is nowhere near the stature of Iran, Sudan, more specifically Darfur made headlines throughout the year for all of the wrong reasons. Over 400,000 Sudanese people have been mercilessly slaughtered to date, with no end in sight. A constant source of tension in Somalia was subdued, as the Union of Islamic Courts taking power in the capital city of Mogadishu in early June.

America’s hottest enemy, North Korea furthered its nuclear weapons ambition with a semi-successful detonation of a 100 kiloton nuclear device below ground in October. Prior to that test, the North Koreans test launched a long range missile that could in theory carry a nuclear warhead to America in July. Our long time nemesis, Fidel Castro seeded power to his brother Raul in late July, the first time since 1959 that Castro has given up control of Cuba. It appears as if the 80 year old Castro will not make it through 2007, as many in the intelligence business have agreed that he faces a hopeless battle with terminal cancer. In December Fiji, a small island nation was overrun by a coup d’état, with the military taking control of the small country.

The space shuttles Discovery and Atlantis made successful visits to the International Space Station, the first launches since the tragic Columbia disaster in 2003. America’s space program still proved that it is indeed a leader and innovator in the exploration of the heavens and beyond. Microsoft, the world’s leader in software technology released a new Internet Explorer, Windows system, and Office system to further back up their stature. Currently, more than 90% of computers world wide run some sort of Microsoft product. The United States’ population reached the 300 million plateau for the first time in history in October and still maintains the world’s third most populous nation status. A dictator was finally brought to justice in November with the conviction and subsequent execution of Saddam Hussein. An international crime mystery of James Bond like stature occurred in late November with the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB officer. Litvinenko, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin of Russia was silenced via polonium 210, a highly radio active substance, which raises questions of the Russian’s involvement in the plot.

As you can see, 2006 was indeed a monumental year in the history of humanity. Countless events in various strata’s of the world undoubtedly had some bearing in our lives, whether we simply glanced at those very events on the news or felt them first hand. Needless to say, one can only expect more untamed and outrageous events in 2007.