By Frosty Wooldridge
December 30, 2024
Without a doubt, 2024 brought America some big HIGHS and some horribly sad LOWS. Good things happened most of the time and some really BAD things happened that shake-up your faith in humanity. Let’s examine a few of them.
Let’s give tribute to Jimmy Carter, our 39th president, for his 100 years of service to America. From a poor peanut farmer without running water or a toilet, or electricity in South Georgia, he rose through the ranks of the United States Navy, and later, to governor of Georgia, to become president of the United States. While some berated his presidency, history will show that he was one of our most honorable, honest and compassionate presidents. He honored the Bible, taught Sunday school classes, built homes for “Habitat for Humanity”, and led the world by example toward peace and harmony.
Next, let’s honor the most Gold Medals in swimming by Katie Ledecky in the summer games in Paris, France. And, at the top of the crown jewels of gymnastics, Simone Biles captured our hearts with her incredible feats of brilliant athletic maneuvers. Who can forget Patrick Mahomes bringing home the crown jewel of the Super Bowl for a third time? At the same time, the University of Michigan won the national title. America enjoys SO many exceptional athletes. We bow our hats to all of them.
Yet, for each little leaguer who took home a trophy in every state of the Union, his or her triumphs made a lot of moms and dads proud. Sports binds us together like no other medium. Whether it’s tennis, racquetball, triathlons, Iron Man, NHL, MLB, NFL, Kentucky Derby, and so many other sports—America stands rich in athletics for all of us to enjoy.
In 2024, thank you to every teacher and college instructor who gave your “all” to educate our children toward accomplishing their highest and best in America. Thank you to every police officer and firefighter, and/or first responder for saving lives and giving hope when others turned away. Thank you to every registered nurse or aide that helped someone in need. Thank you to our doctors and staffs for giving others a chance to live. Let’s honor St. Jude’s, and Tunnel to Towers, and the Humane Society for their work to save humans and animals.
Obviously, the saddest aspects of 2024 continue as wars provoked by Russia against Ukraine. Hard to figure out why one man would want to kill hundreds of thousands of young men. And, why one religion wants to eradicate another religion off the face of the planet. We humans remain the strangest and oddest, and most violent species on this planet.
Then you have an illegal alien come to this country to light another person on fire in a New York subway until she burned to death. That one broke this journalist’s heart.
For those tens of thousands of homeless in America, why can’t we find solutions? What are we waiting for in this richest nation on Earth?
Thank you to Daniel Penny, former U.S. Marine, in a NYC subway for standing up to protect others from harm. Thank you for every Marine, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard service man/woman for defending our country. This country stands as the beacon for freedom and the light around the world.
Thank you to each “trash picker-upper” who takes a bag out on the highway every spring to pick up the trash from cars, trucks and others who toss millions of pieces of trash every year. I call them “litter-bums.” I’m with you as you walk out there along our nation’s highways, lakes, rivers, and streams to keep them clean.
Thank you to each mother and father who treats your children with honor, respect, kindness, and maintains their “curiosity” at school and in life. You’re the real heroes that make this nation thrive.
While there is very little “good” to say about our outgoing president, let’s hope a new form of leadership in 2025 brings us a more peaceful, prosperous and ecologically balanced world.
Let’s hope that common sense and rational minds deliver us from “WOKE” thinking and “WOKE” stupidity such as men competing in women’s sports. Let’s toss off the stupidities of D.E.I. and turn toward personal merit, education and effort. Let’s cast off the lines of the insanities of Critical Race Theory, and become a nation where everyone enjoys an equal chance, equal respect and equal life opportunities.
While we respect everyone’s right to LGBQT+, let’s keep it out of our elementary classrooms. Let those children grow up healthy and balanced in their developing years. They’ll learn about other ways soon enough.
For heaven sakes, let’s stop “transgender” operations of children. We need to pass laws that no one can mutilate a child until that child is aged 21 to choose with a more rational mind, if they want to disfigure their bodies. It’s like tattoos; once you disfigure your body with ink, you cannot change the damage. Once you disfigure your body by cutting it up, you cannot get back what you once enjoyed as body parts.
Let’s hopefully move our politics to “term limits.” We’ve been led by a man who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease for the past four years. He caused the press to lie for him. He caused his wife to lie for him. His closest associates lied for him. His press secretary lied for him. His four years in office have made him the second worst president in United States history, according to historian Bill O’Reilly in his latest book. Little wonder when you realize that this president did not have command of his mental faculties. We’re lucky to have survived as a nation under such lies and deceit.
Nonetheless, history marches forward. This New Year promises new possibilities. Dana Perino at FOX NEWS said, “Scientists are going to find a cure for Alzheimer’s in 2025.” I immediately burst out crying because every day of my life is affected by that cruel disease.
Maybe humanity will find a way toward peace in 2025. Let the Russians let the Ukrainians live their lives in peace. Let Hamas allow Israel to live in peace. Let citizens of Iran change their leadership to that of peace and harmony toward their neighbors.
Let’s move toward feeding the world’s starving masses. Let us help one another toward a better world where everyone thrives in freedom, peace, opportunity and happiness. While that may be a tall order, remember what Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” God bless America!
© 2024 Frosty Wooldrisge – All Rights Reserved
E-Mail Frosty: frostyw@juno.com
