Not A New Year

Right about this time of year, everybody comes out with a wish list of things they'd like change in the new year. Indeed, change was the catchword of the presidential race. It would be easy- and pedestrian- to do a list like that.

Instead, I have a list of things I don't want changed in the new year:

A- I want the American people to continue to choose intelligence and reason over fear and superstition.

B- I want humanity to continue to dream big. Tourists in orbit? Pictures of extrasolar planets? Cures for genetic diseases before birth? I had an aunt that was born before powered flight, and lived to see footsteps on the moon. I shiver to imagine what my grandchildren will accept as normal.

C- I want scientists to continue working hard, even when they don't get recognition. Do you have any idea how many people worked together just so that you could read this? The world is simultaneously gehtting much bigger, and much smaller, than before.

D- I want humans to shed labels in their effort to help. For every large disaster- from cyclones to earthquakes to tsunamis- an international team has swooped in to try and alleviate the suffering.

E- I want humanists to continue to speak up. Religions are dropping members as people take a closer look at what they say. Nearly a fifth find the whole thing unpalatable.

F- I want to keep living.

G- And my friends.

H- I want sex to continue being a mind-blowingly fun activity.

I- And chocolate. Let's keep dark chocolate as a health food. And Reese's Peanut Butter Cups deserve to be in a food group all their own...

J- Distinct and changing seasons that brings us around to this tradition of appreciating the good parts of our lives...