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New Year's Resolutions

I've alwaysys been very big on New Year's resolutions. The whole idea of
starting a new year with all it's possibilities is fascinating. So many things could happen - and in a true optimist's view, they're all good.

This year seems a little different. I think it's partially because of
the near constant barrage of negativity from every corner. The war gets worse and deaths are closer to home. Students seem to know
less but are responsible for more. The country is being run by people who are remote and seemly uncaring for the issues they must resolve
and supported by people who believe that government has no place in their wallets but must sit in the middle of the bedroom.

Driving home, I had about 6 hours of free time in my car. Thanks to various donations and radio transmitters, a person can listen to the exact same NPR programming while driving over several hundred miles. One of the bonuses of living in the
west, I guess. There were several news stories about Iraq and the war. Rumsfield promising to sign each letter of condolence personally;
soldiers coming home; spending Christmas away from families; families that will never be whole again. I started thinking about my students.
See, schools like mine are a rich mine for the military. Students look around them and see no jobs, no money and few opportunities
- then along comes this slick recruiter with promises of fantastic training, scholarships and a way out of life of struggling to keep
above the water line. No one ever mentions the cost.

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