Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year

In the past, my resolutions have all been selfish: to grow in my craft, to shrink in my abdomen--I want to fit into those jeans I bought 10 pounds ago--to find more light, less kvetching.  And so on.  This year, I decided to make more altruistic resolutions:

1.  I resolve that Dick Cheney will go to prison in 2009 for war crimes and his estate be distributed among homeless Iraq/Afghani war veterans.

2.  I vow that Karl Rove and George Bush will walk chained together through the streets of Dallas, wearing nothing but their cowboy hats, carrying placards that read "He/I am a horse's patootie."

3.  I resolve that Barack will fix the economy by May 1, and include universal health care coverage.

4.  I resolve that women will be left in peace by rapists, churches, governments and anyone else who thinks our bodies are public property.

5.  And I will fit into those jeans!

What about you?

6 comments:

Barbara D'Amato said...

I've lately been wondering about the effect of age on altruism and resolutions to improve. Getting older does make you think. I find I'm more willing to object to something wrong than I used to be--like telling a driver that he's parking too far into somebody's driveway. At the same time I'm less patient with life stuff that I would have put up with decades ago. [Hey, you were supposed to buy coffee beans.] And I'm not making a resolution to be more patient, either. I haven't been able to generalize about this shift, but I wouldn't mind knowing what other people find happening. As you go from one stage of life to another, what changes does that cause in your altruism or the targets of your improve-the-world impulse?

Anonymous said...

As I get older I can finally understand my dad's resistance to change. As progressive as I am, I'm not fond of what modern technology often does to common sense, courtesy and downright use of brain cells. Multi-tasking while driving is one example. I know people talk on their cells while driving--handsfree is good--but texting? In traffic? Or reading the paper...I've seen it. Makes me nervous. Don't like the change in manners either...too many people think nothing of interrupting your conversation to get what they want.(Happens a lot in retail...and they're insulted if they must wait a moment). It's the ME generation all over again.
As far as improving the world goes, I tend to give to charities more wisely, and target those that mean the most to me. We've also started giving gifts through Heifer International and other world organizations. Small efforts, but they add up.
Patience? I still have it...except for myself. I haven't quite figured out how to do everything as well and as quickly as I think I should be able to. :o)

Sara Paretsky said...

I've always had a hair-trigger temper but anger is very exhausting, and, as I've gotten older, I find I've discovered other strategies that are better for me than confrontation. I also think that in hard times, we need to be gentler with each other, and if someone starts the day furious at me, I don't want to make my life and hers/his harder by getting furious back. It's not about being Pollyanna, but finding I live more easily with less anger. I'm with Maryann on not having enough patience with my own shortcomings, though--many nights I'm ready to pack it all in, I'm so fed up with how I've lived the day!

Anonymous said...

As we grow older, we find less point in being very patient with things that are wrong and we are less impressed by others - especially powerful men. And we see less and less reason to not say as it is.

I suppose this is the reason why men tend to not appreciate elder women all that much - we don't always try to please them or their ego. We are harder to deal with and harder to con and charm.

On the other hand, when we encounter the genuine stuff - we recognize it.

Sara Paretsky said...

As a friend of mine says a bout resolutions, Give up all hope for a better past, but your future is spotless!!

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