It’s a New Year and with it comes new hopes, opportunities and challenges. It is no secret that several people in our community could hardly wait for 2007 to become history, because for them, it was a difficult year. But as we embark on the journey into 2008 we should look at some of the lessons that 2007 has taught us.

As the year drew to an end, shortly after the messages of joy and peace expressed over Christmas, the world was shocked and saddened by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan. Ever since Mrs. Bhutto returned to Pakistan to contest the upcoming general elections, seeking her third term after eight years of exile, her life was in danger. In fact, quite a few people believe that she should not have returned to Pakistan, and definitely not to active politics, as her assassination was a strong possibility. But Mrs. Bhutto, although fully cognizant of the dangers she faced, was undeterred. She was totally and passionately committed to restoring democracy to her country. Fear did not dissuade this commitment.

Bhutto’s unfortunate death leaves a clear message that irrespective of the dangerous odds, those who are committed to their respective causes and goals should relentlessly pursue them. To the uncommitted, such dedication may seem reckless, but risks are a very real part of life, and if we allow risks to prevent us from meeting our goals, we will hardly overcome any challenge.

Another lesson that 2007 taught us was self-confidence, as exemplified by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Although relatively inexperienced, and a Black man, Obama entered the race with determined to be a serious candidate, focused on being the first Black president of the United States. His intent was never to be simply the token Black candidate. So far, nothing has deterred him, not even the criticism from his own race, many of whom believe that America would never select a Black president. Today, he seriously poised to be nominated as the Democratic candidate, especially with his winning the Iowa Caucus, against main rival Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. Last year, as we watched him campaign, we saw his confidence surge. Obama has ignored the negative arguments against his campaign, and it is now possible that he could really be the Democratic representative in the general elections in November.

The holidays are here, whether Christmas, Kwanzaa, or in the case of those with no religious affiliation, there’s always New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Whatever your conviction, this time of the year is always one of reflection.

For most people, the reason for the season is the celebration of the birth of Christ and regardless of whatever argument there is to counteract the Christian belief that Christ was born in December in a lowly manger, Christians still hang on to this tradition.

It saddens some people that in the American society, the greeting of “Happy Holidays” is slowly but surely replacing the accustomed greeting of “Merry Christmas”. But, this is simply a characteristic of the diverse society to which Caribbean and other migrants have transplanted themselves; it is not only multi-racial but also a multi-cultural and multi-religious. With Christmas being a Christian holiday, we have to be prudent to not wish Christmas on our Muslims, Jewish, Adventists, or Jehovah’s Witnesses neighbors. On the other hand, those who are committed to their Christian beliefs must not be dissuaded from celebrating the birth of Christ. A true, committed believer of whatsoever religion remains committed no matter what.

The holidays, other than being a reason to celebrate different religious traditions, commemorate the ending of one year and the anticipation of another. For varied reasons, the combination of these religious holidays and the ending of an old year is a cause for melancholy. For years, psychiatrists have been trying to determine if it’s the nostalgic mood caused by the religious implications of the holiday, the loneliness caused by the absence of loved ones when families usually gather, or the dying of a year in which set goals were not met, that causes the sadness that is often associated with the December holidays. Whatever the cause, one of the strongest symbolisms of the old year/new year is the chance to override the blues, start over, plan anew, and strive to accomplish new goals.

For our community, Christmas is customarily one of the happiest and most joyful times of the year. Both adults and children enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas, with the perennial message of peace, love and goodwill towards men. However, this Christmas the joy and the sounds of Christmas are being blighted by a cruel Scrooge: the sound of guns and continuous reports of people being gunned down. It is very difficult to pretend to be joyful and peaceful when all around us, here in America and in the Caribbean, people are being shot and killed in unprecedented numbers daily.

In Jamaica, a country many South Floridians call home, over 500 people have been murdered since September, with 47 being killed in a period of just 7 days – almost 7 people per day. Here in America, a young man killed eight people in a crowded shopping mall recently, while centralized piped music played Christmas songs of peace, and holy nights. A few days later another troubled young man killed several people at two churches. The situation continues unabated, with an increasing number of people becoming fed up with the situation. One commentator on a local radio talk show said that the crime situation in the Caribbean is the worst he had heard of in his entire life.

But how long must our people be killed by the gun, while all we do is stand aside and look? How much longer? As a community we are responsible for each other’s security. Yes we are! It is not just the responsibility of politicians whom we elect, or the security forces that our taxes pay, who are responsible for controlling crime and violence. It makes no sense to merely vote politicians in to take care of the things that are crucial to our lives then detach ourselves from reality.

People have this tendency, despite what is going on around them, to choose denial as a way of coping with the problems. Despite the social anarchy most people, after listening and reading about the carnage, push these atrocities aside and move on with whatever makes them happy. Others seem to lack both the honesty and the courage to criticize those responsible for their security, or to offer their assistance. But the situation is getting too bad to remain in denial.

Recently one of Jamaica's great athletic achievers, Olympian Herb McKinley, was laid to rest, as thousands paid tribute to this great track and field sprint legend. McKinley served notice to the world in 1948 at the Olympics in London by winning three individual silver medals. The feat was again repeated in Helsinki in 1952, where he also ran one of the great relay legs of all time as Jamaica took the 400 meters relay gold in world record time.

McKinley went on to be Jamaica's most influential track and field coach and administrator, playing a lead role in the development of every generation of athletes since the 1950s. After retiring from sports, McKinley was a coach of the Jamaican National Team from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954> 1954 to <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973> 1973 and served also as a president of Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association.

From his inspirational feats on the track to his dedicated acts of unselfishness and service to young athletes, Herb McKinley played a very important role in Jamaica's ascension to becoming such a powerhouse in the track and field world. He did everything in his power to ensure that the baton was passed on and ensured that his achievements would only act as a catalyst to the development and growth of track and field in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

How many of us are taking the time to prepare the next generation to carry on the work that we have begun? Too few of us are. It is important to pass the baton to the next generation, giving them a running start, especially in the field of politics, finance and education. While the field of sport has coaches nurturing new talent as well as guiding the accomplished athlete to success, youngsters in other fields seldom have coaches guiding them through the minefields.

Soon the First Lady of Caribbean politics in South Florida, Commissioner Hazelle Rogers will vacate her seat in Lauderdale Lakes and make a run for office in Tallahassee. Who is being groomed to take her seat in Lauderdale Lakes? Who will she pass the baton to? Commissioner Dale Holness of Lauderhill is seriously considering a run for a Broward County Commission Seat. Who is he passing his Lauderhill baton to?

As the campaign for the nomination of the candidates to contest the 2008 presidential elections advances, with Senator Barack Obama showing increasing signs of being a serious contender, the refrain is growing louder among Blacks that, although they greatly admire the senator, they think America is not ready for a black president. This opinion is not relegated to only black people who were born in the America, but also with those born in the Caribbean. Two separate polls, one focusing on American blacks and the other on Caribbean people, disclosed that registered Black Democrats would prefer to vote for other candidates, white candidates, to be the Democratic nominee, because they either feared for the life of Obama, should he be nominated or they think their vote would be wasted, as America would not elect a black president.

This is disconcerting, because the opinion, a very negative one, implies that we as Black people are not convinced that one of our own would ever be acceptable by mainstream America to such a high office as president of the United States of America. What is ironic is that surveys, carried out among Whites and Hispanic in various parts of the country, do show strong support for Obama.

Is it that the years of slavery and oppression that Blacks suffered has created an inherent inferiority complex? In America, in particular, Blacks were relegated for a long time to secondary positions and roles. They had to sit at the back of the bus, appear in movies as servants and butlers, could only mainly get support-type jobs, were blocked from living in the suburbs, and, generally, kept to themselves. Those, including many Caribbean nationals who came to America to seek a better standard of living, not willing to accept anything less than the best were criticized, and to some extent still are, as being “uppity Blacks.” It hardly matters to the majority of Blacks that many of the essential amenities like the elevator and the three-way traffic light, were invented by Blacks, and while most were willing to accept mediocrity, other Blacks had risen to the top at major companies like American Express, Meryll Lynch and, twice in American history, to one of the highest position in the U.S. Government, secretary of state.