In 2013, let’s ask ourselves what we’re doing or not doing to contribute to the good, and what we’re doing or not doing to contribute to the bad.
Governor Chris Christie and President Barack Obama talk to residents sheltering at the Brigantine Community Center in Brigantine, N.J. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. (Governor's Office/Tim Larsen)
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Though the world hasn’t ended yet as some had predicted, 2012 has been so eventful, I hardly know where to begin.
Personally, our youngest daughter graduated from Temple University last May and two new grandchildren were born last summer.
Then, we lost two cars — recently purchased ones at that — due to flooding from Hurricane Sandy.
In 2012, Atlantic City has witnessed some benefits of a designated tourism district — more ambassadors hired, more beautification efforts underway, more family-friendly entertainment in the works — as well as the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.
Nationally, we endured the longest presidential election campaign I can recall, culminating in the re-election of President Obama, and recently, the mass murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
These are only a few of 2012’s major happenings, of course, but as I began to reflect on the year, I realized that, truth be told, good things and bad things are always happening in the world.
Media coverage and personal choices determine how much of each we are exposed to on a regular basis.
In centuries past, it would have taken months or even years for us to know about horrors taking place in other parts of the country and the world, and what beneficial events were taking place as well.
This is simply a fact of life and advanced technology is a fact of life in the 21st century.
I know it’s not as simple as this, and I hope I don’t sound naïve for a middle- aged woman, but wouldn’t loving one another go a long way towards increasing the good and decreasing the evil in the world?
Love — we take it for granted, take it so lightly, don’t know how to define it, trivialize it, doubt its effectiveness, think of it as religiosity, romantic silliness.
I wondered, as I reflected on 2012, if we proactively made it a point to search for ourselves in every other human face and tried to truly love that face, no matter what color or gender, if we might act differently towards our fellow man, woman and child?
I wondered if we would fight fairer if we couldn’t stop fighting (the better option) all together.
I wondered if our policies and programs would be different, if maybe we’d remember ourselves as children and think of how we’d like to be treated as elders, if we live long enough to grow old.
I wondered why anyone in the wealthiest country in the world should be hungry or homeless?
Generally, shoppers said they were satisfied, but in a way that reminded me of Santorum’s endorsement of Romney: Could be better yet definitely better than no supermarket at all.
If the mayor does run again, she will play a major role in campaigning, because she enjoys urging people to get-out-the-vote, making them feel a part of something special and taking ownership.
Some of the major changes during 2011 included the restart of construction on the Revel project, with a 2012 opening date slated. (Some predict it may open ...
In a few words, those with the power and ability need to work extremely hard and very quickly on these 11 items for the good of the entire region.
A sneak peek at what's happening in the Atlantic City region this New Year's Eve.
If nothing else, 2012 was a year of partnerships and coming together in the Atlantic City region.
“What we’re seeing right now [in A.C.] is Revel and Borgata going head-to-head with these big-name house DJs. They have become celebrities who get anywhere from $20,000 upwards of $200,000 per night for a couple of hours, and most of the time they’ll sell out these arenas or nightclubs. ... They’re the new celebrities.”
The Mulgrew Miller Trio is one of this year’s headlining acts at the 15th annual Somers Point Jazz Society Jazz @ the Point Festival, which runs Thursday through Sunday, March 8-11. Miller’s trio performs two sets (8 and 10pm) Friday, March 9, in the banquet room of Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro (see sidebar for details).
A look back at what happened in the Atlantic City area in 2011.
A look back at 2011 in the Atlantic City area in photographs.
The Atlantic City area had a year that had people looking so far forward, it was almost easy to forget what was actually happening right now. Mired in recession and reeling from new competition, Atlantic City and southern New Jersey seemed to just want to hunker down and wait for better times....
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1. Hassan #2 said... on Dec 21, 2012 at 10:28PM
“LOVE me sound cliche, but it sounds a lot better than having armed guards at all schools.”