Publisher’s Note: A Look at the Year Ahead

New Year’s resolutions cause one to explore the coming year with hope and dreams.  We plan for a safe and prosperous year for our friends,  family members, and ourselves.   Not all those dreams and hopes will materialize, but we remain optimistic. 

This past year – 2019 was up and down and many times, seemed more down that up.  The atmosphere, with so much negativity perpetuated by the president and his administration has created a cloud of mistrust and hate in our country and the path to reconciliation among the very diverse people in this great democracy has been shaken to its core. The continued gun violence and deaths seem to have no end.  Hate crimes are alertly increasing in our country, and our government is being rocked with mischief and deceit from all people, the leader of the free world.

So how does 2020 look? My guess, much like 2019.  However, I am working to remain optimistic. Get out of my way pessimism.  The citizens of this country and the City of Roanoke now can seize control of this unstable time by using the currency that will pay for the move back to the promise of hope and the desire to create creating a better future if we exercise our voice in this democracy – our vote. 

The right to vote is our basic currency to be engaged in the political process in our city, state and country.  My hope is that in 2020 we will create a new direction to where hopes and dreams move forward in a positive and stable manner.  I have many resolutions on that front.  I am praying that things will get better.