That's A Wrap (2005 in Review)

It's time to sum up this year in only the best way that I can.  I have to say that there's many things about this past year that I can discuss in detail but that'll take way too long to go through every particular event that happened in 2005.  What I've decided to do is rather simple yet very interesting.  I've put together what I think are, in my opinion, the top five headlines of the year from what I've witnessed through the news and gone through in some cases.  This has been an interesting year indeed.1

My top five headlines of the year are in no particular order:2

5- The Michael Jackson Trial - Someone tell me how does someone who loves kids so much willing to sleep with them in his own bed?  Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation and other charges. through his trial in May was somewhat of a celebrity showcase.  In the end he did walk free from all charges and made the family that accused him look like total idiots, liars and conartists.  Although some of the jurors that let him walk free have since said that he was guilty.  I think that he did it and should be in jail honestly but that's my opinion.3

4- Death of Pope John Paul II - In my opinion the only person that was on this earth who truly made a difference in the world.  This man was in inspiration to all religions and made an impact on everyone lives.  Some of the things that he said through his speeches and the enormous amount of supporters he had during the second longest reign of any pope in recent history.  He is on the fast pace to sainthood and I want him to have it.  Someone with that much influence in the world should be remembered for all eternity.  I just hope that Pope Benedict XVI has as much influence in the world as John Paul II had been.4

3- War in Iraq - This has been the focal point of almost all of the political turmoil that has surfaced on Capital Hill and especially the White House.  The reasoning that we even got in the war, the leak of a CIA operative that got Scooter Libby indicted and now the Patriot Act is going to expire unless the senate decides to clean up and completely renew it are just some of the problems.  Despite all the progress that had been made thanks to our troops who we support more than anything, President Bush had mishandled this whole thing and I'm just saying that because I hate the guy.  It's been a real pleasure this year watching his administration fall on their faces on every single problem that has surfaced.  I'm just saying that because I voted for the other guy in the last election.  This thing has blown out of whack especially with this so called spy probe that lawmakers say is infringing on our rights.  I say this: If you got nothing to hide then you have nothing to worry about.  They have a right to do what it takes to protect this country.  I don't like how we got in this mess to start with I just want to know when we'll start letting the Iraqis control their own security and when our troops come home but ONLY when the job is done and total victory has been achieved.5

2- Child Predator Crackdown - This has been a long time coming for everyone with children and especially those who has been hurt by these kind of people.  After what has happened this year with the kids that have been sexually assulted and killed, these people should be locked deep in hell for all the hurt that they've cause as a result of their whacked out minds.  I'm glad this has come to the attention of everyone that we need tougher laws to keep these people off the streets for longer periods of time than and that they need to be equal sentences for both men and women offenders whether they plead guilty or not.  What hurts me the most is that even though some of these people have served time and gotten out have to register as child predators which needs to be that these people do so for life have been unable to live normal lives because of the label that they have and their past record.  I have to say this: People do deserve a second chance unless someone has been killed or any child that has been harmed in any way whatsoever.  I'm saying that anyone who has the nerve to harm a child much less sexually assult or kill them should be put to death immediately and not leave them on death row for 20-30 years.  It's about time that victims and families of victims see true and immediate justice for the crimes these dangerous criminals commit.  Parents need to be on the lookout for these type of people and warn their kids to stay away from these predators or those kids may be the next victim.  If we can watch out for the ones that are dangerous, we can make this world a much safer place.6

1- Hurricane Katrina - This by far in my opinion is the story of the year because I'm north of the area that took the hit.  Seeing all the destruction and despair that resulted by a lack of resources and necessities really upset me big time.  FEMA got exposed for its lack of communication and lack of any kind of response that it should've had to this disaster.  There was nothing more painful that watching all hell break out in New Orleans because there was no food or water and there was looting all over the place.  It took four days to get any food or water down there and that was pathetic.  People had to be relocated all over the country and unable to return because they lost everything.  Lack of law enforcement was due to the many rescues that had to be made because people were trapped in their homes and that place turned into a health crisis.  The threat of disease was rampant due to so many people being so close together.  My personal people of the year award goes to the men and women that tried thier best to help improve the situation in New Orleans.  I've never seen a more depressing site that what I saw.  This is a true fact: August 29th will go down in total infamy around these parts as the day that New Orleans was flooded.  The situation in my home state was no better as half of the state including my hometown was without power for an extended amount of time and it was the most miserable time of our lives.  Seeing that the gulf coast cities like Gulfport and Bay St. Louis were left in ruins was a very sad thing to see.  Watching gas prices soar over three dollars a gallon wasn't much help during this mess either much less hearing about price gouging.  Getting a scare from Hurricane Rita didn't ease things either.  Things have smoothed out since although this also turned into a political firestorm over all the insurance agencies that had refused to pay and all the damages to the economy of these areas.  They're still trying to recover from the worst natural disaster in U.S. history to this point.7

This has truly been a year of challenges and I'm sure that there are many more to come as we all push forward into the future.  After what we've been through this year I'll be more than glad to start over with a new year and a whole new perspective on the world.  It's been a nightmare down on the coast but things are gettting better and everything is beginning to get back to some since of normality altough I really don't know if that area will ever fully recover.  Let's hope that 2006 goes a hell of a lot better than this past year went.  As I like to say most of the time: That's a wrap and I'll see you on the flip side.8