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REFLECTIONS OF 2001 - Page 3

© Robert Shane John Sutliff

Politicians and their constituents got a crash course in biology beginning in October, 2001, when cutting-edge technology pressed the debate on the definition of life. Stem cells, which have the potential to grow into a variety of specialized cells, hold great promise for treating medical conditions including diabetes and Parkinson's disease. But the stem cells that show the greatest promise come from human embryos, and the notion of producing embryos for research drew the ire of abortion opponents. In November, an American company announced it had cloned a human embryo for just that purpose.

An already shell-shocked New York City was dealt a further blow on November 12th, when an airliner crashed into a residential neighborhood in Queens, minutes after taking off from John F. Kennedy airport. American Airlines Flight 587 was en route to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with 251 passengers and nine crew members. The crash killed everyone on board and five people on the ground. Officials said that early leads pointed not to terrorism, but to a possible mechanical failure or "wake turbulence" from a plane that took off just before flight 587.

On November 16th, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone opened in theaters across the United States, setting box office records in cinematic history. Many church leaders and religious factions called for the ban of the movie and the burning of the "Harry Potter" series of books in many town squares and library yards quoting "We are promoting witchcraft in raising our children". Most of the children's responses to this accusation: "It's just make believe. Geez!"

On December 11th, it was announced that the U.S. short-term interest rates had reached their lowest levels in 40 years. Even before September 11th, soft markets and rising unemployment had led the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in hopes of reviving consumer spending. The attacks shut down major financial markets. When trading resumed it was chilled by the climate of uncertainty. October saw the largest job losses in 21 years, with 415,000 positions cut. In December, the Fed cut interest rates for a record 11th time within the year.

We all wait with mixed feelings for the unfolding of the coming year and can't help but wonder what the new year will bring. Babies will continue to be born, some of us will pass into the next life. Children will start school for the first time, young adults will graduate from education into the working world. Another generation will take its place as the leaders of our world as an older generation retreats into the quiet background of existence. Another winter will pass and give rise to a new spring. The days will again cool as the leaves on the trees transform into the brilliant colors of fall. Joy will be felt, as will times of sorrow. The great clock of life will keep ticking away, and with each passing second, another chapter in history will be forever etched in the stone building blocks of human progression and digression.

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