This is the time of the year that newspapers, journals and television talk shows review the previous year and list the notable events that have made the “headlines”. There are some lists that cite the stinkers in reportage, not just the mistakes made by reporters, but stories that should not have garnered any attention or respect. What is also notable is the way the advertising in this most commercial of holidays lists products as the answer to young buyers’ prayers. What you must have is laid out in gorgeous pictures of happy people just holding onto the newest picture phone, i-pod, clothing, racing cars and other unattainables that most people can’t afford to even dream about.
The best story of the year is the most recent election in Iraq. Here is a country divided by tribal, religious and ancient memberships in former civilizations (did you know that Assyrians are still living in Iraq?) in such a way that you wonder how any choice of a popular leadership in a parliament could have been made. Yet the proud possessors’ of inked fingers show that the idea of a free election had taken hold and there was a hold on terrorists (at home and from abroad) interrupting this chance to normalize a nation by allowing a law-making body to be created.
What is not notable is that the random killing goes on. Mr. Bush, President by the gift of the Supreme Court, has admitted that the war is not ended and the killing of innocent civilians by the method of choice (suicide murderers who take those near along with them) continues to mount. Even Mr. Bush is beginning to say non-notable things like perhaps he made a slip or error (strike that) but he is going to stay the course even if we want to get off the merry-go-round of fighting and dying. That is not-notable. It is unclear.
We can buy the book that is most popular by the most notable or newly notable author. We can buy the stylish (who can wear them but skeletal super models?) clothing that can be afforded only by the super rich. We can prepare to celebrate holiday meals featuring plump turkeys while millions of birds are exterminated because they may carry the avian flue virus. We can continue to live here in America as though the world is not falling apart on the other side and in countries that newly threaten our exaggerated importance in the world of finance, industry and intellectual vigor. What is notable is that we live “normal” lives reveling in notable luxuries while our own people are suffering.
What is notable to some is, of course, anathema to others. But this is the way the world works. What is not notable costs all of us peace of mind and we wonder why this should be.