For certain:
Rob Ford will continue searching for the gravy.
The uncertainty:
What else will he find? I hope it does not leave Toronto too much of a
dry meat.
A certainty: The National Democratic Party will have a new leader in
2012.
The uncertainty: Who will she or he be? No one seems to measure up
to Jack Layton.
How about the Liberal Party? Bob Rae has proved to be an effective
interim leader. Would he be the next elected one?
Justin Trudeau was in the headlines recently. Would he follow the
footsteps of his father?
Tony Clement of the Progressive Party had a difficulty living down the
ruckus created by the 50 million dollars from the G8 Legacy Fund which
he personally managed to distribute to projects in his riding. He is at
present the head of the Treasury Board. He appears to be sure in his
position in a majority Conservative Government.
How about the Minister of Defence? He seized the headlines recently
for using a national defence helicopter to pick him up from a secluded
area in Newfoundland where he had gone fishing. This was followed
by reports of lavish expenses on accommodations in Europe during
his attendance in conferences. What does 2012 have in store for him?
The Prime Minister had supported his explanations for those events
mentioned.
Premier Dalton McGuinty achieved an awesome victory, though a
minority win in the October 20-11 elections. Just a few months before,
he was a poor second in the polls to Conservative Party’s Tim Hudak.
A minority government usually treads on uncertain grounds. But the
opposition parties have to be careful too. Next year is not a favourable
time for another election. It looks like a safe year for the Liberal Party
minority government.
The Federal Government in all certainty, will rule in 2012. It enjoys
a majority status. But criticisms are mounting on how members of
the opposition parties are kept powerless in making contributions to
major national issues. This situation does not bode well for the party in
power. Of course the Conservative Party has four more years to make
corrections. Internationally, December 2011 closed the war in Iraq;
United States troupes had left this Middle East country. But just a few
days after the fight between the Sunnis and Shi’ites resumed leaving
a great number of dead and injured. What does 2012 have in store for
Iraq? Would the government that has US support prevail?
The year 2012 is a presidential election year for the United States. Will
President Obama gain a second term? The present economic conditions
in the US do not seem to favour him, but situations can change. Which
way would the wind blow?
It looks like Syria and Yemen would have the same fate as Egypt and
Libya. The question is when would the end of revolts in these countries
occur? Would it be in 2012?
Greece and Italy had been saved from testering economic collapse
later this year. Would they be able to comply with the requirements
imposed on them?
The stock markets all over the world have been volatile – one day up,
the next day down. The real estate market in the United States has
improved a bit and unemployment seems to remain at a record high.
Will these economic situations turn around, not only the in the United
States but all over the world. Is 2012 the year to see this event long
expected by the poor in society?
In the entertainment world,. Stratford native Justin Biever is at the top
of the heap. He seems well-liked both by the young and not so young.
He was able to come out clean of that accusation of having fathered a
baby. Will he continue to dominate the stage in 2012? Fans can be very
fickle. Look at the Jonas Brothers. Two years ago they were dominating
the music world, now we seldom hear about them.
Jackie Evancho attracts crowds and has one of the most expensive
CD’s in stores right now. Will she have the staying power in 2012 and
probably in years to come like child actresses Elizabeth Taylor and
Shirley Temple?
And how about Susan Boyle? She came late in the limelights. How
long will she stay?
Let us talk of topics that involve events not very far from where we are.
The three elephants at the Toronto Zoo will surely go to a place more
suited for them. The uncertainty is how they would travel – by land or
by air?
The Shafia case has been in the news lately. The trial was temporarily
stopped during the holidays. The prosecution had finished the
presentation of evidences against the father, mother and son accused
of murdering three young daughters and a first wife. The evidences
appeared overwhelming. In the new year, the defence will continue
showing that the accused are not guilty. What will be the final results
in 2012 of this terrible tragedy, that appears to have its roots in a
conflict of cultures from one’s native land and that of the adopted new
home?
There is that other case baffling the police: the search for Baby George
who disappeared sometime during the early part of November. The
father claims that the baby is already dead but where are the remains?
Will they be found in 2012?
As we reflect on the events of 2011 that saw the violent demise of two
powerful men, Osama Bin Laden and Moamar Gadhafi who brought
terror, torture and deaths in many places in this world, as well as
the natural death of the head of North Korea, who had also brought
worries to the democratic world, let us also think of the mountains and
valleys in our own personal lives. Let us count our blessings and learn
from our sad experiences. Let us think of the vulnerable members of
our community and how we can be of help to them. Let us hope that
Rob Ford would consider the powerless that would be affected by his
government’s decisions.
It is said that there are two things that are very certain in this world:
death and taxes
But there are still uncertainties about those two: We do not know when
we are going to die. Here today and probably gone tomorrow.
Taxes can go up or go down more often up than down.
Happy New Year!!!
emeritus