THE NEW YEAR
By Zenaida A. Amador


2003 is upon us. Usually at about this time we wonder how we can all make the coming year better than the one that passed.


Well, we know what we are facing in the coming year: the threat of terrorism, the decline of our educational and health services, the burgeoning population, the proliferation of shanties and garbage, the worsening of traffic, unemployment, and most of all, the paucity of honest men.


And we ask ourselves, "how can we cheer the coming year, how can we be merry when there is so much suffering not only here but in countries that are at war. And speaking of that, must there be yet another war, when as President Carters says, "war breeds war?"


Well, we can and should list the things we can be thankful for, the blessings we have received during the past. If we think hard enough I'm sure we can come up with a list. And if only for the fact that we are here and we are greeting the New Year should be considered blessing enough.


So after the prayer of thanksgiving for all we have received let us not forget to remind ourselves to keep faith and to still have hope. What is life after all, if it is not a testament to hope. Let's keep hope alive and know that a just and merciful God does watch over us all.