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2014 OVERVIEW; and Admonitions for 2015

The year 2014 was an interesting year. Some of the highlights include:

— Pot legalization
— New Federal Reserve Chair
— Chris Christie’s Bridgegate
— Botched executions of death row inmates
— Select sanctions on Iran lifted
— Russia invaded Crimea (Ukraine)
— Malaysian Flight 370 was lost
— President Obama met Pope Francis for the first time
— The Supreme Court overturned parts of McCain-Feingold regarding campaign contribution limits
— Afghanistan voted in a new president
— Boko Haram kidnapped and sold over 200 children
— Nearly 10,000 American troops will stay in Afghanistan
— The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to reach new lows for our veterans
— Deserter Beau Bergdahl was released in exchanged for five, high value terrorist operatives
— The world marked the 70th anniversary of the WWII invasion on D-Day (June 6)
— The world was introduced to the increasing threat of the Islamic State
— The Israelis and Palestinians ramped up their warfare
— Ebola
— Texas Governor Rick Perry indicted on coercion and abuse of power charges
— Michael Brown died as a direct result of attacking police office Darren Wilson
— Islamists beheaded journalists James Foley and Steve Sotloff in separate incidents
— A man broke into the White House and was stopped well beyond where anyone expected him to get
— Protests against tyrannical government in Hong Kong
— The Republican party made history with its midterm election victories across America
— North Korea released two Americans. No one knows what it received in return
— President Obama broke yet another law by essentially granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens
— Ferguson
— The Senate, lead by Democrats, released a report providing details of American advanced interrogation techniques
— Eric Garner and “I Can’t Breathe”
— Sony hacked
— Jeb’s “me too” goes into 2016 mode
— President Obama broke yet another law by normalizing relations with Cuba
— My wonderful mother, Nancy Ann Cummings, died December 21

A history goes, we’ve had a rough year. But as we look to 2015, it doesn’t take a genius to predict that we could be in for more trouble. America is no longer the big and powerful policeman of the world, and to Leftists and Libertarians I need you to know this is not a good thing.

While we can’t with certainty call the future, we know millions more people will suffer at the hands of Islam whether from the Islamic State or other Islamic countries like Iran and Syria. Russia and China will continue to pursue their interests without any regard for treaties or, simply, what is right. As a result, the United States will be threatened in all the ways we can be threatened. Our economy seems to be improving, but how long do you think that will last if we get attacked?

As the 2016 presidential election heats up, we will have another chance to tell Democrats and anyone else who stands in the way of liberty that America doesn’t want what you’re selling or, more accurately, shoving down our throats. Let us choose wisely, and stand fast to that choice. It’s a bit early, but the choices on our side aren’t great.

If you read one of my previous columns you know about the Stockdale Paradox and that  there is a big difference between blind optimism and acknowledging facts while working to improve any situation. While the next year may appear gloomy — I know the previous paragraph isn’t helping — we need to remain positive and make our own lives an example of what it means to be an American.

Related to my last bullet point above, I want you to know how grateful I am for my mother, Nancy Ann Cummings. Despite a laundry list of physical ailments stretching almost throughout her adult life, none claimed her until she was almost 83 — quite a long time. Most importantly, none of what she endured claimed her attitude and spirit. Far and away, she was the most positive person I know, taking from each and every life event some lesson to be learned. She could gaze into the darkest cloud and, somehow — frustratingly so — extract that silver lining and make you wear it around your neck. From heaven above, I know she will take a stick to me if I let myself or anyone around me get down.

So let’s celebrate the good of 2014, and make our lives and the lives of others better in 2015.

Be safe. Work hard. Choose to be happy.

Image: http://www.softandapps.info/2014/11/26/cinco-calendarios-2015-para-personalizar-e-imprimir/

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Michael Cummings

Michael A. Cummings has a Bachelors in Business Management from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, and a Masters in Rhetoric & Composition from Northern Arizona University. He has worked as a department store Loss Prevention Officer, bank auditor, textbook store manager, Chinese food delivery man, and technology salesman. Cummings wrote position pieces for the 2010 Trevor Drown for US Senate (AR) and 2012 Joe Coors for Congress (CO) campaigns.

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