What a year it was. But more importantly, what a year 2003 promises to be.
Last year saw the United States assert its unprecedented power to affect world events. Whether twisting the arms of reluctant allies in order to get the United Nations to get tough with Iraq or prosecuting the war on terrorism across the globe, the United States set the agenda.
Critics of the war on terrorism insist not much has happened. But that's exactly the point. Since Sept. 11, 2001, there has not been another attack by foreign terrorists on U.S. soil. The campaign to root out terrorist cells wherever they are has worked, thus far. That does not mean, of course, the nation is clear of danger. Far from it. But the Bush administration understands the risk and is doing what must be done to eliminate it.
On the domestic scene, 2002 saw an unprecedented Republican sweep of off-year elections. President Bush donned his campaigner-in-chief hat during the election season and his work on behalf of Republican candidates was very successful.
And then within months the Republican Party was struggling to shake off the darker shadows of its recent history as the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Trent Lott of Mississppi, embarrassed himself, his state and his party.
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Closer to home, Minnesota sank deeper and deeper into the budget deficit pit, while the state's people recovered from the shock of the death in an airplane crash of Sen. Paul Wellstone. Gov. Jesse Ventura stepped off the political stage, ending an act that will go down as one of Minnesota's most bizarre.
In North Dakota, the state began an introspective assessment of its past, present and future -- spurred by census data that was, at best, alarming. Population declined, the state got older, more and more youth left and the state economy's dependence on Uncle Sam grew.
As the New Year began, legislators in both states were preparing to take on budget problems that did not exist just a couple of years ago.
This year dawns with the hope and optimism that always characterize the New Year. But this Jan. 1 hope and optimism are tempered by the threat of war, the sustained worry about terrorism, and a wobbly economy that threatens to further undermine state budgets.
Happy New Year? Well, of course. Americans are a resilient people. Our traditional strength is rooted in our ability to turn adversity into opportunity, threats to our security into measured and effective responses.
The nation is going about that complicated business with patient determination. This year will see a continuation of that effort, and that's good reason to celebrate the start of 2003.
Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper's Editorial Board
