Top Stories of 2009

To mark the close of a history-making year and the year of the arrival of Julia Catherine McNeal, I'm blogging about the most notable news stories of 2009.

A Historic Inauguration

On January 20, Barack Obama became the 44th U.S. President—and the country’s first African-American chief executive. Obama’s swearing-in ceremony drew a record crowd of 1.8 million people. That made it the biggest event ever held in Washington, D.C. The crowd stood for hours in freezing cold temperatures to witness the event. “We gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,” the new President told the nation.

My father, Julia's grandfather, still quotes important dates in history such as Pres. Kennedy's assassination or when the US first landed on the moon. Maybe it's my generation or the fact that they just don't teach history in school anymore but I can't really quote dates. I hope Julia can. I think it's so important to know history. I can quote 9-11 but I'm pretty sure anyone that was alive that day can. 2009 was the year America voted in their first African American president. When Julia reads this blog 15 years - 20 years from now, she will probably wonder what the big deal was. I have a feeling she will have a completely different view of minorities, African Americans, Hispanics, etc., as I have a grown up with. That will be a good thing.

A New Justice

In May, President Obama chose Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, the most powerful court in the land. Sotomayor replaced retiring Justice David Souter and became the first Hispanic, and the third woman, to sit on the high court. There are only nine Supreme Court justices. All of them serve for as long as they’d like. Together, their decisions carry the weight of law. So Obama’s choice of Sotomayor could affect U.S. laws for decades to come. The U.S. Senate confirmed Obama’s choice, and she was sworn into office on August 8.


Moon Walk’s 40th Anniversary

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon. “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind,” he said. About 600 million people worldwide watched on television. Putting men on the moon was a huge accomplishment for the United States. The success of Apollo 11—and later Apollo flights—increased our knowledge of the moon, the sun, and Earth. NASA, the U.S. government space agency, observed the 40th anniversary of this event by discussing plans for future exploration. They include setting up a base on the moon and making a journey to Mars.


Tough Times at Home

For all of 2009, the U.S. economy has been in a recession, or sharp downturn. Millions of Americans lost their jobs. More than 1 million families lost their homes because they were unable to make their monthly payments on loans. President Obama moved to reverse this downturn. In February, he signed into law what he called “the most sweeping economic recovery package in our [nation’s] history.” The law pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy over several months. It was intended to help create jobs, help companies stay in business, and lower taxes for the middle class—but many people thought the money spent was too much. Unemployment was beginning to ease just a bit by the end of the year.

I think this "recovery package" was a crock and with the beginning of 2010 more money is being requested. Yes you must spend money to make money but there has yet to be true signs of recovery. I along with many republicans AND democrats feel that this will be one of the key factors in Obama not being re-elected in 2012.

At the same time, Obama and Congress went to work on improving the country’s ailing health-care system. The President and many members of Congress are trying to create new laws that will reduce health-care costs and allow more people to get health insurance. No law has yet been passed.

In Julia's time I'm sure there will be some type of health care reform. She will have no idea of what happened to get it to where she is. It could be worse or it could be better than now. Yes this blip says that health-care costs will be reduced and allow people to have more health insurance but 99% of all media comes from a left sided perspective. It doesn't mention the lines, waiting and loosing of benefits that will result from this reform. Oh and our president and congress won't be included in this reform....ummmmm, that just makes me wonder if the people passing and writing the reform to have to abide by it....

A Scare From the New Flu

This year’s seasonal flu bug came with an unwelcome friend—a new strain of flu that scientists call H1N1. H1N1’s rapid spread in several countries last spring caused fears of a massive outbreak. A vaccine for H1N1 is now available. Health officials have also stressed that prevention is key: Cough and sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, they advise, and wash your hands often.

I received the regular flu shot but no H1N1 shot. Julia was too young to receive it. Needless to say we have avoided daycares and upon Julia's arrival Jarred insisted on installing hand sanitizer in the house. I am by far not a germaphobe and we haven't become hermits but I am a bit more cautious around the public.

Conflicts Overseas

The first decade of the new century has been a time of war for Americans. The U.S. has been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001 and in Iraq since 2003. This year, with violence decreasing in Iraq, President Obama announced plans to pull out all U.S. troops from that country by the end of 2011. In Afghanistan, where violence is on the rise, the President plans to send an additional 30,000 troops. The goal there is to defeat the Taliban, an extreme group that has supported Osama bin Laden and his terrorist group, Al Qaeda. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda are responsible for the terrorist attacks against the U.S. in 2001.

There were more Americans die this year than in all the past years. It continues to grow. I feel we should slowly remove our troops and concentrate on getting our country under control. History shows us that all great empires fall from within. Ours will soon if we don't take care of ourselves and not so much other countries.


World Series Wins, Big and Little

The New York Yankees won the World Series for the first time since 2000, beating last year’s champions, the Philadelphia Phillies. Victory was especially sweet for the Yankees and their fans because 2009 marked the team’s first season in the new Yankee Stadium. And in the Little League World Series, California’s Chula Vista team won the championship, coming from behind to beat the Chinese Taipei team from Taoyuan, Taiwan

Thanks to Scholastic.com for providing the headlines. My commentary is in purple.