Finally, another decade over and done with. It was the turn of the millennium, a point in time that for the rest of history, people will look back at and compare with whatever future civilization they happen to live in. I don’t know about anyone else, but I find myself proud to be alive right about now.

Leading up to the final moments of 2009, lots of hot gossip, controversy and important decision making stirred up a real fuss around the world, as it always does. But when we look back one day on what was going on when the clock hit midnight on Jan. 1, 2010, what will actually be remembered, what were we all talking about? So instead of focusing on one topic, here is a list of reflections I have on the turn of the decade.

It turns out, golf is a pretty sacred thing.

Say what you want about Tiger Woods’ sexual escapades, but if most rock stars of the 1980s have anything to say about it, he’s just another guy taking advantage of overwhelming fame and the benefits that come along with it. Men cheat on their wives all the time. It’s never a good thing, but this guy’s getting a bad wrap just because everyone looks at that innocent smile and multiple PGA tournament championships and thinks “How could he do such a thing?”

Health care.

Just ask anyone out there without a lick of health insurance, and they’ll tell you that any change at all in the current system would be a good thing. Sadly even at the end of this decade, our politicians in the Senate are too wound up debating about optional coverage that will never affect them and are willing to grind to a halt any progress at all because of pointless bipartisan bickering.

Dick Clark is getting old.

Did anyone else notice when he lost count right around seven on New Years Eve? This isn’t very important, but I thought I might as well point it out.

Airport security is kind of a joke.

Sure, I know some people messed up on Christmas. But considering how many radicals of different ideologies have a real bone to pick with America, as well as the rest of the civilized world, I think Homeland Security and the FAA have done a pretty good job up until now. With the high volume of international flights pulling into American airspace every day, it’s impressive that it took this long for a guy to slip through the cracks.

This would put a real dent in the war on drugs.

Many state legislatures at the end of the decade have been considering legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana because of its taxation benefits. Contrary to what most potheads will tell you, this would probably annoy them more than they realize. Tax revenue is important for state economies that are on the verge of being broke, but government regulation of pot might transform it into something as impure as a Camel cigarette. Regardless, this is one of the biggest cash crops in the world and getting it out of the black market might be a good idea.

How are we supposed to say what year it is anyway?

Is it twenty-ten or two-thousand-ten? We all say what year it is all the time, and especially when mentioning things like a new vehicle model or a graduating class, it might be important to accept a standard phrase.

But now, this all seems trivial.

The above drama continually stirs a certain amount of debate around most circles, but most of it is trivial garbage when a real disaster gives us a nice reality check. The earthquake in Haiti puts what really matters into perspective.

Last I checked, death estimates may be as extensive as 100,000 in a country of fewer than 10 million, meaning that out of every hundred people, one is dead. People are starving while aid and supplies are not arriving as quickly as it takes to save them.

Disasters like this are hopefully what will help us remember what is most important, that we are all human and susceptible to wrath at any time. Hopefully, when we look back on the turn of this decade, we’ll remember a great humanitarian effort and support from the rest of the world to help Haiti get back on track.

Garrison Ebie is a senior electronic media major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].