The other half – step

The passing year leaves us in mourning. For Tempe, Gaza, war-torn Ukraine, condolences for guards and pilots who died in the line of duty.

But it also leaves us with the satisfaction of a country that has lived through three electoral contests, cementing democratic stability and ensuring a return to normality.

The country is getting positive news from the economy and positive comments from its partners.

A country that has normalized its outer edges and especially with Turkey.

A country struggling with few reforms to consolidate national prosperity and social progress.

Are these enough for the fresh air you need for the New Year?

I won't judge. Looking forward to the development of the story. It may have started with optimism but with two big question marks.

First the daily outbreak of violence.

Apparently, nothing has been discovered by the year that leaves us. But we watched in dismay as the strange violence erupted “next door.”

Parents killing children and vice versa, brothers killing brothers, men abusing their partners, students beating each other and raping each other, all simultaneously and combined to bring unprecedented tragedies to our doorsteps.

Bad lies, violence became part of a sick daily life. In neighborhoods, in schools, on our televisions.

After refusing to share the other half of society is positive and optimistic.

At least accept the effort. In their view, success is failure, denial of progress.

I am not innocent.

The country may have returned to normalcy, it may have closed in on a series of conflicts, it may have deified political stability and may even be without a rival, but the accounts of past wounds and crisis are still not closed.

They remain bitterly open.

But these cracks must heal at some point. And may the New Year allow it.

Either way, we have a winner. We don't have to repeat a scene of hostility and heartache forever.

Democracy cannot get caught up in an endless game of reshuffle between winners and losers.

Not only because revenge is illogical to democracy. But if such logic prevails we will have no winners.

Losers only.