Christmas Message and Hopes for a New Year

By Webmaster Mark Newbold

This has been a strange year.  For me it's been transitional.  I turned 30, left home and bought my first house, had a fantastic relationship that sadly ended and continued to oversee one of the grooviest Star Wars sites around with my three best friends.  I've made some really great pals through the site, and despite only writing 2 short stories all year have made a lot of progress with other parts of the site, primarily Setnin Select which is my baby.   And yet despite all these good points I can't wait to get into 2002.  Not only because we get our 5th and penultimate Star Wars movie May 16th, or because after 36 years it's time for England to win the World Cup in Japan/Korea, or because Paul Squire is getting married and I'm going to embarrass the hell out of him with my best mans speech (already half written mate!) but because we'll get to put some distance between where we are now and September 11th.
I don't think a calendar date will ever be so ingrained into the consciousness of a generation as that date will.  There have always been big events in life.  JFK's and Martin Luthor Kings assassinations.  The death of Elvis and John Lennon, the 1986 shuttle explosion, the death of Diana Princess of Wales.  Life altering, know-where-you-were-when-you-heard-it events.  But September 11th?  That's on a whole different level.  And while not everyone voted for Kennedy, or saw the wisdom in the words of Martin Luthor King, or were moved by the genius of Elvis, or gave peace a chance like John did, or were shocked to tears by Challengers demise, or shattered by the premature death of Diana, I think EVERYONE who witnessed the twin towers collapse, be it first person, on radio, TV or on the net, were affected in some way.  Some small, others larger, but from whatever side of the political or religious fence you sit that atrocity had a profound effect.  To make an analogy, in many ways it was like the Force.  By bringing differing faiths and creeds together in a collective, worldwide outpouring of grief it truly bound the galaxy together.  If only for a short while.
The cynic in me says that we'll somehow manage to forget what happened.  Some days I wish I could, others not.  But as we leave 2001 and the horrors that it brought I hope we can all move into the future with a little bit more grace, a little bit more strength and a whole lot more hope.  because truly, that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger.  And I hope that we can all gain some strength from the lessons learned this year.
Here's to you all, and to a great 2002.

Until the next time, as ever, clear skies.

Mark

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