The end of the semester is nearing, and 2002 is almost gone.
This was a year different than any other for this country, because
it was the first year after we were attacked on our soil.

It was a year that involved political bickering over many
important issues, including national security. Over a year after
the attacks, the homeland-defense agency has finally been created,
which is an important step as it is clear we will have to fight for
years to root out much of the evil in this world.

This was a year where we had two serial killers that caused some
terror in Washington, D.C. for a couple weeks, but Americans were
fortunate to not have to face another major terrorist attack.

Yet, things are not safe everywhere around the world.
Palestinian homicide bombers in Israel continue to kill innocent
Israelis, thus preventing talks of peace from even beginning.
Recent terrorist attacks in Kenya and Bali show that the world is
not free from terrorism; even though intelligence of an imminent
attack in Kenya was available, it did not mean such an attack could
be prevented.

It was a year of uncertainty. As a nation we are lucky.

We are lucky to live in a free nation, where even after such
attacks we became more united, not less, as the terrorists had
hoped.

We have free and open elections, and regardless of whether we
like the outcome, we accept our leaders and allow for a peaceful
transition of power.

Free speech is still respected and our civil liberties are
protected — no matter how much some people may try to scare us and
say the federal government is taking these rights away.

We are lucky to have courts that allow American citizens due
process and watch over security agencies to make sure they do not
go too far.

In Madison, we should be thankful for the world-class education
we receive for such affordable costs (particularly those of us from
Wisconsin and Minnesota). Out-of-state students are also lucky they
have the ability to choose to come to Wisconsin.

We are lucky that as a society we have become more accepting,
and people are less likely to judge someone by the color of their
skin, religion or nationality — even Illinois residents are, for
the most part, being accepted as part of society in Wisconsin.

I know I am incredibly lucky to have a loving and caring family,
who cares for me and helps me when I let them. I have good friends
and a select few whom I can depend on and know they will be there
for me. And all of my friends know they can count on me 100 percent
of the time.

I am not the only one this lucky either. Most of us have at
least one person who they can count on to be there and who looks
out for his or her interests.

It is all these freedoms and friendships that we take for
granted. As the year comes to an end, we should take a minute from
our busy lives and think how lucky we are to be free and to live in
the greatest country on the face of the earth.

To be allowed to speak our mind and to be able to work hard to
succeed and to meet people and become friends with people whom can
be counted on — these are the things that make us so lucky, we
rarely realize how good life truly is.

Matt Modell ([email protected]) is a senior majoring
in journalism and political science. He is in Washington, D.C.,
this semester for an internship.