"Year in reviews" are the death and taxes of the last week in December. They proliferate on print, broadcast, online and social media. Most are quite lame, tired, uninspired, or even downright insensitive, as
Facebook had to apologize to some users for its algorithmically-generated year in reviews that highlighted deceased loved ones and other personal tragedies. Although the standard Gregorian (A.D.) calendar is used in Patria, January 1 has little significance as the start of a new year other than on paper. For all practical purposes, the "year" in Patria begins in September, with the opening of the new session of Congress - not to mention Rosh Hashanah, Navratri and the kids going back to school.
Nonetheless, as 2014 circles the drain and the 50th Congress marks six month in office, there are a few notable events of the last twelve months in Patria:
- The election of 2014 that re-affirmed Patria's commitment to more liberal, progressive values and rejected hard-line "Patria first" economic nationalism as well as the National Union's manly values.
- Two days before election day, the Supreme Court of Patria threw out the ban on same-sex marriages, although no gay marriages actually took place in Patria in 2014. Patria is no longer a "safe place for social conservatives".
- Live kirtan performance by Krishna Das at Patria's 50th Congress-elect Inauguration retreat (aka Bhakti Fest Midwest).
- A memorable 50th Congress Inauguration ceremony. No one complained that the snobby, elitist Inaugural Ball was cancelled.
- Being with Amma for Guru Purnima on her summer tour a few days after the inaugural.
And so, onward to 2015. Happy new year to those who actually celebrate it. New Year's resolutions are incredibly lame. Virtually no one bothers with them in Patria. If you go to a gym in Patria during the first week or two of January, it won't be overcrowded with losers trying to keep their weight loss resolutions.
