There has never been another year like 2017. It was seemingly the longest year imaginable when in fact it it was only 365 days like every other year. It was a year where snowflake became a pejorative phrase and GOP supporters revealed their inner confederate or their closet nazi sympathizing or their chronic xenophobia. We have people in the Executive Branch that should not be there or have security clearance at all. We have people in the House/Senate who wore on past their moral expiration date and needed to be replaced. Finally we have powerful men who grew calcified in their elite positions, men who managed to never share leadership or leave the scene of their crimes pushed out of their cushy arrangements. This is all the tip of the iceberg. Women, children, elders, veterans, students, teachers, workers, small businesses and Blue states will pay a terrible price for this political coup perpetuated because of our own measurable collective indifference. It will continue to haunt our society for years to come. For all of the above I have real regrets but truthfully my African-American friends remind me that we gotta be in it for the long game, as has been their life-long experience. Since I have never known a forward thinking person who wasn't in it for the long road, it makes sense and that is why I admire them so much. Someone recently brought to my attention the terrible long long road that George Lucas endured on his way to making the mega blockbuster Star Wars. Among other obstacles, he had to pay a fine in advance for introducing the icon opening title crawl that seemed to go into infinity. I was not familiar with the saga, relentless faith and self sacrifice of Lucas in his process to creating a masterpiece but it does give heart to aspirational objectives for 2018 because against all odds it is possible to succeed but it is going to require collective strength and fortitude. I hope we are ready.