I remember quite clearly that collective sigh of relief on January 1st of 2000 when our world did not completely unravel and collapse as a result of the much feared Millennium Bug. In spite of some rather shortsighted computer programming, the lights stayed on, the mail was delivered, the food shelves remained stocked, and our nuclear missiles did not leave their silos after a misread of the launch codes. Much to the chagrin of those that had overstocked on toilet paper, baked beans and ammunition, the beginning of the new century did not spell the destruction of western civilization. But they could at least take some comfort in the fact that the events of the next ten years might finally support the preparedness of the paranoid; because in many ways we may have just gone through the worst decade in American history.

While I am certainly not going to make the case that our current privation, adversity and suffering is any more difficult than that faced by earlier generations—I do believe that we are without those singular strong voices that have in the past united us in principle, and then carried us through the struggle. If in fact those voices do exist, they are being drowned out by the constant din of mindless electronic chatter.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jack Kiley, the proprietor of The Sevens, a well known pub in the Beacon Hill section of Boston. Jack does not have email or a cell phone, and he is none to fond of the ubiquitous tavern television set either. In his establishment people gather to listen to the voices of neighbors and friends. Since 1933, the patrons of The Sevens have lived through the Great Depression, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, violent civil unrest, and most regrettably—some God awful Red Sox seasons. But through it all they were sustained by those simple expressions of solace and support.

As we begin this New Year and decade, it is the wish of everyone at American Public House Review that all of our lives will be filled with the voices of reason, peace, hope and love!