It’s no secret 2016 has been a tough year.
We grieved for a number of talented artists. The US suicide rate is the highest it’s been in 30 years. We watched in horror as the deadliest mass shooting in US history was broadcast across our screens. Stocks fell. Brexit passed. We struggled against the Zika virus. Terrorist attacks dominated the news. Hurricane Matthew tore through nations around the world, killing more than 900 people. A 2-year-old was killed at a Disney resort. Hate crimes against people of color, Muslim and LGBTQ+ individuals surged. A rapist’s parents essentially exempted him from being punished for his crimes, because of his swimming career. The new Harry Potter book was kind of a letdown.
The 2016 election…. happened.
The list continues. But before you lose all hope in humanity, and the world, it’s important to reflect on some of the wonderful things that also took place this year.
1. Hamilton swept the world.
Yes, the show officially opened in 2015, however it was not until 2016 that most of the world discovered Hamilton. Lin Manuel Miranda has been called the Shakespeare of our times, and rightfully so. While we may have dealt with a number of horrific realities this year, at least we had a fantastic, and inspirational, soundtrack playing in the background. And the Hamilton Mixtape? Perfection.
2. Stem cells have been found to re-enable stroke patients to walk.
Research conducted at Stanford University Medical Center found that injecting stem cells into brains of chronic stroke patients enabled these individuals to regain motor skills.
3. Giant Pandas are no longer endangered.
The species moved from endangered to vulnerable earlier in September. Tiger numbers are also on the rise for the first time in over a century.
4. Child mortality rates continued to decline.
Child mortality has declined more than 53 percent from 1990 to 2016.
5. The Wizarding World grew.
Sure, Cursed Child was disappointing, but the good news is that the Wizarding World is active and will continue to provide outstanding content. Another section of the Harry Potter theme park opened in California. We finally discovered our patronuses (mine’s a leopardess). Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was hugely entertaining and profitable, meaning, we’ll get to spend more time in this amazing world J.K. Rowling built for us. Barnes and Nobel will be holding Yule Balls around the country next week. Harry Potter Go is coming. Overall there’s a lot to look forward to.
6. Thanks to advancements in technology paralysis may soon be a thing of the past.
Scientists were able to return hand motion to a man who had spent the last 6 years paralyzed with a device called NeuroLife. The device relies on thoughts to grant full range of motion to the quadriplegic’s hands. Although more research is needed to further develop the project it certainly provides great hope for the future.
7. We got a princess movie, featuring a strong, multifaceted, woman of color, without a romantic subplot.
Disney has finally committed to stepping away from the romantic endgame to tell the story of an independent young royal without any mention of a romance. The film has shattered box office records, falling second only to Frozen, another progressive Disney tale.
8. Women and people of color are finally going to be featured on paper money.
Harriet Tubman will now be featured on the front of the $20 bill. She will soon be joined by Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth, who will all be featured on a newly redesigned $10 bill. MLK will also be added to the $5 bill.
9. Leonardo Di Caprio finally won his first Oscar.
You did it Leo. *tears up* you did it.
10.The election woke people up.
The 2016 election was a nightmare, no matter what which side you were on. At this point, at best, a man who has committed sexual assault, was endorsed by the KKK and has himself admitted that he is not prepared for the duties of serving as president will occupy the white house for another four years. However, this year served as a wake up call to the young people of this nation. People have taken to the streets and have begun protesting in record numbers. In light of the election, many of the more problematic aspects of our government, such as the electoral college have come under fire. I'm not denying, the next four years are going to be rough.
I, personally, am afraid of getting a lawsuit, imprisoned, or both, having penned some less than flattering words about Trump earlier this year, nevertheless, we can survive. This year served as a our wakeup call to fix our nation to ensure that something like this never occurs again. There's a lot more work to do, but we can handle it. After all, we survived everything else 2016 threw at us.
