A New Millennium, a New Spirit [Archives:2000/52/Viewpoint]

In five days, we will be entering the third millennium. It is a historical week that marks a milestone in the history of our planet. Despite the fact that there is a debate on whether the millennium will start in 2000 or 2001 -as some international organizations claim – we still feel that the year 2000 is going to be quite different. It is true that it is only a year like all the other years, but it could also be a time when we examine our past and look forward to a better future. However, it is also a pity that we will be entering the millennium without the founder of the Yemen Times, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. He was a person who always called for planning for the coming year through resolutions. He gave several examples of how a new year can be thought of as a time when we should implement our plans and schedule our days to make the most out of it.
I feel that I should quote here some of his words in his view point article published in the second issue of 1999, which can also be read online at http://www.yementimes.com/99/iss01/view.htm:
“At the beginning of every year, individuals look back at the year just completed, take stock of their situation, and plan for the new year. The first step in this planning process is to make a resolution (or a few) aimed at improving their lives and performance. The resolution can be simple or elaborate. Some people decide to quit smoking, others may wish to go back to school. When I was in the United State, a neighboring couple decided to simply pack up and move to another state. They had been thinking about the move for a while. In short, the new year is a moment to think deeply about one’s conditions and decide to do something to bring about a meaningful change.”
These are indeed words that are suitable for every time and place. They reflect his intelligent mentality and efforts to make use of his time in the best way he could.
This year, we as the Yemen Times have set up a huge project for ourselves and our establishment. We have hopes and anticipation, and we also have the ability to achieve them. However, we also need encouragement from our readers. We plan to bring our newspaper to higher levels of quality and professionalism, in the layout, the contents, and the distribution.
As we are entering a new era, we should think of the requirements for a successful future. We have realized that we should cope with this ever-changing world. That is why we will be emphasizing more on the online edition of the newspaper which has become the most prominent site representing Yemen. We will be launching campaigns to spread awareness of the IT technology that is every day becoming more and more influential in our lives. Through our website and our technical capabilities, we wish to further strengthen our presence on the Internet.
I do not want to mention all that we plan to do. However, we want to tell you that there will be many pleasant surprises. It is a new year, a new century, and a new millennium. So doesn’t it deserve a bit of planning from all of us, including the Yemen Times? We need to understand that the coming year could be an opening to develop new ideas and implement projects that could change our lives. On the personal level, I have already developed many ideas, and can’t wait for the coming year to begin to implement them all.
It is an exciting time, which we should make the most of. It is a great opportunity to forget the painful past and look to the future with hope and anticipation.
Happy new millennium to everyone.
Walid Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf    
Chief Editor
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