As 2024 draws to a close, I feel a profound sense of disillusionment with both political parties. The Democrats had one crucial task this year — to stand up for humanity. President Joe Biden, in his last days in office, pardoned inmates on death row and the traditional Thanksgiving turkeys. Yet what’s truly unpardonable — the real “turkey” of his legacy — is his continued pardon and funding of the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Benjamin Netanyahu. Instead of standing up for justice, they have enabled the oppressive regime of Netanyahu, contributing to the slaughter of thousands of innocent Gazans.
This tragedy hits close to home. Over the years, I’ve introduced more than 100 Gaza students and their families to families in Utah, building bridges of understanding and friendship. Today, those same students send me heartbreaking messages. While many of us celebrate the New Year in warmth and comfort, they write to tell me they are freezing, starving and struggling to survive.
Critics accuse me of abandoning my vote by refusing to support Kamala Harris or President Biden. But this isn’t just about Democrats. Utah is led by Republicans who have similarly failed to act as true champions of humanity. They, too, must answer for their silence and complicity. It is not enough to talk about values like family and faith while turning a blind eye to global atrocities or ignoring the needs of those suffering within our borders.
If Utah’s Republican leaders wish to live up to their promises of moral leadership, they must take a stand for policies that protect lives, foster peace, and address humanitarian crises with compassion. Both parties have fallen short of the principles they claim to uphold, and their failures demand accountability.
I don’t know what the future holds, but the past speaks loudly. It reminds us of missed opportunities and devastating losses. Yet it also shows us that we can do better. In 2025, we must recommit to humanity, demand accountability from all our leaders, and refuse to turn away from the suffering of others.
Let us strive for a future where peace is more than a campaign promise — it is a reality.
Auld lang syne.May we never forget.
There is a German word for what we, and future generations, will soon face if we do not act:
Schuldkult.
Anna Zumwalt, Salt Lake City
