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Reasons to be thankful

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FromEditorsDesk Tony CroppedBy Tony Farkas
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Holidays offer a bit of perspective

I have a niece who I cherish. Actually, I have several, but one in particular.

She has had somewhat of a rough go of things throughout her young life (well, she’s in her late 20s, but I’m not, so she’s young).

There were instances when she was extremely down because of certain life events. She had her hopes set on many things, only to see those dashed against the rocks of reality.

Last week, though, her ship righted itself, and she gave birth to a wonderful baby girl, and I became a great uncle (in more ways than one, get it?).

It wasn’t an easy birth, and even was heralded by an earthquake in West Texas, but baby and momma are fine as paint. She even posted later how the infant has completely captured her heart.

There are two lessons in this that I found: that patience and positivity can overcome most circumstances, and, especially apropos for the season, that regardless of hardship and turmoil, there is so much to be thankful for.

My niece had never lost her hopeful nature, and that’s something to be admired. For me, that means that there isn’t anything that happens in my life that is so bad that I have to shut down.

I write quite a bit about the crappy state of government, and how that has affected all of our lives negatively, what with rising prices, empty shelves, unemployment and probably soon to be gasoline loans.

Yet I also know that these things are like a pendulum and will swing back. I also know that I have the love of my family, I have really good friend, and I live in a community that is welcoming and understands the meaning of being neighbors.

I write quite a bit about the sorry state of journalism on the big stage, where reporters have exchange objectivity for access and credibility for celebrity. Most national media reports smell like propaganda, and little credence is given to being fair, unless it can be pointed out that the other guys aren’t being fair (mostly meaning folks like me, conservative and thinking that people should be responsible for their own fates and actions).

I just have to look around at my colleagues, who strive to tell the tales of their communities and leave the silliness on television. This is the news that matters, which is what is here.

I write quite a bit about the rampant stupidity of social media, and how the anonymity of it all leads to deep acrimony. There’s no discussion anymore, there’s only I’m right, you’re wrong, and you should die a horrible death. Real problems will never be solved without compromise.

More and more, though, haters are being sought out and removed, free speech is being promoted, and there’s less need to have people face consequences for simply having an opinion. On the pages of these newspapers, there still is the opportunity to speak your mind without fear of being shut down. We also still know how to talk to each other.

There’s plenty of reasons to be thankful, and to be patient and wait for the world to change. All it takes is a little practice.

 

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