We occasionally find ourselves stumbling over the reality of our blessings only to pick ourselves up and hurry off as if nothing has happened. An attitude of gratitude brings with it an inspiring lifestyle and soothes our troubled emotions of constant stress and status competition.
We need to look around us with observing eyes of gratitude and take inventory of all the blessings we Americans take for granted. The Thanksgiving season should serve as a slow-down period for a self-evaluation of our countless daily blessings.
Our beloved America is not perfect. We have not arrived at a final state of ultimate maturity, and hopefully never will. We are a growing and changing country that through our history has faced challenge upon challenge. By adaptation and change, we have usually met these challenges with a dedicated determination to protect and preserve our freedoms inherited from our founders.
We can never be totally thankful for these freedoms unless we include the brave and giving armed forces who have gallantly protected and preserved these freedoms. Without their sacrifices, these freedoms would have been robbed from us long ago.
What greater blessing could any country bestow upon its citizenry than the freedoms of speech, worship and equality? The freedom of equality has been slow in coming and is still in progression, but it is nonetheless growing and reaching out to those oppressed.
We should be perpetually thankful, not only at Thanksgiving, but daily that we are Americans and reside in this land of the free. The majority of citizens of other lands are envious of our freedoms and lifestyle. We are indeed a blessed nation.
As it should be, all creeds and religions are welcome here. But we are ever mindful of our own religious foundation and fundamental dependency upon God. Without apology, we must stand and remain true to the precepts and principles of our Declaration of Independence that proudly announces for all generations to hear that we are dependent upon God and place our vigilant trust in Him.
America the blessed. America the bountiful. America the melting pot for welcomed immigrants. America the tolerant of diverse beliefs. America the powerful when challenged. But best of all, America is our home sweet home. This Thanksgiving 2009 we are truly thankful for all of God’s bounty and blessing to America. A happy and blessed Thanksgiving to all!
— Elton Slusser
Opinion
America: Gracious blessing from God
- Opinion
-
-
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
Many West Virginians would no doubt be shocked to learn that the outstanding correspondent from the Vietnam War was a West Virginia University graduate from Uniontown, Pa.
His name was George Esper, one familiar for many years around the WVU School of Journalism for his tenacious coverage of the Vietnam War that established him as a highly revered print reporter of the 20th century. -
Hiding state records has no place in a democracy
In private business and personal life, people may hide some activities, exercising their right of privacy. But government is different.
-
Results about Twitter, free from censorship
So Twitter announces that it will allow country-specific censorship. What followed was #outrage, #disbelief, #protest, #RighteousIndignation, #TwitterBlackout and #rage.
-
West Virginia must develop plan to fulfill highway needs
There is no dispute that improving West Virginia’s roads is one of the state’s biggest needs.
We use them daily — out of necessity and for pleasure.
They’re also vital to West Virginia’s economic health. -
Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.
-
Educational partnership a step in the right direction
Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
We think it’s even more than that. -
Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia
Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.
-
Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse
There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.
-
A better way to choose presidential candidates?
Forty-seven more primaries to go.
If you feel like it’s been a wild Republican primary election season, with accusations of sexual misconduct, candidates coming and going, who makes how much and more, just remember one thing. There are 47 more primaries to go. -
Marion Countians should be proud as United Way has exceeded its goal
The United Way, we are most pleased to report, has reached its goal for the fifth consecutive year. In fact, it has actually surpassed its goal, and that is even better news.
Just to refresh your mind, the 2011-12 goal was set at $410,000, and it has passed that by $3,000. - More Opinion Headlines
-
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
