Next week will be Thanksgiving break and I think it is time for everyone to relax, chill and really think about the direction of our future. I know it is typical for everyone to really want to make those New Year’s resolutions, but what we do today will determine what will happen next year.
We have a new President-elect, that happened. Where we go from here is up to us. I believe everyone needs to remember the important things in life, something that I think we forgot in the process of this year’s election.
Nov. 11 was Veterans Day. This is something that I do not believe enough people remembered. I know that in the Student Union Breezeway a group was giving out free food for those who wrote out a card for a veteran a few days before Veterans Day. Salutations and all that jazz for this humbling moment. I am sure that many other events took place to honor those who served.
Personally, I do not believe in war, I kind of would rather live with the want of peace on earth, but I’ll still support the troops and honor our veterans. Just because I may not believe what they are fighting for, it does not mean that I will not believe in them or think any less of them. Some of my high school friends are still serving overseas and I am thankful every time they are able to come back home for a stint. I hope they continue to come home until they are retired veterans. It may be a few days late, but in case you didn’t, take the time to remember our veterans who are alive and served our country during war or peace time. I believe everyone should remember our veterans as human beings regardless of their stance or belief on wars, past or present.
Next week will be Thanksgiving. I understand that not everyone agrees with why we celebrate it, but I think we all need to remember something next week, we are alive and that is something we should be thankful for. We all have friends who care about us. If you don’t agree with the origins of Thanksgiving, then don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional way. But I still encourage you to find a way to be thankful. Hang out with your best friend. Sometimes friends become family. If you have family, even if you don’t get along with them all the time, spend some time with them and just being thankful y’all are still on this earth. If you are from another country or have other beliefs, enjoy the day in your own, personal way.
We need to remember what we are thankful for, to see the good that can still be found in the United States of America.
See, I don’t know if a new president will make America great or better. Even if we had a different President-elect, I believe that no matter who became president, America would still have issues that it needs to fix. I could fill this entire newspaper with issues that need to be fixed and some solutions that may work, though they are my opinions. I think everyone needs to really contemplate what happened after the election. I’ve seen so many posts of riots, hate, burning the flag and just negativity, from all sides of the political fence as well as from those who aren’t even political. Hate is not something that needs to continue to fester. America has gone through enough hate through the years already.
If America needs fixing, then I suggest spending some time remembering what you are thankful for. I believe in order to make a better America, we need to remember the good in life and strive towards that. Think about what you wanna change and then do something about it, but make sure to hold onto what you are thankful for in the process. What good does it do to change something but lose all the good you once had in the process?
If you feel that a peaceful protest is the best route, then do that. Just make sure you aren’t complaining to complain. Clearly state what you want and find a way to see if it is possible to start, then implement it. Yelling that we need change isn’t going to help anyone if we have no idea what needs to be changed and what we should do to try and change it. I may not support your cause, but if you aren’t hurting anyone or yourself, then I’ll support you as a human being.
As for me, what I believe in, I am honestly tired of all the hate in the world. I know it’s a fool’s dream, but I really want everyone to just get along. I don’t see anything wrong with an Atheist, Jew, Muslim, Agnostic, Christian, Liberal, Republican, Democrat, Satanist, etc. sitting at a table together and enjoying a meal. Also, race, gender and sexuality really need to become obsolete because these are just labels that society has created. We may all believe different ideals, but we can all get along. I fully believe that at times religious and political discussion can come up in an intellectual manner and you know what, it is possible to discuss both sides without wanting to murder, rape and kill everyone. Has society really progressed throughout history or are we doomed to make the same mistakes of our forefathers? And, I don’t mean the 1800s, I mean going as far back as our history books will teach us. We truly are making a lot of mistakes that people in the past have made and it is time to find a way to fix this issue.
On Jan. 20 our next president will be sworn in. If you think he was the best candidate, then what are you going to do to ensure that he helps to make America better? If you did not agree with who won the presidency, what are you going to do to try and make America better regardless? My point is, no matter who you wanted to be the next president, it is still possible to want to make America better. I don’t want to make America great again, I want America to be better than it ever has been. It may be difficult to change depending on what side of the fence you are on, but it is still possible and while you are at it, have a meal with that person who may be on the other side of the fence and don’t be afraid to have an intellectual conversation. We may not agree on everything but, we can come together and if we aren’t hurting each other, with making changes to the country, not only will it get better but you may make a new friend along the way.
I suggest that everyone find a way to improve America now because if we start now, it may be possible to start making changes for 2017. For me, 2016 was a pretty disastrous year. But even if this year has been your year, don’t you want next year to be even better? Let us see if we can take this time, that was meant to be thankful for whatever we have in life, and use it to make America and eventually the world, a better place. Why shouldn’t we all try and accomplish that task, even if our aim is egocentric and focused on us specifically. I am sure we can all find a way to make the world a better place even if you have no intention of procreating. You’re alive, you should want to live in the best world possible until your last breath.
