(Part 2 of 3)
Here’s the second part of what now turns out to be a three-part answer to my question, what are we thankful for?
Each year, over the last few years, I’ve asked people over Facebook and through email what it is that they are thankful for this year – as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. This year is different. There is considerable uncertainty in America, and what had been our norms, in particular allegiance to our Constitution, have been turned upside down.
So, this year I asked” what is it you are thankful for … this year. I know this has been a challenging year for many of us. While I know we’re all thankful for families and friends, I’m asking you to dig a bit deeper and tell us, in these turbulent times, what is it for which you are thankful, and that gives you hope for the future.”
The responses came swiftly and in large numbers. Many were thankful for family and friends and health, especially those who faced life threatening health scares this past year. Others responded in much broader terms, referencing current political, social or cultural conditions.
Because of the number of responses, I’m splitting this into three parts. The first part ran on Monday, second today (Tuesday), and the third will run tomorrow (Wednesday).
For me, I’m thankful to all those who responded, I’m thankful for all readers and supporters of WhatsUpNewp and listeners and supporters of WBLQ radio in Westerly.
Charles Bakst
(Retired Providence Journal political columnist)
“I’m grateful that RI has a Democratic congressional delegation and an attorney general that are 100 percent committed to combatting the evil of President Trump and his Republican enablers. I’m grateful for newspapers, TV and radio reporters and specialized media that seek truth and enlighten our citizenry. I’m grateful for John McConnell and other judges who act to block injustices perpetrated by Trump & Co and stay on the job even in light of constant harassment and abuse. I’m grateful that we have organizations like the RI Foundation, the RI Community Food Bank, and Dorcas International Institute that help protect and improve the quality of life in our state, especially for the neediest among us. I’m grateful for the beauty of RI and for anyone and anything – such as the RI Philharmonic, Trinity Theater, Brown University and other colleges – that elevate us and enrich us, and for eateries like Angelo’s and L’artisan Cafe & Bakery that not only provide food but also function as informal, lower-case democratic meeting places where friends can drop by and run into each other in such a RI way, where the guy at the next table might be the governor, the mayor, or a congressman. We are the luckiest of Americans.”
Karen Ornberg
(Strong advocate for Rights of Way)
“I’m thankful for the knowledge, the understanding and the ability to forgive. I’m thankful for the memories, thankful for the times spent with family and friends no longer with me. Thankful for the friends far and near, I’m thankful for the hard times that made me stronger and I’m thankful for the love I give to myself.. and I’m thankful that most my prayers have been answered.”
Sheryl Wiser
(Seattle-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist)
“I’m abundantly grateful for the incredible community that I get to be a part of here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, in particular the resilient and vital local food and farm community I still work with. I am continually humbled by their immense work ethic and dedication to making healthy food a reality fo throughout Washington State. I’m also grateful and thankful for all of the incredible musicians in my life and all of the opportunities I’ve had to perform this year. Nothing happens in a vacuum.”
Shari Kaplan Paler
(Retired, lives in Sarasota, Fla.)
“I’m thankful that my three children are happy and successful and all eleven grandchildren are doing very well!!”
Kathy Densberger
(Clinical social worker)
I am grateful for all the things that make me smile before going to sleep at night. I have been blessed.
Gerry Goldstein
(Retired Providence Journal reporter, bureau manager and editor. Columnist for WhatsUpNewp)
“I’m thankful, in what you note are our turbulent times, in a bittersweet way. I fear for our country under its current leadership, but I’m grateful for how in its own dangerous and cruel way it has forced many of us to contemplate how fragile our democracy is.
In defiling the American Ideal, the administration has highlighted the danger of taking human rights and the rule of law for granted. Maybe seeing what we have to lose will ignite the strength for coming together and demanding an end to despotism. Perhaps it’s naivete, but I cling to the hope this will happen; that the daily erosion of our democratic foundation will be looked back on as having been just a (very) close call.”