U.S. freedoms best reason for thanksgiving
by Don Hicks, reporter

    No matter where you were when the attack on America hit this year, it hit you. Directly or indirectly, you have been affected. You may have lost a friend or loved one, maybe a friend of a friend.

    Possibly, you lost your job, family income or investment value or suffered other financial impact.

    I see commercials with people of all color and race proclaiming, “I am an American.”

    We are the people the Constitution of this great country refers to when it says, “in order to form a more perfect union.” Our union of nationalities is not perfect; it is a work in progress.

    It is not up to this country to tell the world how it must live. Our obligation is to offer a place to enjoy the liberties outlined in the founding documents of this government and to support those countries that wish to emulate our freedom.

    Many in this country and around the world believe in a God or Allah or Jehovah who gave the opportunity of choice at creation.

    They should also support the choice of democracy, theocracy, dictatorship or any other choice an individual might choose. The point is chosen not forced.

    I am reminded of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s comment, “They (who) seek to establish systems of government based on the regimentation of all human beings by a handful of individual rulers ... call this a new order. It is not new, and it is not order.”

    The strength and weakness of America lie in our liberty and freedom to do as we please. As a country, we are now testing our strength while others are finding our weakness.

    Those who would bring us, the United States, down only want to dominate us or someone else.

    We should all notice that those leaders want the freedom to govern others.

    As a woman, be thankful you are not required to wear a burqa as the women in Afghanistan have been required.

    As a man, be grateful you are not required to wear a long beard in the Texas heat.

    Here in America, however, you may do either no matter your gender.

    As a country, we are not the world’s policemen, but we cannot isolate ourselves in this global society.

    We are learning that we may defend ourselves in far corners of the world, but it will take a world community to police the bad boys.

    So as you go through the holiday season and watch or partake of different traditions and choose to participate or not, remember the difference is you have a choice.