This Christmas, Let Us All Count Our Blessings as Americans

Christmas is a time to reflect on the many gifts we have as Americans. While it is easy to dwell on negative issues, this season of hope and giving reminds us of how much we have to be thankful for. In Manatee County, especially, we wake up in one of the safest places in the world.

The Foundations of Our Community

This safety is only made possible by dedicated law enforcement and a judiciary funded primarily by your property taxes. These individuals risk their lives and sacrifice time away from their families to do what is often a thankless job. Being safe—not only at Christmas but all year—is one of the greatest gifts a community can have.

We should also be thankful for the services we often take for granted:

• Safe Water: Our drinking water meets high standards thanks to the foresight of past leaders who protected our water supply and the scientists who use the best technology to monitor it.
• Waste Management: Our landfill is maintained to prevent environmental impacts, providing safe collection and disposal that many places in the world lack.
• Advanced Utilities: In Manatee County, we maintain zero-discharge sewage plants. While the cities continue to address challenges like aging systems, there is hope as they finally acknowledge these problems and seek to end direct discharges into the Manatee River.
• Maintained Roads: While traffic congestion is a challenge, we can be thankful that our roads are well-maintained and free of the structural issues found in other countries.

Resilience and Recovery

Our community’s recovery from three hurricanes in a single year has been truly amazing. Although the task of removing debris and restoring power, water, and internet looked daunting, the work to restore our community a year later is incredible.

The Gift of Democracy and a Free Press

As a publisher of news and opinions, I am profoundly thankful to live in a democracy that serves as a model for the world. The ability of news organizations to produce fact-based reporting and opinion is what makes our country special.

While we must be vigilant against those who seek to silence or "chill" critical voices, we should be proud of our community for voting for more responsible leadership last year. Despite unprecedented political retaliation and ongoing attacks on environmental and wetland protections, we remain hopeful that our representatives will support the local community they were elected to represent.

A Community of Service

Finally, let us be thankful for the many volunteer organizations that help make our community great. From those who help the homeless and improve the lives of animals to our religious organizations, we are truly blessed. We owe much to our emergency service providers, EMS employees, and organizations like the Red Cross that provide immediate aid when families lose their homes.

I hope this Christmas season you reflect on these many blessings, even as we strive to reach our goals to make things even better.

Joe McClash
Publisher
The Bradenton Times