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opinion
We all have something
to be thankful for this holiday season
The spirit of Thanksgiving will be greater this year than in
any other time in American history. On Sept. 11, terrorists
attacked our country, altering the way in which this year would
be completed.
The attacks not
only struck the citizens of New York and Washington, D.C,
but every other city and state in the United States. Since
that time the strength of our nation has been tested.
American citizens
have been forced to live in fear because no one knows what
tragedy will strike next. The holiday season is here and travelers
are reluctant to travel by air, people everywhere are afraid
to open their mail and many of our family members are in Afghanistan
at war.
The fun of the
holidays is being snatched away from us right before our very
eyes. It's sad, but as we reflect this year on what the holiday
seasons mean, we should remember what we do have.
Thanksgiving is
a time to reach out to those that are less fortunate. If you
go as close as downtown Long Beach you will find homeless
men, women and children.
Some are fortunate
enough to have found shelter but can't afford all the food
and fun that come along with Thanksgiving. Sure, we may go
into shelters and help out for short periods of time to get
our class credit or community service out of the way.
We feel really
good about ourselves without really realizing the impact that
we have had on another person's life. Many of the people that
we service are so thankful for a warm, safe, and dry place
to lay their heads for the night, when many of us take these
things for granted. We easily go back to our busy lives and
schedules without reflecting on our blessings.
Instead, on Thanksgiving
Day we contribute to the holiday rush, and stress over who's
going where and what we should wear. Add to this the weight
we dread gaining and the great sales that will hit the stores
at this special time of year.
When I sat back
and thought about it, I found that some of us really have
no clue about how privileged we are.
This Thanksgiving
is even more special than the last because we are alive and
have our health. Many of us drive cars and complain about
gas, but could very well be taking the bus.
We're pressed for
time and have to pay bills and write papers, but it could
always be a lot worse. This year instead of making light of
the holiday and worrying about what you will wear to dinner,
I challenge you to sit back and reflect on what Thanksgiving
means to you.
I am sure that
after you have done so you will find that we all have a little
something to be thankful for.
Charity Bailey
is a journalism major at Cal State Long Beach.
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