A Reason To Be Thankful

I don’t know about you but Thanksgiving has been many different things over my lifetime. For a long time it was a meal with my family and a time in school when we would make a turkey from the cut out of our hand with construction paper. As I got a bit older and realized what a big fan I was of pumpkin pie, I realized that it was a great meal with even better desserts!

Getting older new challenges were introduced to Thanksgiving, like having to learn to split the day between my parents and the in-laws. By no means was I opposed to having two fantastic meals in one day but the naps and turkey day football games became few and far between.

Of course the essentials of Thanksgiving were always present, like hearing the stories of the Pilgrims and the Indians sitting down for dinner together, celebrating the harvest. There was the almost painful tradition of going around the table and saying what we were thankful for (this became a bit easier when my thankfulness shifted from toys and pumpkin pie to a wonderful wife and loving family, and so on). Now that I am a bit older (and claim to be more mature) I am able to see the Thanksgiving holiday as more than just a meal that we eat together in the early afternoon so that we can be sure to be in line for the stores to open at 3:00, 4:00, or 5:00 am.

Thanksgiving is not just about expressing thanks for our parents, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and so on. It is the time that we are able to reflect and be thankful for our country and for those who have sacrificed, struggled, and given life and limb so that we could live in this country. I remember being so surprised when I realized that other countries didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving. I realized that as wonderful as those other countries may be, they don’t have our history and they don’t have the same reasons to celebrate as we do. If there is anything that seems to be lost recently is the idea of American exceptionalism, or the idea of the greatness of our country. By no means do I claim that our country is perfect (we are still governed by politicians), but I can’t think of another place that I would rather live.

Ronald Reagan made people remember that America is a great country and made it OK to be proud to be an American. We were told how American was the shining city on a hill, “a tall, proud city, built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God blessed, and teaming with people of all kinds, living in harmony and peace.” I can’t imagine a better picture of what America is and what America can be.

This is why I am thankful and the reason I celebrate Thanksgiving this year. I am thankful that the founders of this country were willing to stand their ground and be willing to sacrifice their wealth, influence, and their lives. I am thankful that they were willing to stand up to the World’s superpower and fight an impossible war. I am thankful that great leaders have stood up at to nudge our country in the right direction at the moments of important decision. I am thankful for men and women who have served our country and for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

What I am most thankful for is that I live in that shining city on a hill; A city whose foundation is built and still held up today by great men and women of every race and religion.  We may not see the light shining as bright today as it has in the past, but if we are willing to stand up and do our best to stand in the shoes of the great American patriots that have gone before us, that light can shine brighter than it ever has before!

Happy Thanksgiving and may God continue to bless America!

A Look Back While Moving Forward

This past election the South/Southwest Suburbs had some great candidates running for office on the ballot, which is something that we have not seen in a long time! Some great people of the South/Southwest Suburbs stood up and made the decision that they would challenge the long time incumbents that too often run unopposed. Three of these people are Isaac Hayes who ran against Jesse Jackson Jr. (16 years) for the 2nd Congressional District, Adam Wojcik who ran against Maggie Crotty (13 years) in the 19th State Senate District, and Jeff Junkas who ran against Kevin McCarthy (14 years) for State Representative in the 37th District. Though these three candidates were not successful in winning the election they have all made great strides within their districts and have brought strong Republican campaigns to areas that all too often are given no real choice in who represents them.

It is because of these candidates and many others like them that we have begun to see a shift in the politics of Illinois and the country as a whole. I have GREAT respect for people like Isaac, Jeff and Adam (as well as the others like them) because they stood up and said that not only would they get their name on the ballot but they would run real campaigns with every intention of winning their race (unlike Mike Madigans mystery opponent). There is nothing more frustrating to me than going to the ballot on election day and seeing a race that is unopposed. I understand that there are many reasons that candidates don't challenge the incumbents, such as lack of money, lack of support, or a fear of upsetting the political machine who will steal signs, make late night calls on behalf of your campaign, sue your supporters, or maybe drag out statements made by you or a former employer from 10 years ago as a way to bash and discredit you (not that I have a certain campaign in mind).

I am not ignorant to the political leanings of the majority of the South/Southwest Suburbs but I do believe the people deserve a choice and why not give these unopposed Democrats a place to spend the money that they raise at the fundraisers they host even when they are unopposed (Al Riley). The truth is that Republican candidates should be able to expect support from the local party (Township Committeeman and State Central Committee), and the State Party. These elected and appointed officials should be the front line of support for candidates that choose to run for office within their districts. There also needs to be a greater effort on behalf of campaigns to co-op volunteers and campaign efforts in areas that overlap. This is for the good of the party and mutually beneficial to everyone involved.

I truly hope that in the near future that we see Isaac Hayes, Jeff Junkas, and Adam Wojcik on the ballot again; and I hope that the brave and honorable campaigns of these men encouraged and inspired others to take a stand within Democratic strongholds and inform the voters that they DO have a choice and that the Republican candidates do have a message that resonates with them and their own values. Education of the voters now needs to be the focus of future candidates as well as the GOP organizations located in the South and Southwest suburbs. These areas don't have strong majorities that vote republican and until they realize why it would actually be OK to vote for a good candidate with an R next to their name we will continue to lose elections in these areas.

On October 15th Michael Steele and the Fire Pelosi bus made a stop in Matteson, IL, an area that has not voted Republican in many years. This was an exciting moment for Republicans in the South Suburbs and a signal to Democrats that their safe haven of voters who don't care who the candidate is as long as they have a D next to their name was no longer safe. The Democratic organizations and campaigns hadn't even bothered to put up signs for their candidates in Matteson until the very morning that the bus tour was to show up.

At this event there was an apology and a commitment made by the Pat Brady, Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, saying that we will no longer ignore this area and that he "would be down here today, tomorrow, and the next day to get some Republicans or independents, or anybody in power that cares about your interests and my interests and not the what's in it for me interests of the Jackson organization."

This was a breath of fresh air to all those in attendance from the area and I look forward to working with Chairman Brady to keep this commitment and bring the message of the Republican Party to the South Suburbs. The message is a message of creating jobs, educating our children, keeping people safe, and ending the culture of corruption in the State of Illinois.

Video Via Fran Eaton and Illinois Review