Gratitude for afforded democratic freedoms

When I heard the news on Monday, Oct. 28, that the last load of beets had just been delivered to the receiving station my heart skipped with gratitude. There is no greater supporter of our farmers than I. In the spring I pray hard that the weather conditions will be such that all of the crops can be planted; in the summer that they will not be destroyed and in the fall that they all might be harvested. I am not alone. At our condominium pot luck suppers those who are asked to bless the food always give thanks for this land of freedom and prosperity. Nor do they forget our democratic form of government. During these recent municipal elections we ought to have felt grateful for it to the point that we actually cast our ballots. Sadly, about two-thirds of our eligible voters did not.

In the world today wars are being fought, innocent children and civilians are being killed and crops and buildings are being destroyed, as people struggle for the rights we sometimes indifferently take for granted. We must be ever diligent in expressing and preserving all of our democratic rights, including the right to vote.

We thank those who have served us in the elected councils of our local communities, and let us support those who now have that opportunity and sometimes burdensome and thankless task of doing so for the next four years. To those who were unsuccessful in continuing their bid for office or not achieving that goal, we applaud your efforts and graciousness in accepting defeat and now shifting your support to those who were elected.

As we struggle and serve together to develop a prosperous, safe, caring and desirable community let us show gratitude towards those who also serve, even if it is in a different way than we do. This community is our home. Let’s make it the best one we possibly can.

RAY SHEEN