The View From Here . . .

By Bob Morgan, Jr.

Each year, I dedicate this space to a list of the many things for which we should be grateful. Perhaps this makes for repetitious reading, but I do believe that is important to remember, especially during Thanksgiving week, how fortunate we are.

In some ways, of course, giving thanks may seem a little more difficult this year, with spreading economic gloom, a credit crunch, bailouts and new rounds of layoffs. Nevertheless, the United States has weathered other crises, and not just in the Great Depression. In the 1970's, for example, we got through a major oil crisis, galloping inflation and a stock market rout. There is every prospect that we will survive the present turmoil as well.

In truth, the United States remains the world's preeminent economic and military power. The United States still accounts for about 25 percent of the world's gross domestic product and affords its citizens a very high standard of living. This remains the land of opportunity as evidenced by the millions of people around the world desiring to emigrate to our shores.

In addition to tremendous economic liberty, our country continues to provide a very high degree of civil liberty. Here, freedom of speech, of religion and of the press are everyday realities. The power of the government is limited and civil liberties provided for in the constitution are regularly enforced by the courts. The voters have real power. On January 20, the outgoing presidential administration will voluntarily leave office and cede power to the newly elected leaders, something so routine it is rarely remarked upon.

Even those who were disappointed by the results of the recent election can find reasons for thanks. Barack Obama's rise to power and historic election as the first African-American president are proof once again that anyone with the right ability and initiative can grow up to be our nation's leader. Mr. Obama will be a young and energetic chief executive who will use his considerable talents to move the country in a new direction.

And, it may be unfashionable to say, but we owe thanks to President George W. Bush as well. This is a dangerous world, as was demonstrated by the September 11, 2001 attacks, but Mr. Bush's vigilance has managed to help keep our country safe from attack for seven and a half years. In Iraq, the supposedly inflexible Mr. Bush learned from mistakes made earlier in the war and settled on the right general, David Patraeus, and the right stategy to make the situation much better. I suspect that the verdict of history will be much kinder to Mr. Bush than the one reflected in current opinion polls.

Of course, we also have our families and our personal lives to be thankful for. In our household, young Robert is navigating the shoals of high school and adolescence. He remains a bright and witty young man and a good companion. Our extended family is doing well and, thankfully, so is our newspaper enterprise.

So happy Thanksgiving to all. Just please take a moment to smell the roses and to be grateful for all we have been given.