We truly do still have a lot to be thankful for in the Friendly City. Even in this season of exploding gas prices, an unauthorized and unnecessary war with Iran, groceries and other consumer goods at an all-time high, and our government doing inexplicable things that continue to benefit mostly the 2% among us, still we rise.

We are a proud nation that still must look beyond our faults and find those virtues that help identify us as a nation still yearning to be free. When you take a minute and think about it, we have far more in common than we have differences. We are still the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Let us stay vigilant, inspired and willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. I am always impressed by those with the least means who are ready and willing to go beyond their financial capabilities to brighten the lives and hopes of those most vulnerable among us.

Here in the city of Columbus, we see it day in and day out, with people reaching across the racial and economic divides to bring joy, love and understanding to others they ordinarily would have no connection with.

We are a far better Columbus when we are working together and not against each other. That doesn’t mean that we won’t disagree from time to time, but we don’t have to remain disagreeable. We have to remain at the table of meaningful dialogue, even when it is uncomfortable and contentious, to reach a viable solution for the betterment of this city and every stakeholder in Lowndes County.

Larry Watson

Columbus