From Washington, D.C.

Returning from Washington, D.C. this week I am overcome with thanksgiving for the men who designed our government and the women who influenced them-their mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, nurses, teachers. I am thankful to live in a country where the pursuit of happiness is still available for those who are willing to work for it. Often, those ready to work the hardest are immigrants, legal or not, who will do whatever job is available to make American dollars to support their families and give them a newer better standard of living.

Walking through the country's capitol, you can't miss the excitement, the potential, the diversity of people and ideas. People of all nationalities, all races, all regions of the US, all political parties, all kinds of mixed couples and mixed families, religious groups, protest groups walk side by side.

The monuments and museums help us remember and honor the great ideas that shaped our union over 200+ years and the sacrifices that kept us free, as well as the mistakes and atrocities that must not be allowed to happen again. From the founding fathers to Martin Luther King, our leaders are honored in larger than life memorials because they rose above the many to make a difference for all.

I don't think we will give up on this legacy. This is a country where we still strive for the best possible government. Even now, we are struggling to revamp it-to make it more representative and more transparent. It is not the first time our government has lost its way and forgotten to listen to the people. Remember the 60s and 70s when a counter-culture movement turned cities on their heels, a misguided war that we fought with our best young men.

But, because it is not the first time, we know that this we can remedy.  We the people have individual rights to talk about what is wrong, to gather and stew about it, to assemble for a peaceful protest and to vote every dysfunctional congressperson out of office.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful to know that I can express my opinion, strongly or gently, in writing or verbally. I can use words and peaceful actions to make people think or make them angry without getting shot and shoved into an unmarked grave or put in a political prison without hope of escape. I am thankful that Americans are educated to know about these freedoms because when we forget, that is when we can lose it all.

At Thanksgiving, God bless these United States of America.