OPINION: We fight to preserve what we are thankful for
Tomorrow, families and friends will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving — a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks. It’s a time to refocus our attention on the things that matter most to us.
While political involvement might seem like a reaction to the ugliness in the world, at its core is a deep, heartfelt drive to protect the things we are thankful for.
Democrats fight for school funding because we are thankful for the compassion and professionalism of talented teachers, staff, and administration.
Democrats fight to protect our public lands and environment, because we are thankful for the memories we have made in these beautiful places and how they bring peace to our souls.
We fight for economic opportunities, because we love our community and want to see everyone in it thrive.
And we are unshakably thankful for the privilege of having a voice in our own government.
What we focus our attention on becomes the catalyst for what we protect, nurture, and grow. If we are thankful for freedom, we will stand up to defend it. If we value our community, we will invest in its well-being. If we value our First Amendment rights, we will use our voice. Gratitude, in its truest form, isn’t passive.
Focusing on what is good — on what is worth saving — gives us strength to keep fighting for it. Gratitude grounds our courage.
Gratitude is more than a feeling; it’s a form of stewardship. When we give our attention to what matters — our rights, our values, our neighbors, our planet — we naturally take steps to protect and preserve them.
It’s easy to express thanks when life is comfortable, when things are going our way. But when times are tough, gratitude becomes something deeper. It reminds us that beauty and goodness still exist, even in hardship — and that these things are worth defending.
To make gratitude grow, we must practice it. Write down what you value — freedom, friendship, your voice, faith, health — and ask yourself how you can help preserve those things not just for yourself but for others too. Speak your thanks aloud, especially to those who serve, teach, care, or sacrifice quietly. Notice the small blessings that make up daily life — a neighbor’s kindness, a child’s laughter, the peace of a shared meal.
When we train our eyes to see what is good, our hands naturally move to protect it. When one person shows gratitude, it can inspire many others to do the same.
So this Thanksgiving, let’s treat gratitude as a call to action—a reminder that what we treasure most deserves our attention, our care, and our defense. Because what we focus on grows, and what we are grateful for, we will protect.
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Sarah Martin is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.