Six Things to Be Grateful for This Thanksgiving

With all the doom-and-gloom coverage on cable news and an endless stream of negativity on social media, it can sometimes be difficult to remember just how blessed we are as Americans. Here are a few positive developments from this year to keep in mind this Thanksgiving.

Republicans Win the Trifecta

Admittedly, liberals may not be so thrilled about Republicans winning the White House, House, and Senate. But regardless of how they feel about it, the fact is that Americans now have reason for optimism that inflation and prices will come down, the border will be secured, and the Biden-Harris administration’s regulatory war on the economy will finally end. The great thing about having a strong economy and secure country is that everyone benefits no matter if they like who is in charge or not.

Free Speech Prevails on X

Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter (subsequently renamed X) in 2022 has proven to be one of the most significant victories for free speech in decades.

Four years ago, Twitter’s suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal helped ignite a national debate over online censorship and the ability of Big Tech companies to silence free speech. This year, however, X saw a flourishing of free and open debate about who was the best choice to lead the country for the next four years. For essentially the first time since the advent of social media, Americans had an online platform where they could exchange ideas in an election year without nameless, faceless “content moderators” silencing or suppressing their voices.

At a time when so many of our constitutional rights seem to be under constant attack, X’s emergence as a bastion of free speech is a welcome and much-needed development that every American should be grateful for.

Conservatives Are Turning the Cultural Tide

The shocking number of leading Silicon Valley figures who threw their support behind President-elect Donald Trump this year – which would have been almost unthinkable eight years ago – is evidence enough that the left’s carefully constructed social taboo around publicly supporting conservative policies and values is crumbling.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and arguably the greatest visionary of our time, also openly backed Trump and is going to work in his administration. Joe Rogan, host of the most widely viewed podcast in the country, had Trump on and endorsed him.

Beyond just Trump, the cultural energy in the country seems to be shifting. Being a conservative, once associated with being stuffy and out of touch, is becoming “cool” again.

The Pro-Life Movement Is Starting to Win

Following the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision in 2022, the pro-life movement was dealt a series of losses in state ballot referendums throughout the country. What became clear is that, while Dobbs was a monumental legal victory, creating a culture of life would be an even more important struggle.

Coming into November 5, the pro-life side had lost all seven previous statewide referendums since Dobbs. This year, however, provided some rays of hope for the unborn as the pro-life side won statewide referendums in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

There is still a long way to go, but for the first time since Dobbs, the pro-life movement seems to have momentum and something to build on.

Breakthroughs in Cancer Research

2024 has been another year of breakthroughs in research to detect and treat cancer. Artificial Intelligence has helped doctors identify cancer at earlier stages by analyzing medical imaging, such as mammograms or CT scans, with higher accuracy than traditional methods. It has also accelerated drug discovery by predicting which compounds are most likely to be effective against specific cancer types.

Meanwhile, DNA sequencing has better enabled the identification of genetic mutations that drive cancer, enabling personalized treatments tailored to the unique genetic profile of a patient’s tumor. It has also improved early detection through liquid biopsies that identify cancer-related DNA in the bloodstream.

Life, Family, and Health

We all have room to grow—whether it’s taking steps toward healthier lifestyles or striving to be better family members. Yet, during this season of giving thanks, it’s vital to pause and appreciate the blessings we already have. Chief among these are our loved ones and the gift of life itself. Simply being here today is reason enough to reflect with gratitude.

Each day presents us with the chance to make the world a little brighter. The progress we celebrate now exists because of people who dared to dream of a better future and worked to bring it to life. This Thanksgiving, let us give thanks not only for the blessings we enjoy but also for the opportunities ahead to help shape a better world.

Shane Harris is a writer and political consultant from Southwest Ohio. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.