Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a big holiday.

Big families around big tables consuming big turkeys.

More importantly, Thanksgiving represents a big opportunity for its celebrants – an opportunity to reflect on gifts and blessings.

But less than 24 hours later, that concept is tossed out quicker than the turkey bones from supper the night before.

Black Friday is an enigma. One day after expressing thankfulness for all that we have, Consumer America tells us to buy more.

We’re told to shop and splurge in an effort to surround ourselves with an excess of material goods.

Here at “The Temple News,” we’re not going to tell you to shop on Black Friday.

Instead – and in the spirit of this holiday – we’ll offer a list of things for which we’re thankful:

The razing of Curtis Hall. It was a pleasure to watch as that tired, overused class building at 13th Street and Montgomery Avenue was demolished, but we wish Alter Hall’s construction would speed up.

The Temple football team. A homecoming win was a treat for the student body, alumni and the players. We’re not thankful for it taking 11 losses to notch that single victory.

Dedicated leaders. Ainsley Carry and Arnold Boyd provided Temple with a unique brand of leadership. Special people will need to replace Carry, the now-departed dean of students, and Boyd, program coordinator for the Office of Student Activities who passed away earlier this month.

Edge at Avenue North. It’s about time the commercial side of it is close to completion, only months after the apartment complex opened its doors.

Unseasonable warmth. This will be the first Thanksgiving in recent memory when we won’t need heavy coats. Hooray.

Voter turnout. Our age demographic
showed up at the polls this month, experiencing a slight increase over the last election. But, at 24 percent,
there’s room for growth.

Our role. At “The Temple News,” we’re thankful to serve as the voice of this university’s community. That’s something Black Friday could never take away.

Happy Turkey Day.