Mouth That Roars

Bill Liblick has made a name for himself of National TV Talk Shows where he spouted his outspoken views from the front row. Now he offers you his opinion every week in the "MOUTH THAT ROARS" Column in the Sullivan County Post.

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November 24th, 2011

Keeping the Spirit of Thanksgiving Alive

Everyone has their own definition of thanksgiving. For some it is a time when family and friends gather and share warmth and love, others gear up for shopping frenzies, while still others plan their weekend watching football and sitting on the couch.

Thanksgiving has always been a time when we remember people in need and try to make lives better by sharing warm meals.

For me, Thanksgiving has always been a time of reflection, a time to take stock and evaluate what I have to be thankful for. This year has been one of the most difficult trying times in my life. The horrific sexual assault and tragic passing of my developmentally disabled sister Paula has forever changed my life. During this thanksgiving season, I am grateful and thankful for all those people who continually are there for me during this difficult time. They literally keep me going.

I am tremendously thankful to Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther for her efforts to keep Paula’s name alive by introducing legislation named after her mandating surveillance cameras be placed outside of all state run group homes and day programs. I pray “Paula’s Law” is signed into law in 2012 to protect our most vulnerable.

I am thankful and grateful for Sullivan County residents and their strong resolve and desire to always help those in need. When a disaster occurs we always unite as one big family.

We are fortunate to have so many dedicated people who volunteer their services for us. Our firefighters, ambulance workers, and members of civic and religious organizations continually go above and beyond their call of duty.

We must be thankful to all the members of our law enforcement community and those in the military who constantly risk their lives for us. These people have a spirit in them that words cannot express.

Although I am often critical of many of our elected officials and their approach to running our government, I am equally grateful for all they do for us. I am thankful that our electorate proves time and time again that they will not allow party affiliation to be their determining factor in electing candidates. Hopefully everyone will unite to work for a better and more prosperous Sullivan County.

Unfortunately, the holidays are not a joyous of time of year for many people. There are those who have no one to celebrate with, and they tend to become sad and lonely. Depression is known to occur more frequently, as the days get shorter and it becomes colder. We must be thankful to all of the charitable organizations that are there for those in need.

The holiday season is a time we should embrace all of our fellow human beings no matter their race, creed, color, sexual orientation, or economic status Let’s be thankful for what we have, and share the joy with those around us.

Kiki, Dudley, and now George and Gracie are thankful for their loving home. They asked me to remind everyone to please leave out an extra bowl of food for that stray cat. And, if anyone would like to adopt a new cat, I know several strays that would love to be in a warm indoor home for the holidays.

Let’s all keep the spirit of thanksgiving alive all year long.

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