EDITORIAL — A big thank you

And just like that we are on the last day of 2024. Just like previous years, this year was eventful. Where do we even begin? In the international scene we had the still-ongoing war in Ukraine. One dictatorial regime fell in the Middle East, but this is still against the backdrop of the war going on in Gaza. Both conflicts are threatening to spread to even more parts of the world and involve more countries.

Then we had the reelection of a world leader who is as divisive as he is unpredictable.

In the national and local scene there was fighting among the highest officials of the land; one of whom was accused of stealing public funds. There was also the passive-aggressive, almost cordial and friendly “fight” between two local officials, each of whom insists they are the rightful mayor.

Then there were also gross dishonesty among local officials, some later linked to gambling and criminal activity. There was also a religious leader who fell out of favor, but he was not the only high-profile wanted person arrested, because two of those would also be arrested abroad, one still waiting for deportation.

We don’t even have to mention the other natural and man-made disasters that came our way. There were so many things and events that affected us one way or another.

But the fact that we made it to the end of this year, and the fact that we will live to see another year --although we don’t yet know what it might bring-- is cause enough to be thankful.

Yes, thankful.

We should be thankful that we are still breathing. That we are still alive. That we live to see another day, another year, because this means we still have the chance to able to better ourselves and improve our lot and those of whom we love.

But there is also another form of gratitude, one from a service provider to its customers. In this case, a newspaper to its readers.

As an organization, allow us to thank you, our dear readers, for sticking it out with us for another year. We know we keep saying this but without you we would never have made it through another year.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.