Learning From the Past to Reclaim Our Future:
A Call to Courage This Thanksgiving—
Our Work Has Just Begun
Commentary by Maureen Steele, Special to the Boston Broadside
The journey of the Pilgrims from England to America was not merely a voyage; it was an ordeal that tested the limits of human endurance.
Packed tightly on a small, creaking ship, enduring months of storms and sickness, the original settlers sacrificed everything for the promise of freedom.
They faced starvation, disease, and the unknown, driven by the belief that liberty was worth any cost.
Their suffering was unimaginable by modern standards. Families huddled together in cramped quarters, seasick and exhausted, surrounded by death and despair. Yet, through it all, they held onto hope and the vision of a new life in a land where they could worship freely, live authentically, and shape their own destinies.
Contrast that with today. Americans are arguably more miserable than ever, despite living in a time of unprecedented comfort and convenience.
Mental illness is rampant. Anxiety and depression plague millions, with suicide rates climbing to tragic heights.
In Canada, a child as young as 12 can end their life without parental consent—an unthinkable reflection of how deeply disconnected society has become from hope and humanity.
We live in a world where people are glued to their screens, endlessly comparing their lives to curated snapshots of others, fostering envy, dissatisfaction, and despair.
Our workplaces have become battlegrounds of gloom and resentment. Communities are fractured. Our government, the once beacon of liberty, has been riddled with corruption for generations, trampling on the very Constitution meant to safeguard our freedoms.
People are jailed without cause, and justice is dispensed unevenly. “There are none so oppressed as those who believe themselves to be free.”
This profound truth speaks to the illusion under which many Americans live. We are told we are free, yet our rights are stripped, our voices silenced, and our lives controlled by forces that care little for our well-being.
We feed our money to the tax-man and he feeds us poison – quite literally. We are obese and sick with nearly half the population diabetic.
Our forebears fought for freedom, braving unimaginable suffering to secure it. We now find ourselves facing a different kind of peril—a spiritual and societal decay that threatens to consume us if we do not act.
The settlers did not survive their journey by giving in to fear or despair. They survived through unity, courage, and a relentless belief in the goodness of their cause.
They supported one another, relying on their shared humanity to navigate the darkest days. Today, we need that same spirit.
We must recognize the humanity in each other, setting aside petty divisions and rediscovering the goodness that lies at the core of every person.
We are spiritual beings, having a human experience, and at the heart of our existence is love.
Love is what binds us, what lifts us, and what can save us if we let it. But love alone is not enough. Love must be paired with action.
Now that Donald Trump has returned to office, we have a unique opportunity to reclaim our nation. The next four years must be a time of relentless resolve.
We must demand accountability from those who have trampled on our rights, enforce the laws that protect our freedoms, and rebuild the foundations of a just and moral society.
The settlers planted the seeds of a free nation with their courage and sacrifice. We must now tend to that garden, uprooting the weeds of corruption, division, and despair.
We must break bread with one another, extending our hands across divides, and remember that unity—not uniformity—is our greatest strength.
Let this Thanksgiving be a moment of reflection and recommitment to our forebears ideals. We honor the courage of those who came before us by showing courage ourselves.
We honor their sacrifices by refusing to give in to despair.
And we honor the humanity in each other by building a future rooted in love, truth, and freedom.
The journey ahead will not be easy. The seas are rough, and the way forward uncertain. But if we focus on what truly matters—on love, gratitude, and unity we can navigate these stormy waters together.
Just as the pilgrim settlers reached the shores of freedom, so too can we reclaim the promise of our nation if we walk in courage and truth.
Let us together give our children and our children’s children something to be grateful for -Freedom.
Because Truth is Freedom and Freedom is Truth.
Maureen Steele is a reflective writer, paralegal and advocate. She writes from her heart and though sometimes controversial, her overarching message is one of patriotism, hope and encouragement.
Contact her on X @MaureenSteele_ or email MSteelePa@gmail.com
