Make a Statement America … Merry Christmas!
First, and foremost, I love the city of New York. Especially at Christmas time. Especially on Broad Street, in the middle of the street, right in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The age of being politically correct has officially ended and we can now all take a step back, relax, smile and say with a full heart to all our friends, relatives, and business associates: Merry Christmas!
Fifteen years ago almost 3000 innocent people died within very close proximity to this street address and vital economic institution of Liberty. It was an act of Islamic Terrorism that started a war that is still being waged around the globe to this very day. Despite this fact, we are still grateful for all of our blessings and stand unafraid of those who wish us harm from anywhere on our planet. These innocent ‘American Workers’ are gone now, but New York City has not forgotten. I have not forgotten, and would like to pay a special tribute to each and every person who lost loved ones on that terrible day. To borrow the famous opening from Dicken’s novel – A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times”. Christmas can bring painful memories.
Christmas represents a very special day on the calendar for all Americans. It’s a day of Hope, Joy, Thanksgiving and Praise. For Catholics and Christians, it represents the solemn birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in a manger in the town of Bethlehem over 2016 years ago. For everyone else of all affiliations and beliefs – it is a sacred American seasonal ‘pause’ in the business of our great, united and diverse nation. The greatest nation on earth. A land of opportunity for all, and a place where miracles happen every day – if you want to work hard for it.
Merry Christmas my American friends, of all creeds, denominations, and cultures. We are all blessed. Despite what the Mass Media may claim – we are not divided – but rather blessed and united – in one great mutual pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Please at least give that statement time to resonate before ‘going negative’. Please just pause and reflect and try to appreciate all the blessings you may take for granted each and every day you just roll out of bed in the morning – to a new day in America.
To my friends of other nations or cultures, Christmas is a very special Holiday in the U.S. It is our custom to stop, focus on our families, and also on our own personal accomplishments for the past year, and reflect. It is a time to say thank you, show genuine love to each other, and dream. Hopefully, to Dream Big. It is also a time of sorrow for those filled with the warm and love filled memories of Merry Christmas past because someone near and dear has passed on. Still, even with pain, we can and do hold up Hope for a better year ahead – no matter what challenges we may face. We are Americans, and this is what we do.
My country has the most diverse population on the planet earth. I am a proud ‘American Worker’ that holds Hope for my children’s future. I am proud of the sacrifices of my patriotic forefathers from the first day of the American Revolution. I see each and every one of their brave faces smiling back at me from within every single needle, twig and branch of that bold statement sitting proudly on the pavement in front of the NYSE – in the middle of Broad Street.
A beautiful warm, reassuring, gigantic symbol of American Liberty and Freedom … A symbol of defiance in the face of evil. An American Christmas Tree.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year my Linked In Colleagues. All of the best to you and yours in 2017. : )