Be a Little Thankful
What Campus Progress and Pushback.org are thankful for this Thanksgiving.By Campus Progress and Pushback
November 26, 2008
(istockphoto.com)I’m thankful for the sense of empowerment that millions of progressive volunteers were given this year. I can’t wait to see what they do next.
- Brad Portnoy, Pushback blogger
I am thankful that the attacks on women’s rights like an abortion ban in South Dakota, a “personhood” amendment in Colorado, and a parental notification measure in California were all defeated, ensuring that a woman’s right to choose is still strong!
-Arielle Fleisher, Events Associate
I am thankful for tuna. It’s delicious, been there for me in hard economic times, and nearly extinct?
-Austin Thompson, Pushback blogger
I’m thankful that I’m from Massachusetts, a state that is a national leader in universal healthcare, gay rights, and low income housing. Hopefully next year I’ll be thankful that my state’s leadership has inspired other states and/or the federal government to take on similar projects to improve the country.
- Celia Segel, Advocacy Intern
I’m thankful for how this last election energized college students politically.
-Daniel Strauss, Pushback blogger
I’m grateful that the people of Colorado had the common sense and strength of character to reject a Ward Connerly referendum to ban affirmative action in higher education. Past experience shows that banning affirmative action statewide creates a resegregation of schools that damages not just opportunity but the quality of the educational experience.
-David Halperin, Director, Campus Progress, and Senior Vice President, Center for American Progress
I’m thankful that local governments across the country are continuing to step up to the climate challenge and are agreeing to reduce their emissions on their own accord, despite lagging support from federal or state governments. This year, the United States Conference of Mayors has more than 900 mayors who have signed on to lower carbon emissions in their communities.
-Cameron Cook, Events Intern
This year millions of people lost their homes due to foreclosures, hurricanes, and fires, so I am very thankful for my home.
-Diana Jou, Pushback blogger
I’m thankful that we have a president-elect who is committed to ridding the world of nuclear weapons, and that I live in a nation where that vision is beautiful, not frightening.
-Dylan Matthews, Pushback blogger
I’m thankful for the fact that campus activism isn’t totally dead.
-Emily Rutherford, Pushback blogger
I’m thankful that my home state of Massachusetts (which is also where Thanksgiving was born!) just took a giant step away from the draconian drug laws that unfairly imprison millions every year.
-Jesse Singal, Associate Editor of CampusProgress.org/Pushback
I’m thankful that, with the election of a president and vice president who are strong advocates for women, we will have an administration in place that will protect our rights to reproductive freedom and choice.
- Katie Andriulli, Communications and Outreach Manager
I’m thankful that there is new attention to investing in alternative energy. With flights back home to Minnesota increasing by $50-$100 every time I fly, it becomes harder and harder to travel home and see my family for the holidays.
-Kay Steiger, Associate Editor of CampusProgress.org/Pushback
I’m thankful for a new generation of young people who are excited about politics. The video of "You can vote however you like" was so inspiring, not to mention cute as hell.
-Loryn C. Wilson, Pushback blogger
I am thankful that the Obama transition team has restricted the role of lobbyists.
-Paula-Raye O’Sullivan, Events Associate
I’m thankful for legislation that will help limit conflicts of interest between student loan companies and financial aid officers, as well as protect young people from deceptive and unethical marketing practices by private student loan mongers.
-Pedro de la Torre, Advocacy Senior Associate
Although I have been a resident of Washington, D.C., for almost eight years, I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. While I lived there, my congressional representative was Joe Knollenberg, whose pro-NRA, anti-gay, anti-environment, anti-choice conservative politics helped me form my own political orientation growing up. I am thankful that my district finally kicked Joe to the curb by replacing him with an awesome progressive, Gary Peters.
-Rob Anderson, Editor of CampusProgress.org/Pushback
I am thankful that our Vice President-elect Joe Biden has worked to protect women who are victims of domestic abuse. He demonstrated this when he drafted the Violence Against Women Act, and will continue to protect these women and work for more rights over the next four years.
-Rosanna Herrera, Events Manager
I am thankful that the Obama-Biden transition team has an explicit policy prohibiting discrimination in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity even though there is no federal law making it illegal to discriminate or terminate an employee based on either.
-Tanya Paperny, Advocacy Associate
This year, I’m thankful for the economic crisis because while my Thanksgiving turkey will be more expensive than last year, I can count on incredibly discounted holiday shopping!
-Vincent Paolo Villano, Events Associate
This may sound somewhat trite and generic, but I’m thankful for the continued health, happiness, and well being of my family.
-Matt Zeitlin, Pushback blogger
Happy Thanksgiving! Share what you are thankful for in comments.
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