mark.young@manateeherald.com
A reader scolded me a little bit for being something of a Negative Nellie regarding my philosophy on New Year’s resolutions that I laid out at our last visit.
She essentially said that she loves the fact that I always keep it real, but I didn’t have to be a buzzkill on a day where millions of Americans are reaching out for hope that better things are ahead for them in the New Year.
I told her that I didn’t believe the term Negative Nellie could be applied unless she somehow believed it was a gender neutral term so I questioned if using a female phrase in addressing a man was part of her woke agenda.
I’m kidding, of course. I simply reiterated to her that wasn’t the message at all and that I understand the reasoning behind the concept that a day on a calendar can, indeed, represent a day of hope to many.
Even though my Grumpy Old Man persona can escape my efforts to contain him at times, I watched the ball drop with as much emotion as any other American. As each second ticked down to the New Year, I chained my natural desire to be a realist and allowed myself to feel the New Year hope for humanity.
Where I feel the most hope is right here in Manatee County where 2023 will surely shine brighter than previous years. I don’t think a large portion of America will be able to say the same.
America still has to deal with a liberal-controlled Senate, a traitor in the White House, a collapse of law and order in blue cities, a southern invasion and an insane wokeness that has spread its infection into our military.
But it’s time to remember my own mantra that America is defined from the community outward and not the other way around.
So when I look around at Manatee County and what we were able to accomplish in order to establish 2023 as a better year, then we have reason to celebrate the New Year. My fellow Patriots, we have reason to hope.
We enter the New Year with a strong Conservative majority on our board of commissioners, a brand new Conservative majority on our school board, maintained the Conservative nature of Palmetto’s city commission, and greatly improved the Bradenton City Council.
We remain blessed with Conservative leadership in our law enforcement agencies, solidified Conservative leadership at the state level and sent Conservative representation back to Washington to continue the good fight.
By God, we did our part.
So while we can continue to point out the troubled waters we find ourselves in as a nation, our community is in good hands. And if you believe like I do that America is built outward from the community for which you fight, then how can I not feel hope?
Florida is becoming the model of how America should conduct business and Manatee County is the model for Florida.
So as America hunkers down to survive further Biden disasters, we can rest easy in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ words: “Florida is where woke comes to die.”
Indeed, and Manatee County is where woke comes to get its butt kicked thanks to all of you who work so hard to make our community thrive with true American values.
It’s easy to look at all the national debacles and feel alarmed. But if we want to see, feel and enjoy what it is to be an American, all we have to do is look out our window.
So as we dip into 2023 my friends, stay vigilant, stay informed and yes, be hopeful for the coming year because we in Manatee County wake up every day in America.
Not all “Americans” can say the same.
