Editorial - A Christmas wish list from the newspaper

Talk about it

Do you have a Christmas wish list?

As a small town community newspaper, we do.

We wish residents will savor and build upon what’s right in the community rather than tearing it down with non-constructive complaining.

We wish residents will show more interest in their local government by attending school board, city council and county commissioner meetings.

We wish residents will be more open-minded about other people’s ideas and respect their right to have an opinion.

We wish residents will be more willing to share their viewpoints by speaking up at public hearings, writing a letter to the editor or contacting their elected officials.

We wish residents will support local merchants that provide jobs and are at the heart of the community by giving them a shot at their business first.

We wish residents will generously support non-profit organizations that rely so much on their contributions, especially during these challenging economic times.

We wish people will think twice before forwarding on some unsubstantiated claim on the Internet.

We wish people will put more effort into the simple act of listening – really listening, not just waiting for the other person to quit talking.

We wish drivers will show more patience and courtesy on our roads by obeying the speed limit, yielding the right-of-way when they should, and knocking off the tailgating.

We wish residents will become more connected to their community by volunteering, going to events and showing pride in where they live.

We wish people will spend more time counting their blessings instead of their bank accounts.

We wish more people will get involved in the political process instead of giving up or lumping all politicians as scoundrels.

We wish elected officials will follow what they believe is best in their own heart and for their own constituents, not necessarily what their political party is pushing.

We wish fans at local sporting events will show better sportsmanship by not booing other players or heckling the refs.

We wish anyone who uses the lakes to take a little more care in protecting this precious resource, especially when it comes to transporting aquatic invasive species.

We wish all snowmobile drivers will remember to stay on the trails and designated routes instead of trespassing on other people’s property.

We wish people will spend a little more time putting themselves in another person’s shoes before they speak ill of them.

Lastly, we wish people will simply slow down from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and appreciate the things that truly matter – family, faith and friends.

All of us at the Echo Press wish all our faithful readers, sources and advertisers a very merry and blessed Christmas!

Tags: opinion, editorials