Reasons to be thankful

‘SuperDave,’ a single father and custom bicycle builder: “I feel grateful that I have been blessed to have a beautiful daughter, that she is very smart and understands the things I explain to her. She makes me hopeful for humanity in general, because I can see things I need to do in life to actually make a good future for her and myself.” “I was raised in east Brooklyn in the 90s, where all I saw was drugs. I’ve seen people get shot right in front of me. I’ve been through a lot. So, for me to actually make it, where I’m at right now, I literally pray on my way to work.”

Philip Pritchard, a professor of mechanical engineering at Manhattan College: “I am thankful for my good health. Autumn weather. I’m thankful that the economy seems to be okay. I can tell you what I’m not thankful for. I am devastated by you-know-what… I am devastated by the idea, President Trump.

his wife, Marilyn Silverman, cancer survivors: Mr. Kay: “I’m thankful to be alive because I have cancer over most of my body and I’m still alive… I have lung cancer, brain cancer and cancer of the hip.” “I’m most thankful that Marilyn is alive and I’m here to share [Thanksgiving] with her... We’re both cancer survivors.” Ms. Silverman: “I’m thankful for being alive and for finding a wonderful man to share my life with.”

Cecilia Ramirez: “I am thankful for a beautiful family. I have one boy, and one boy on the way, and my nephew who lives with us, and we have a pretty great life.”

Daniela Munoz, an eighth-grader: “I am thankful that my mom can have no debts anymore, and I’m thankful that my family is all healthy and that I have everything that I have.”

Isaiah Foster, a freshman at the College of Mount Saint Vincent: “I am thankful for my mother, for all the hard work she had done for me to get into this college. This is my first year. Not only am I thankful for that, but I am thankful for her for raising me throughout the years. Just her being a single mother. It’s really hard for her.”

Arben Gashi, left, a senior at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, standing with a classmate, right, who declined to give his name: “I guess just the whole Mount community. It’s just really diverse, a good community. Everyone gets along real well. It’s what I’m thankful for.”

rian Bernard, a sophomore at the College of Mount Saint Vincent: “I’m thankful for all of the good friends that I have here. A lot of them support me when I have trouble with school, things that are personal. So, this year, I am very thankful for my friends.”

John Kruth, a professor of music at the College of Mount Saint Vincent and singer/songwriter: “I’m thankful, and this might sound strange, that Donald Trump, in his really twisted way, has brought so many people together, so many different backgrounds, so many different persuasions.” “I was in two of the marches just last week. One of the marches, it was so amazing. At one point, I was hanging with the Latino contingency and trying to chant in Spanish with them. And, then, I found myself amongst a Muslim group. And, I found myself amongst the LGBT community. The diversity is unlike any other protest that I’ve been in, in my life since the Vietnam War, the Iraq Wars, since Occupy Wall Street... I have to say that I am very thankful... that freedom of speech still exists.”