OPINION:
This year has been rough in some respects, with prices still high from the Biden years, mass shootings and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Plus, we have seen wars overseas and an alarming rise in antisemitism in the U.S.
Still, a lot of good is happening too. Here are 13 things worth celebrating, in no particular order except for the first entry:
Christmas is still a big deal: The birth of Jesus and his message of redemption and eternal life have inspired billions of people all over the world. People in the United States, even non-Christians, seemed this time around to feel freer to express seasonal joy and to wish one another a “Merry Christmas” without fear of offense.
The White House is doing great things: President Trump has been reversing hundreds of bad policies put into place by his predecessor and appointing judges who respect the Constitution.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is nowhere near the Oval Office: Had she won, she would have been a leftist Grinch, wreaking havoc on hardworking citizens. Makes one shudder to think about it. Brrrrr.
The transgender overreach is getting major pushback: In Europe and America, people are waking to the reality that subjecting sexually confused kids to dangerous drugs, hormones and surgeries is child abuse at its worst. This should still be a major issue for Republicans because Democrats support the madness in every way, including allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports. Make them own it.
America’s border is secure: From millions of illegal aliens crossing each year under the Biden administration, the torrent has slowed to a trickle. The Border Patrol reported zero “catch-and-releases” into the U.S. for at least nine consecutive months.
Military recruitment is way up: The Pentagon reports the best performance in 15 years, with all active-duty branches meeting or exceeding goals, as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth restores the “warrior” culture.
A tragedy with a silver lining: After Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk was killed on a Utah college campus on Sept. 10, Turning Point USA has experienced explosive growth. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has impressed the world with her poise, courage and determination. At TPUSA’s AmericaFest 2025 in Phoenix, she said, “More than 140,000 people have submitted requests to join … bringing the membership to over 1 million people across 4,000 chapters.” Even superstar rapper Nicki Minaj has come out as a closet conservative.
Young people are going back to church: In what it describes as a “historic reversal,” the Barna Group reports that young adults are now the most regular attendees among churched Christians. These include Gen Z and Millennials. Further, the decline in overall church attendance, which began stabilizing in 2020, shows no sign of diving again, with a possible revival underway.
The Supreme Court slapped down Planned Parenthood: In June, the court rejected its claim that South Carolina must fund it with tax dollars. Along those lines, the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act defunded the abortion giant for at least a year.
The stock market continues to roar: The economy is showing vibrant growth. Inflation has been curbed, and the gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, exceeding forecasts.
Gasoline prices have plummeted: Thanks to Mr. Trump’s renewed emphasis on America’s energy production, a gallon costs less than $3 in most places except, of course, California. This will ripple through the economy. The jury is out on his tariffs, but they have brought in an estimated $200 billion to the U.S. Treasury and inspired billions of dollars in new corporate investments in the U.S.
Venezuela is reeling: The socialist South American dictatorship may crash and take Havana’s with it. This would free two nations from totalitarian rule. The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Trump’s seizure of oil tankers is strangling already impoverished communist Cuba. At the least, Cuba’s leaders are less able to sow revolution in South and Central America. At best, both tyrannical governments will be overthrown, democratic republics will emerge, and millions who fled will get to return to their countries.
Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers relit the spirit of Babe Ruth: The impossibly good slugger/pitcher on the Dodgers is doing things not seen since the 1920s. Despite some lingering nods to wokeness, Major League Baseball is doing well. Total attendance was 71,409,421 fans, the third consecutive year exceeding 70 million. Credit goes to star power and the pitch clock, which makes games more watchable.
Finally, here’s a 14th reason to celebrate. For mental health reasons, radio stations and stores agreed to limit the number of times Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was played.
Just kidding. I heard it over and over, but for some reason, it didn’t bother me.
Happy New Year!
• Robert Knight is a columnist for The Washington Times. His website is roberthknight.com.
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