Commentary

Why Greenland is Important to U.S. National Security Interests

Because there has been so much discussion lately regarding the importance of Greenland to U.S. national security, I wanted to address the topic.

Greenland is critical to U.S. national security because of its strategic Arctic location wherein it basically acts as a northern shield for North America. This includes housing crucial early-warning missile detection systems and, more broadly, offering a buffer to Chinese and Russian influence.

It is always helpful to look back over the previous year, both as a sense of accomplishment and as an indication of how the new year may go.

2025 was quite a year in many respects, much of it positive.

The U.S. economy is growing solidly, energy costs are dramatically lower than a year ago, employment is up, inflation is at 3 percent, our southern border is secure, and the national murder rate is anticipated to drop significantly. In addition, America is not at war—in fact, President Trump has deftly ended 8 wars—and I predict Russia-Ukraine will be next. (I will address Venezuela next week).

The holidays have always been about more than gifts under the tree. When I think back to the stories my own family has shared, it wasn’t the presents they remembered most - it was the traditions. Those small, repeated acts, year after year, wove a sense of belonging and joy that carried through generations.

Some of the simplest traditions are also the most memorable. Families once gathered to make paper chains or string popcorn and cranberries to drape across the Christmas tree. The process was as important as the finished garland - children giggled while sneaking bites of popcorn, mothers threaded the needles, and fathers hung the strands carefully across the branches. It was less about the decoration and more about the time together.

His Coming was predicted even in the Garden of Eden: And for the next 4,000 years prophets foretold what He’d be like and where He’d be born

But, their eyes were blinded to His Arrival by

“the god of this world”

and their “hearts were hardened through an evil heart of unbelief and the deceitfulness of sin” (II Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 3:12-13).

That’s why they didn’t recognize Him as the long-awaited, anointed-and-appointed, Promised Deliverer sent from God ( the Messiah/Christ): and ultimately rejected Him, refusing to accept Him (John 1:12).

And, that’s why He prayed “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24)— for, in reality, they didn’t know Who He was/is or they wouldn’t have nailed Him to the Cross.

America has been engaged in fighting a War on Drugs since at least the 1980’s. We finally have a president who fights the tyranny of the ‘War on Drugs’ as the war that it is.

First Lady Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” to drugs campaign was a part of that effort. But the reference to a ‘War on Drugs’ has been much more of a metaphorical description than the necessary accounting of the actual combat that is required to win this War. The result is that not much progress has been made to truly lessen illegal drug use or block the flow of these dangerous narcotics into America. Until President Trump.

Christmas used to be a season marked more by heart than by hustle. Gifts were made by hand, decorations were pulled from nature, and meals were crafted from recipes passed down through the family. Today, with crowded malls and endless online shopping carts, it can be easy to forget that a meaningful Christmas doesn’t need to come wrapped in shiny paper or topped with a bow. Sometimes, the old ways—the simple skills— are the ones that bring the most joy.

Kiwanian Miranda Atkins, RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist“), spoke to Kiwanis Tuesday, October 28th. Her program was entitled “Gum Disease Can Kill More Than Your Smile”. She has been a hygienist for 18 years. She works for Dr. Bill Gaddis and also for a clinic in Monroe. There is a correlation between your health and your mouth. There are two types of inflammation, acute and chronic. Inflammation breaks down collagen in our bodies. The two types of mouth inflammation are gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis is inflammation caused by plaque. It can be affected by smoking, hormonal changes, etc. With good dental hygiene gingivitis can be reversed. Periodontal disease is chronic, affects gums and causes bone loss which is irreversible. However, it can be maintained. People with perio disease may need to see the hygienist more than twice a year.

Family celebrations don’t have to be big or fancy to be meaningful. In fact, some of the best ones are the simplest — the kind that happen around the kitchen table or in the backyard. It’s less about perfect decorations and more about the people gathered together. When I was growing up, celebrations often started with food. It might be a roast chicken on Sunday, a pie cooling on the windowsill, or a plate of cookies passed around after supper. The food wasn’t expensive or complicated, but it was made with care, and somehow that made it taste better.

Celebrating family is about making room for those moments. Maybe it’s calling everyone over for a potluck and letting the kids run wild while the adults linger over coffee. Maybe it’s starting a small tradition, like board games after dinner or a walk around the block on birthdays. Traditions don’t have to be older than dirt to matter; they just have to be repeated with love.

There’s something comforting about curling up with a good book and a little snack on the side. We often reach for something sweet - a cookie, a slice of cake, maybe even a bowl of chocolate-dipped pretzels. But let me offer you a little twist on tradition: the humble, flavorful, old-fashioned cheese straw. If you’ve never paired a savory bite with your pageturning moments, then sugar may have been stealing the spotlight for far too long.

Today, I want to introduce— or reintroduce—you to the perfect companion for your next cozy reading session: cheese straws. They’re sharp, buttery, and just spicy enough to make you sit up and take notice. And unlike gooey sweets or crumbly pastries, they’re tidy little ticks that won’t leave your pages smeared or sticky.

Reading, Writing, and Relaxing Th e re ’s something about autumn that practically begs us to slow down. The air cools, the leaves turn, and the days grow shorter. It’s as if the world itself whispers, “Sit a spell. You’ve earned it.” And what better way to heed that call than by returning to three simple pleasures: reading, writing, and relaxing.

In our busy modern lives, these can feel like luxuries, but there was a time when they were part of the day without a second thought. Evenings might find families gathered around the fire, books or letters in hand, the quiet broken only by the turning of pages or the scratch of a pen.

Reading doesn’t have to mean tackling a 500-page novel (unless you want to). It can be a short story, a favorite poem, or even a well-worn cookbook you pull out for inspiration. The important thing is letting your mind wander someplace outside your own four walls.