MeidasTouch Thanksgiving Reflections

Written by Ben Meiselas

Here we are on Thanksgiving Day 2024. I know it may feel at times like we are trapped in the wrong universe in a vast multiverse. That we got stuck in the wrong timeline. Perhaps, like me, you visualized that today you would be celebrating democracy, freedom, and the first woman president—that we would be talking turkey and not tariffs, that we would be talking deviled eggs and not devilish deportations. But that’s not how it was written. For now.

Alas, history had different plans for us. For now.

As I see it, this is not the final nail in the coffin of the American experiment. Far from it. As I see it, this is but a very, very uncomfortable detour on the journey to the America we strive for.

I am actually very hopeful this Thanksgiving. There is actually a lot to be thankful for, even if it might not seem that way.

Listen… you’ve already done one of the hardest things in the face of an authoritarian threat. You have accomplished something big. You have already defied the odds. The fact that you are here reading this tells me that.

You have decided you will not give up and tap out. That is huge!

You have weathered these past few weeks, filled with confusion, rage, and sadness, but you have come out the other side of the tunnel (or perhaps the allegorical cave) feeling determined to fight. You have realized an important truth: Your voice matters. You matter. You are needed now more than ever. And you are not alone. You are in this with us and with millions of people just like you who share your determination and drive. That realization is powerful, it is profound, and it is something authoritarians who feast on our fears can’t handle.

They want us to give up hope and obey in advance. Never obey in advance. Never obey ever when it comes to authoritarianism.

Your decision to hold your ground is an act of immense courage, and you should be very proud of yourself. Seriously. Keep your head held high today.

My brothers and I are thankful for you.

We are thankful for the entire Meidas Mighty community.

We draw our strength from this community.

As I say frequently, this is more than a media network, and, indeed, more than a media network is what is needed right now to combat the threats before us.

This is a pro-democracy family that will not sacrifice its values. We lead with our values and principles. None of us is perfect. We don’t pretend to have all the answers. But we do strive each day to put love, positivity, and empathy back into the world. We do our best to leave the world better than we found it.

I truly wish I had some superpowers where I could go back and give you the timeline you wanted this Thanksgiving. I can’t.

But I have a microphone, a laptop with a video camera, my brothers, my family, an incredible team of professionals who work at the MeidasTouch Network, and I have you—the MeidasMighty. And that, combined, is an actual superpower that will eventually lead to victory.

There is no one else I would rather spend this detour with than you. I am confident we will find the road back to sanity and humanity, to love and peace and prosperity.

I am thankful for you on this Thanksgiving Day.

With love,

Ben Meiselas

Co-founder, MeidasTouch Network

PS: MeidasTouch Network has zero outside investors, so please consider becoming a paid Substack subscriber on this Thanksgiving Day.