Americans of all shapes, sizes, colors and ethnic heritages will come together on Thursday to celebrate that most American of Holidays, Thanksgiving. Originally conceived to celebrate the first year the Pilgrims survived in the New World, and coinciding with the final harvest of crops before the onset of winter, Thanksgiving has come to mean a celebration of all things American. The turkey, an all-American bird with the misfortune of having delicious meat, is the centerpiece of most holiday feasts. Accompanying the bird are other American staples of holiday fare; pumpkin pie, mince meat pie, stuffing for the bird (the variety of which is a regional thing), sweet potatoes, green-bean casserole, cranberry sauce and a host of other choices.

 

Many dinners begin with a thankful prayer to The Maker, but after that blessing, does anyone really think about what they have to be thankful for? How about our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, or the others who sacrifice their time with families to keep us safe from fires, accidents or the criminal element? How about thanks for some measure of prosperity in these trying economic times? Families, friends, co-workers and other people with whom we interact deserve some thanks as well.

 

How about some thanks for being here in the United States of America, a nation founded on the principle of equality and freedom for all people. A nation whose greatness will transcend the foolishness of our elected representatives, none of whom have succeeded in tearing down our Constitution, though many have tried through their ignorance or inattention or malfeasance of duties or corruption . . .   How about a little thanks for our healthcare system, though it needs reformation and reorganization, it still provides the best healthcare in the world for our citizens and even the “illegals.” 

 

How about our legal system? Fraught with problems and a cumbersome appeal system, we still have more rights under the law than anywhere else in the troubled world. The revered columnist, Charlie Reese, one said, “The reason we have so many lawyers in the USA is that we have so many freedoms to protect.” So put aside the lawyer-bashing for a while and recognize that without them our freedoms would be more tenuous.

 

Enjoy your turkey dinner and be sure to have a Happy and Thankful Thanksgiving.