In the middle of America’s bloody Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made the fourth Thursday in November a day of thanksgiving on October 3, 1863. A day of thanksgiving had been established as far back as President George Washington but Lincoln made it a regular holiday for Americans.
We have not had a bloody civil war but we have come out of a very contentious election; Hurricane Sandy has wrecked many livse—many are still without food or electricity. We still need to set aside Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks for what we have and what we have in each other. There is always much to be thankful for and to pray for those in need. Let’s not forget that every day is a day of Thanksgiving.
I give thanks for being in a country where we can give voice to our political viewpoints. I have regularly for the past several years blogged, wrote articles and appeared on TV and radio expressing my political and legal commentary. And I am thankful that we live in a country that allows voices to be heard and not silenced.
President Obama visited Burma this past week and met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate who up until 2010 was imprisoned in her house for 15 years for being a Democrat activist and expressing her views. This year let’s be thankful for having a voice and living in a country where we are free to express our political views.
Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning. -Maya Angelou
Hopefully, my voice will on occasion move someone to take action.
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone