Dear A-Letter Reader:
In his official proclamation of Thanksgiving, signed on Nov. 19, Pres. George W. Bush noted that "We give thanks to live in a country where freedom reigns, justice prevails, and hope prospers."
Some would dispute that statement, questioning whether America is still the land of the free, where justice prevails. The A-Letter has repeatedly raised what we consider to be valid concerns about the status of freedom and justice in America. But in relative terms, having just returned from China, I can state unequivocally, in contrast to many nations, we can rejoice at being Americans. Of course, that does not mean we should not do much better then we are when it comes to preserving the liberty the Pilgrims of the Massachusetts Bay Colony celebrated at that first Thanksgiving.
In past years, as he did again this year, the President in his Thanksgiving Proclamation has listed, among things for which we should be thankful, family and friends. Two years ago he noted: "At Thanksgiving we recognize the ties of friendship and respect that bind us together."
That brought to mind an observation once made to me by a professional psychologist (who, thankfully, was a friend of mine). He offered the opinion that "in this life we are truly lucky if we have as many really good friends as we have fingers on one hand."
Thanksgiving is, of course, a time to give thanks for loved ones, our family, our spouse, children and parents. I hope you are able to be with your family and friends today. But except for the decision to marry, relatives are not a matter of choice. That's why long time friends are exceptional. They (and we) have lots of time to cultivate or to dampen friendship, and if you're like me, it can be difficult to put up with cantankerous, opinionated me as your bud.
Then too, when times get really hard, one finds out who their true friends are. When I was a member of the US Congress, almost everybody was my friend. When I was not re-elected, the exodus of 'friends' was large and swift.
One of the most rewarding things about my job, aside from traveling to many interesting places around the globe, is meeting new people and making new friends. I did that on my recent travels to China, Singapore and Thailand. In my travels, some whom I meet turn out to be one-time encounters, others grow into something more. And the people with whom I work have also become good friends.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote that memorable opening line in his 1830 novel, Paul Clifford which is widely held to contain the worst opening sentence of any novel in the English language: "It was a dark and stormy night..." He also observed: "There is no man so friendless but what he can find a friend sincere enough to tell him disagreeable truths." That never has been a problem for me, although I don't always like to hear criticisms.
So on this Thanksgiving I give thanks for friendship, among many other blessings. And may you have your own blessings for which to give thanks. Especially good friends. May the Higher Power of your belief bless you and your family and friends, and America as well.
Have a very happy holiday.
That's the way that it looks from here.
BOB BAUMAN, Editor
COMMENT LINKS:
* Thanksgiving Day, 2005: A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America. LINK: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051119-1.html * The First Thanksgiving. LINKS: http://pilgrims.net/plymouth/thanksgiving.htm
http://teacher.scholastic.com/thanksgiving/pictimeline/index.htm
* President Lincoln proclaims the first holiday. LINK: http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/national_holiday.htm