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Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving


One of my favorite US holidays is Thanks-
giving because everyone, other than the most curmud-
geonly of atheists celebrate it in the spirit it was intended. Most know the story of how the pilgrims in New England did undergo great hardship that first winter, the Native Indians helped them, and a great feast was celebrated and thanks were given to Almighty God. This day can be said to be the most ecumenical day of our civic year, in that it does not matter if one is Catholic, Jew, Protestant, Muslim, or other religion, it's celebrated in the original spirit - thanks are still given to the blessing bestowed on all of us and our nation. All Americans should know that contrary to the PC crowd which try and suppress expressions of religious celebration, the founding Fathers knew what kind of nation we ought to be, and G. Washington proclaimed this New England custom a national holiday - to wit:

Thanksgiving Proclamation

[New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

**

A blessed and Happy Thanksgiving to you and Yours.

Karen

Update:

Northampton Konkrete Kids 41, Catasauqua Rough Riders 7

I didn't get to see this one, but I was there in spirit. Hurray for the K-Kids! 6,000 plus were at the game in eastern Penna. In other words, a considerable portion of both towns. They've been playing for 85 years now, 80 games on Thanksgiving day itself. It's one of the oldest high school rivalries in the country. (We watch a lot of football on Thanksgiving too!)
.

14 comments:

EC Gefroh said...

Happy Thanksgiving Karen!

gemoftheocean said...

Thanks, you too Esther.

Adrienne said...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mulier Fortis said...

Hey Karen, Happy Thanksgiving! And remember all that advice on calorie-free foods (ie. anything off anyone else's plate, anything eaten accompanied by diet soda etc.)
;-)

gemoftheocean said...

Mac: WILCO on the dietary tips (BTW, I'm beginning to wonder if Peterkins will have to be retrieved from Mars or the Hebrides -- no worries on the calories -- I'm swilling down some egg nog as I write this. I'm flying solo this TG, I do that sometimes. Sometimes I eat with friends sometimes not. A few of the most fun TG's were when my friend from Michigan and I each flew out to Philly on TG day, and we'd arrive at night - to chow down on Philly Steak Sandwiches and would catch our favorite actor in a show at the Walnut. That happened a few times. Geez, that was fun. And it's a fun aspect of being single sometimes in that you can just "drop everything and GO do whatever."

Thanks for the good wish, Adrienne, same to you!

Karen

la mamma said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Karen. I had thought it was the third Thursday in November but having read your post I take it it's the Thursday nearest the 26th?

gemoftheocean said...

Hi La Mamma,

It's always the 4th Thursday in Nov. This year it is the earliest it can get. More people than not have the Friday off too. It's the biggest shopping day of the year.

At one time that socialist FDR tried to muck with the date, bringing it one week forward - and tried to decree the holiday be celebrated then. A lot of states who didn't support him screwing with that said "hell no" and kept to the old tradition. For a short time some states did one Thursday, others the next. Finally a stop was put to that crap. If you ever see the movie Holiday Inn, there's a bit about thanksgiving where you see the animated turkey go from one Thursday to another - I only got the full import of that little slice of the film a few years ago - I hadn't realized FDR had tried to mess that up too.

la mamma said...

Now I know. Cheers, m'dear.

Fr Ray Blake said...

Belated Happy Thanksgiving

gemoftheocean said...

Thanks Fr. Blake et al. At least the weather has been exceptionally nice.

Phil said...

Late, as always: Happy Thanksgiving!

gemoftheocean said...

No problem-o Philip - Are you coming into a busy time of the year for tourism on the Isle of Wight?

I've always wanted to go there! From descriptions, it sounds a bit of a throwback, along the lines of Mackinac in Michigan - I almost hesitate to be asked for fear it's been all paved over. But from what an English friend of mine says it's like stepping some decades back. [Sounds charming!]

Karen

Phil said...

Yes - the Christmas Party Season. Some strange creatures (sorry, I mean valued customers) have been celebrating Christmas since the end of October!

And... yes - the Isle of Wight is very much behind the mainland in all things:manners, attitudes, technology (poor broadband, dodgy digital TV/Radio signal, etc). However, as an American visitor, it may come across more as the "real" Britain. Brideshead could be easily played out here and the locals would just shrug thir shoulders and say, "Bah, toffs!". ;-)

(Shall I book you a ticket?)

gemoftheocean said...

Well, come hell or high water before I die, I want to go there. It's been almost 20 years since I've been to the UK (that was before I had a mortgage!) but it seems like a fabulous idea. Now, about that water pressure.... and those mixing taps... how do you manage to get one side of a stream of water scalding hot and the other side icey cold?! My mother and I also became convinced that the UK was trying to kill off their OAPs by making the sides of bathtubs so high you had to hang on to something to climb in. "And now the 11 o'clock news: one elderly lady in Tenderloin-by-the-Bay broke her neck today whilst climbing into the bath. Her niece said: I'm not surprised, auntie fell twice last year and was nearly done in then."

Better book me a room with a shower then. Will I need to dress for dinner a la Separate Tables? I'll see if I can find a basic black dress that packs easy. I'm used to dial up anyway, so no worries there.

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