Reforming America: Giving Thanks

In all of the discussions about the problems our nation has it is easy to forget what all we have to be thankful for. In the spirit of Thanksgiving I would like to take a moment to talk about giving thanks and the things we have to be thankful for as Americans.

Over more than half of the globe the people do not have most of the basic freedoms we take for granted every day. The rights that our ancestors fought and died to established and protect are gifts beyond measure that most Americans spend little or no time thinking about. We have freedom of speech and religion and the right to march in the streets if we don’t like something our government has done or is doing.

In many countries if one was to speak openly against the policies of his or her government it would lead to imprisonment or death. That is a fact of life for literally billions of people around the world. Dissidents are killed on a daily basis for having views contrary to those of the people in power in their country. In many countries around the world people are killed on a daily basis for no other reason than being born of a certain clan and there is no consequence for their killers.

In America we have prosperity and even in hard economic times most people are able to acquire the basic necessities of life such as food and shelter. When unemployment reaches 10% we demand action because it is so far outside of the norm for our country. There are many nations where 10% unemployment would be seen as amazing progress and prosperity when compared with the normal economic state of their nations. We have rarely seen widespread famine in our nation in the entirety of our history. For some nations famine is a fact of life year after year.

If you were to go to parts of Africa and ask the people what they want most in the world they would simply say food and clothing for their children. These things we think of as commonplace are treasured by those who don’t have them. As we stop to spend time with our families this Thanksgiving we should all take a moment to remember that no matter how tough things may seem here they are far worse for others around the world. We have much to be thankful for and we should all appreciate that. Our nation may have many flaws but it also has much to treasure. When you put your feet up after your second or third helping of turkey and remark about how stuffed you feel remember that somewhere in the world there is a person not so different from you that will never know that feeling.

This Thanksgiving remember to treasure the bounty that you enjoy as an American.

From all of us at Reform America, Happy Thanksgiving!

Troy Wilson-Ripsom | Staff Writer | E-mail Comments on this column. | Click icon to Digg this article

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