Commentary; Posted: 11/15/06
Thanksgiving and healing
Rev. John C. Blackford,
Religion Columnist
President George Washington began his first Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789 with these words: ìIt 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 implore His protection and His favor.î
He went on then to state that he was called upon by ìboth Houses of Congress 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 the opportunity peaceably to establish a Form of Government for their safety and happiness.î
Since then our national well-being and the spirit of thanksgiving and faith have been strongly linked together.
When our founders established this nation they realized that in the future there would be disagreements on issues by its citizens, some of which might threaten its existence.
They wisely placed provisions in the Constitution by which these matters could be resolved, and thus avoid its breakup. Also, it was their hope that a spirit of goodwill, along with reliance on the Almighty, would help us through difficult times.
At Thanksgiving season three years ago David Broder of the Washington Post wrote a column entitled ìThanks for Bonds that Unite,î with a sub-title, ìThey counter the American divisions that are everywhere to be seen.î
There are deeper and wider divisions today than when he wrote, many surfacing at the recent election. But his comment is still applicable: ìIt is simply whether the values we share are strong enough to withstand the differences that have divided the country with mathematical precision in so many ways.î
Broder continued, ìThe compact on which the United States was founded-embodied in the Constitution-rests on the principle that the majority will respect and protect the rights of the minority and the minority will accept decisions of the majority that go against its will.
That principle has held through every test but one over more than two centuries of history. When it did not, we had the Civil War.î
He expressed his thankfulness no civil war loomed when he wrote, in spite of many divisions, and we can be similarly thankful today.
Cultural and social issues-abortion, gay marriage, affirmative action and others-which are often being decided by judges instead of the electorate, are fueling much of the strong partisanship with its accompanying divisions.
Broder admits, ìI do not know what it will take to solve the underlying social divisions that continue...it is clear in retrospect that even the worst terrorist attacks ever on American soil were not enough to unite the nation.
ìBut as long as these division continue, every official in every branch of government has an obligation to go the extra mile in assuring procedural fairness to those with opposing views.î
To conclude his article, the respected columnist says, ìThe bonds that unite Americans-the belief that our common aspirations outweigh our momentary differences- have been forged over the decades.Be thankful this thanksgiving they are still there. But never take them for granted.î
On this Thanksgiving, in the midst of our differences, it is a good time to renew the spirit of goodwill and our reliance on Almighty God, which was the hope of our founders, and a shining light in the dark places of the American experience.
It will bring healing to our nation.
Acknowledgements include the article by David Broder that was printed in the Minneapolis StarTribune Nov. 27, 2003.
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