This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE   11-22-05

                Despite all the hassle over whether it’s Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays……and the bitter battles in Washington over who leaked what…or who had the correct information on the Iraq War…..Thursday is going to be Thanksgiving.

                While we’re being bombarded about the war in Iraq….whether or not Iran has nuclear weapons….North Korea and more nuclear weapons….and incessant assaults by terrorists on innocent men, women and children worldwide……let’s take a moment for Thanksgiving.

                The skepticist  might respond..Thanksgiving for what?

                Well….first of all for just being Americans.

                Look around the world.  Where do you find the freedoms that we enjoy….the freedoms that each of us takes for granted … as our right as Americans.

                Yes, we do have divergent views in our society, and we have raw conflicts that split our communities and tax our law enforcement officials, but we also have free speech and the opportunity to take a stand….espouse a cause, and carry on a dialogue without fear of conflict.

                Yes, we have problems at the national level with differing view between the major political parties and problems of finance for the war and for our nation.  We have problems on approaches to social crises, but this is all part of the trappings of an open, free society.

                We have numerous ethnic groups crying out to be heard, and for the American public to understand their concerns and their needs.  This, too is an outgrowth of the international nature of Americans who come from every race, every creed and every color., a nation that will share its resources with the victims of floods, hurricane and earthquakes around the world. 

                Our society has compassion for the less fortunate among us….something not true in many other countries. 

                We have an international scene that challenges the future.  From the ferment can come lasting world peace or the beginning of a struggle that could in some future time precipitate yet another worldwide conflict.

                Thanksgiving began with the pilgrims who averted starvation in the new world thanks to the friendship of the native Indians.  It was a time also when differences were silenced and prayers were given for the intervention of divine providence that saved a people.

                Yes, there are problems aplenty around the globe on this Thanksgiving Day, but let us first take stock of the many immediate things for which we can be thankful.  They range all the way from families re-united to individuals enjoying the fruits and the generosity of others.

                So on Thursday…..count your blessings, give thanks for what you have, pray for those who have not, and enjoy a beautiful, blessing filled Thanksgiving Day everyone!

                This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.