Gratitude Triumphs Over Grinch

The geniuses of Wall Street, with their twisted version of capitalism, have conspired to steal not only Christmas but also the nation's traditional day for counting its blessings. The downward death spiral of the American economy threatens not only our patterns of unlimited consumption but even our very way of life -- shelter, food, jobs, and family well-being.

But some are beginning to reflect on the opportunity these multiple crises offer for re-evaluating our priorities. We may, in fact, be entering a genuine era of "values" far more serious than than the divisive, wedge-issue politics of the religious right.

The ranks of those who remember the end of the Great Depression are thinning, and that is a loss. Because we remember Thanksgiving as the real family and community holiday, with Pilgrim themes of sharing of food and meals, free of the pressures of Christmas shopping, spending, and gift exchanges. Even as we, and almost all around us, struggled for basic necessities, those years gone by evoke memories of pumpkin pies, leaf raking, touch football games in the front yard, good neighborly cheer, a sense of warmth amidst loved ones, all brought on by the end of the harvest. Thanksgiving is so seasonal it almost wouldn't work any other time of the year.

Even those of us whose families were working poor understood that there were those worse off who could use some of the bounty of even a limited table. The desperately poor, whom we tried to help, reminded us that there are always those less well off.

I cannot begin to count my blessings, the things I am most grateful for, starting with the miracle of a transformational president who tells us that -- yes, we can redeem our nation's conscience and its moral purpose.

Like that baseball icon, today I consider myself the luckiest man in the world.

Comments

[max]

I'm thankful for our new President. I'm enjoying hearing complete sentences.

[darthdarcy]

I prefer to thank God for the relative health and bounty of my family despite the denial of treatment for some of us due to my corrupt government, and will never thank any cheap America politician in God's place...Never..!

[tc399]

Then you must also thank God got sending the terrorists to Mumbai to kill tourists, and for allowing the government to become corrupt in spite of the Presidential Prayer Team. No one talks about that very much anymore.

[darthdarcy]

You didn't major in Theology or anything did you..?

[johnie2xs]

What the hell are you talking about. What is this PPT, of which you speak. Is it like the PTL Club? Do they also weedle money out of old ladies living on fixed incomes for prayers said on their behalf by overly coiffed and scented God merchants?

[dgcarl]

This is stating the obvious, but the last few weeks have made it very clear to me that, setting aside the far right and its politics of religion, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is whose side they are on, the rich or the poor and middle class. After listening to Mitt Romney and his union-busting rhetoric and now Karl Rove in his article today in the Wall Street Journal, I realized that we really are engaged in a battle between rich and poor. Karl Rove's answer is to give more tax breaks to the rich. That trickle down economics has not worked. Since Reagan, those of us at the bottom have been working harder and realizing less. Our wages did not go up, but rent and basic necessities did. And, when we tried to reach to better our circumstances, as we were supposed to do to support the economy of spend, spend, spend, we are now criticized and blamed for wanting to own our home or have some of the basic comforts. Never mind that the housing prices were exorbitant. Rarely do we find that those who have share with those who do not. Tax breaks and incentives for business and the rich do not improve our quality of life or our ability to take care of ourselves and our families. We have four years at least to try to make our voices heard.

[Michale32086]

And yet it was the Democrats who pushed and pushed for the Wall Street Bailout.. It's Democrats who are pushing for the Auto Industry Bail Out..

Michale.....

[renatam]

Democrats are pushing to bite the bullet, be a part of solving the problem(s) we are facing -- to begin putting this Republican NIGHTMARE of gross mismanagement and GREED behind us. Democrats are for cleaning up the constant messes Republican Administrations leave behind, including leaving the cupboard bare when they are finished their rampage for their rich friends and war profiteering. Democrats aren't delusional like our current President and John McCain - lying to the American people that the "fundamentals of our economy are strong."

[Peter007]

Michael, I think the democrats and republicans are walking hand in hand down the aisle on this one.

[JoeSausage]

It was Republicans who looted the Treasury these past 8 years and gave all the money to rich people, and oil executives and war profiteers. Remember that surplus Clinton left? And now look at the deficit! At least the rich folks got richer! And Haliburton. And other defense contractors. And paid vigilantes like Whitewater. Oil companies reaped record profits, while taking billions in government handouts. Bush and Cheney and their oil cronies are laughing all the way to the bank. Funny how a war in the Middle East can make a handful of the elite so rich. Well, maybe funny is the wrong word.

[tavote08]

I'm thankful that I can wake up each day and try again...

[tedeger]

The Republicans are not all bad. Those we called Rethuglicans are the very soul of evil, and thanks to what is known as "Burrowing," will retain a large amount of influence over our destiny. a good job for OMB would be to examine with a powerful magnifier, EVERY Civil Service appointment made during the past eight years, flag them all as being suspect, and fire them the INSTANT they act against current policy.. There is no sense nurturing a viper who pretends he is an earthworm. HOWWEVER, remember that the Republican Party is the Party of Lincoln, actually started out as a party that CARED for common people, not just the wealthy and the Corporations, and that many Rock-ribbed Republicans still believe in those precepts. I know several of them, snd I consider them to be good friends. Yes, they continue to vote Republican, hoping against hope that some shred of sanity will return to their party, and eventually it may, if enough of the really corrupt thieves and cheaters currently in control end up in jail where they belong. Meanwhile listen to them on C-Span. They are not all Boehners!

[Starline213]

Thank you so much for this post! As we sat around our thanksgiving table today, my 7 year old daughter gave thanks for her family, her home, for God and for President Elect Obama. I also gave thanks and included President Elect Obama in my blessings. I am a legal resident who will now proudly become a full fledged American Citizen because of the promise of America that I know is realized in President Elect Obama. I don't have false hopes or expect all things to be realized with his presidency. I only wanted to know that it was possible in this Country that I love, that a truly progressive, intelligent and wise leader could emerge and inspire.
In the middle of crisis lies opportunity---and I think we will emerge from this a stronger, tougher and more resiliant nation.

[plebeianswillrevolt]

Well, I don't feel thankful, for anything. And I feel very vengful for these geniuses who have ripped the crap out of two pathetic 401k's that I started with a paupers stake in the first place. I would be thankful to see some prison terms for these bailed-out theives who at this point seem only to be foregoing this seasons million dollar bounses. A credit agency and collection firm wil hound me until tne end of my days for five missed payments before my car was repossessed, the financial theft of those bankers, appraisers, stock and bond pimps, are swept under a rug and forgotten. Thanksgiving?

[bud812]

I agree these guys represent the biggest crime syndicate the world has ever seen,and if these guys are not prosecuted i personally cant take any of the poloticians seriously!

[ManyColored]

Theirs is not a twisted version of Capitalism. It IS Capitalism, and has been with us since the 17th century. What is needed is not a patch; what is needed is nationalism of industries that the consumer is dependent on. That includes health, fuel, energy, food, finance, and real estate. Commodity trading leads to massive speculation and such trading should be made illegal. The stock market should be restructured to reflect only success of the individual corporation; that is, pay a return based solely on its profitability and sold only at a fixed price. Any nationalized industry should be rigidly controlled to run as a nonprofit enterprise. And lastly, there should be a cap on income and property owned by an individual. The free market has failed utterly.

[Davwbaird]

except for those that robbed us. For them it worked if they had cash in off shore banks.

[rucognizant]

Theirs is not a twisted version of Capitalism. It IS Capitalism,
IT IS THE CURRENT PLAYERS WHO ARE TWISTED!
I knew Old Mr Hershey and they are NOT HIM!

[tiradintim]

I'm thankful that Bush is on his way out, Obama is on his way in, and the Republicans are in disarray.