Happy Thanksgiving

It's just a few days before Thanksgiving and I thought I would get a head start in preparing the December newsletter. Doing so has made me think about Thanksgiving, that great American holiday that brings family and friends together to pause and reflect on the bounty given to us. The quintessential picture of Thanksgiving is that famous Norman Rockwell painting of a family gathered around the dining room table about to partake in a large roasted turkey with all the trimmings.

Life is all too busy and confusing at times, so I find it especially helpful to take a moment and think about the blessings of life.
"To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come..."(Read Lincoln's original Proclamation) Abraham Lincoln knew something about that when, in an 1863 Presidential Proclamation, he called a nation, torn by an awful and bloody civil war, to stop and give thanks for "these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come..."

Yes, some things never change. In the 21st Century, we, too, are "prone to forget," so let me take a few minutes and list some of those things for which I am thankful.

I'm thankful that we have a Congress to kick around and complain about without fear of retribution. There is something wonderful about the fact that we, as Americans, can freely take part in a political process where we directly elect our leaders and then have no fear of criticizing their performance or shy away from throwing them out of office if they don't measure up to our expectations! Think about it. Think about what it would be like if we didn't have this privilege and right imbedded in the constitution of our country.

I'm thankful for the beauty of our country and the fact that we can travel throughout it freely without interference on the part of the government, assuming, of course, that we faithfully abide by the laws governing our use of highways and public lands. Think about how not so long ago, millions of people living in communist countries had to get permission from their government to visit another country or even visit another province or region of their country.

I'm thankful that we operate under a free enterprise system whereby anyone with ambition and skill can start a business in the hopes of earning a decent wage. Think about all those in the world who cannot freely do so.

I'm thankful that we can have an organization like ARRA whose sole purpose is to keep the doors open to our public lands when so many want to put up "Do Not Enter" signs. Participatory government allows us to fight for our rights, just as it also allows those who might disagree with us to express their views as well.

I'm thankful for all those ARRA members and other outdoor activists who on a daily or weekly basis, without any compensation other than the personal gratification from the fact that they can and do make a difference, consistently work to keep our public lands open to all forms of recreation.

I'm thankful for the men and women who serve in our armed forces, and their families, who sacrifice much to keep our nation safe during a time of danger.

Yes, we all have much to be thankful for. The Pilgrims understood this when they barely survived their first winter in America and paused to celebrate the harvest with those Native Americans who shared food and knowledge about how to survive in a new land. Lincoln knew this even as he struggled with the burdens of leading a nation divided over the question of whether all of its citizens should be free. He wrote in his Proclamation that the citizens should "fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."

We all stand as the beneficiaries of the combined contributions of all those who have gone before us. Going forward, let's make the most of the new opportunities and challenges given to us.

Well, that is all for this month. Next month, I will do a year end round up on issues of interest to ARRA members and provide some thoughts on what we can expect in 2008.

Happy Holidays!