America needs Thanksgiving
America has been through a tough time. A national election separated friends and family, divided churches and took over our media.
We’ve been intoxicated with poisonous rhetoric and toxic street gatherings that led to more division, injuries and even death.
Americans horrifically viewed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and said we aren’t going to take that anymore.
More than 762,000 people have died from COVID-19 in America. Over 47 million of us have been sick. Families who have buried loved ones don’t need convincing about the realities of COVID-19. Americans who have spent weeks in hospital intensive care units know they are fortunate to be alive.
However, in the midst of America’s pandemic nightmare, Americans have debated with each other over vaccinations, masks, [and] school and business closures.
We have watched our businesses suffer.
Our government’s finances have been further strained to supply money to hurting unemployed people.
We continue to struggle with racism in America.
People who have experienced it know the reality. At all levels of society we must rise above any and all words or actions that denigrate others.
We continue to have other crises impacting our nation. People pouring over our border illegally, an ongoing drug epidemic, homelessness, rising costs of medical treatment and insurance, unaffordable college tuition, unaffordable housing and unaffordable and sometimes unavailable groceries. Americans are now facing the fire of growing inflation. Groceries are becoming even more unaffordable for poor Americans.
America has gone through a tough time, maybe better said, we are going through a tough time. This is why we desperately need Thanksgiving.
In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Gov. William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit.
The early settlers who came to America suffered hardships that few Americans can comprehend. In the midst of so much death, sickness and starvation, they found a way to stop and express gratitude.