When the Pilgrims sat down with the Native Americans over 300 years ago to a big dinner that began the tradition of Thanksgiving Day, they were giving thanks for making it across the Atlantic in one piece and finding an indigenous people that were willing to help the British colonists make it through a long cold New England winter.

Tomorrow, most of us will sit down with our families and we will give thanks also. There are some who wonder what there is to be thankful for these days. The economy is not doing too good, we are in two wars, and the global warming crisis is heating up faster than we thought.

Well, there is a lot to be thankful for. We live in one of the freest nations on the planet. Let’s be thankful we don’t have a system of government where discussion is taboo, and we have to accept whatever the government tells us to do. Yes, healthcare reform is becoming a headache, but at least we, the people have a voice in what is going on, and if we don’t like it, we can fire the politicians in the voting booth. There has been some uncivil behavior, but again, that is acceptable, and part of our heritage.

We are still a country of laws and principals and we try to conduct our lives as such, and that is something to be thankful for. No matter what happens in the future, we should be thankful that we have the ideals and tenets that will keep us strong and powerful as a nation.

By the way, don’t forget our trait as a caring and compassionate people. So while you are slicing your turkey tomorrow, think about giving some food to those who do not have it as good, and prove that we are indeed a great people and a great nation.