Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)
Freedom From Want
1943
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Here are Thanksgiving wishes from my two favorite American posters:
From Laura Wood's The Thinking Housewife:
Unity, Not Division
Fruit in a Basket, James Peale
THANKSGIVING is a day for unity, not division. What are the things that unite us, whatever our political persuasions? The conditions of existence unite us. Here are three:
1. We were born; created, not self-begotten.None of us differ in any of these conditions. The innate longing for unity is fulfilled. We are on the same boat. We are in the same vessel. We sail on the sea of time. We will sail on the sea of eternity.
2. We will die.
3. Our souls will live forever.
The immortality of the soul can be established with the use of simple logic. You don’t have to get a degree in philosophy to see it. The soul is immaterial. It is not physical. It does not partake of physical death.
Put away political thoughts. They will be there when you wake up tomorrow. Put away political knives. Cut the turkey instead. We are alike more than we are different. Gratitude is a universal need.
We have such a beautiful country, which none of us deserve. We can be united in gratitude that we are so much united. We can be united as the collective recipients of undeserved gifts.
Let the mountains receive peace for the people: and the hills justice. (Psalm 72:3)
Happy Thanksgiving!
The editorial board and maintenance staff of The Thinking Housewife extends her wish for many blessings to you, whatever your beliefs.
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From Gallia Watch:
Thanksgiving 2016
Thanks to zazie for the beautiful card. It's a long holiday week-end in America, my favorite holiday, and posting will be a bit slow. While we have much to be thankful for this year, the suddenness with which the situation changed leaves me breathless, wondering "What next?" Events that seemed not only unlikely but frankly out of the question are happening both in America and France. Amazing how the two countries are influenced by each other. Now I wonder who will be ambassador to France.
Below, a short passage from The Heritage Foundation, on the proclamation of Thanksgiving day:
Following a resolution of Congress, President George Washington proclaimed Thursday the 26th of November 1789 a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer” devoted to “the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.” Reflecting American religious practice, Presidents and Congresses from the beginning of the republic have from time to time designated days of fasting and thanksgiving (the Thanksgiving holiday we continue to celebrate in November was established by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and made into law by Congress in 1941).
In setting aside a day for Thanksgiving, Washington established a non-sectarian tone for these devotions and stressed political, moral, and intellectual blessings that make self-government possible, in addition to personal and national repentance. Although the First Amendment prevents Congress from establishing a religion or prohibiting its free exercise, Presidents, as well as Congress, have always recognized the American regard for sacred practices and beliefs. Thus, throughout American history, Presidents have offered non-sectarian prayers for the victory of the military and in the wake of catastrophes. Transcending passionate quarrels over the proper role of religion in politics, the Thanksgiving Proclamation reminds us how natural their relationship has been. While church and state are separate, religion and politics, in their American refinement, prop each other up.
The full text of George Washington's October 3, 1789 proclamation is on the same web page (link above).
