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Date Posted: 19:36:03 12/02/10 Thu
Author: Debbie S.
Subject: Sins of a Nation
In reply to: We3Kings 's message, "" on 08:09:32 12/02/10 Thu

As for Thanksgiving, I view it simply as a special day set aside to give thanks to God for all the blessings he has given me, my family, my State and Nation. A day to recognize that all I have is because of Him and to humble myself in submission and thanks.

On Oct. 3, 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared the first official day of Thanksgiving with the following words being taken from his proclamation:

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and 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."

Lincoln and others felt that the Civil War was penitence for our nation's injustices. If, so, it was definitely a most horrible punishment inflicted upon a nation. America has formally and publicly apologized to the African Americans and Native Americans for the atrocities of the past. African Americans and Native Americans are still given entitlements to this day because of our nation's feeling of guilt. My cousins are the direct descendants of Geronimo. If they choose, they can go to college free, while I, being Anglo American, had to work three jobs to put myself through college.

One does ask when will this debt finally be paid, our nation's sins finally forgiven?

There is no nation without some dark episodes in their history. But, despite all our many faults, I guess I am ignorant and naive in believing, that ours is still one of the greatest social structures ever devised by humankind. Will The Great Experiment stumble and fall or succeed? I choose to believe that, as Stewart seems to as well, then final answer is in the hearts and hands of the people.

Debbie S.

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