Happy Thanksgiving 2019!
The romantic interpretation of the first Thanksgiving always captivates me. I’m not sure the information is entirely accurate, but the story is inspiring nonetheless.
A group of people new to a foreign land begins to build a community from scratch. They didn’t arrive well-versed in how to do this, but instead figured it out as they went along. Their motivation was simple: freedom to live their lives as they wanted without fear of retribution.
Another group of Native American Indians observed the settlers struggling to adjust to their new surroundings and ultimately assisted them in learning to adapt and survive in their unfamiliar environment.
I am sure there were those on both sides who feared their respective differences, but somehow, they collectively managed to figure it out and respect one another.
Both groups came together at a feast and shared food and traditions from their respective cultures. They didn’t just eat together but also spent several days enjoying each other’s company and getting to know one another better.
I am sure there are holes in the simple retelling of this story (and we all know how it ended up for the Native American Indians); however, it did seem, for a brief moment in history, people of vast differences figured out how to coexist, support, and learn from one another.
This is America at its best. People coming together and rallying around our shared objectives of individual freedom and collective responsibility. Our diversity of perspective and capability is our strength. Sadly, our basic human reaction is to fear differences. However, we are strongest as a nation and society when we don’t give in to these fears and instead strive to understand and respect one another. Throughout history, it has always been easier for leaders to divide rather than unite us. All they need to do is prey on our instinctual weaknesses. In contrast, the best leaders encourage us to unite around common goals and objectives that benefit everyone. This is much harder work, especially as our country has grown in size and diversity and become increasingly segmented around differing points of view and socio-economic realities.
Life is not a win-lose proposition. My gain doesn’t have to be your loss or vice versa. We can both win, just maybe not as much as we’d personally like to. Living an ethical and moral life always involves some level of sacrifice. I’ve often wondered how different things would have turned out if we had embraced the spirit of Thanksgiving, and instead of conquering and removing the Native American Indians, we had figured out a way to coexist with them peacefully. This may sound naïve and Pollyannaish to some, but so be it. There is always a gap between the “ideal” and the “real.” That doesn’t mean you don’t strive to bridge the chasm. Abraham Lincoln, during a very dark time in our nation’s history, implored us to tap into the “better angels of our nature.” We should heed his advice as a long-term commitment, not just for a day or a holiday.
I hope your family and you have a joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving. As the year draws to a close, I wish that 2019 ends better than planned, and if not, that you gain the wisdom and resilience to make 2020 a stellar year. I also hope that instead of yielding to the negative energy of what we all assume will be a difficult election year, we elevate the dialogue among ourselves, striving to find common, positive ground. In a metaphorical sense, I envision us all gathered around a large Thanksgiving table, being thankful for our many individual blessings and our shared American destiny.
