Peaceful elections, U.S. military deserve thanks

Americans gather around the Thanksgiving table waiting for the Christmas season, which immediately follows the last bite of pumpkin pie.

Merchants and media are poised to inaugurate a holiday blitz that will last until the after-Christmas sales. But first, we must get past Thanksgiving.

I confess to being a Thanksgiving enthusiast. To me, it is much more than a practice run for the Christmas feast. As its name implies, it is a time to give thanks for whatever we may feel deserves our thanks.

To begin with, I am thankful because of virtually no limits on that for which we can give thanks. Thanksgiving can be a religious holiday in that anyone is free to give thanks to whatever supreme being they worship. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and all others are free to give thanks.

But those with no religious beliefs can also give thanks – to whomever they believe to be deserving of it. That sort of freedom is worthy of many thanks.

I don’t know about you, but I am thankful, nay, ecstatic, that the election is over. In the aftermath of the campaign rancor, the results of national, state and local elections were determined by counting ballots, not in court. I am thankful that there were no TV images of election workers eyeing ballots seeking the status of hanging chads.

I am also grateful that national, state and local candidates were elected or defeated with no attempts by dissident groups to violently overturn the results. Peaceful elections aren’t the norm in some parts of the world. For the fact that in America they are, I am thankful.

Many critics have expressed doubt about the younger generation. Some have said they wouldn’t be up to answering the call to defend the country as have previous generations. I am happy to express thanks for the manner in which young American men and women have stepped up to defend the country.

Regardless of how one may feel about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, I believe we all must be extremely proud of the conduct of most of the young people who have taken up arms against terrorism. I was raised hearing about the exploits of the World War I servicemen, the “greatest generation’’ of World War II and know of the heroes who fought in Korea and Vietnam.

Today’s youth are now the ones laying it on the line. An all-volunteer force of fighting men and women, they have chosen to defend their country. To say they have been up to the task is an understatement. I am thankful.

A prime example of the character of the present greatest generation is a Marine involved in the assault on Fallujah in Iraq. On television, an embedded reporter, during a lull in the fighting, asked the Marine for comment. He said, “I’m just doing my job; I’m defending my country.”

On a day set aside for thanksgiving, I am thankful for this young marine and all the others like him.

On Thanksgiving Day, as we sit around the table with family and friends, we are aware that for a myriad of reasons some Americans can’t provide food for themselves and their families. Because of the efforts of countless dedicated organizations, along with individuals giving money and time, striving to make certain that no one goes hungry on Thanksgiving Day or any other day, I am thankful.

Finally, this Thanksgiving Day I will offer thanks that I live in America, a nation that is often criticized by some nations, except, of course, when they are asking us to help them out of a tight spot.

Now, let’s carve the turkey and get on with Christmas.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.

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