Rusty Saber: Thanksgiving more than kickoff to Christmas

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

This is written in the afterglow of Thanksgiving Day. Sadly, few of us bask for long in the glow. As usual, the nation seemed anxious to launch the Christmas shopping season as soon as Thanksgiving was out of the way.

The final bite of Thanksgiving turkey was the signal for a mythical voice to cry out, "Let the games begin!" The holiday hubbub will flourish until the end of the year. It is unfortunate that Thanksgiving precedes Christmas and becomes something to get out of the way so the Christmas decorations can go up.

A day for giving thanks for the good things in life shouldn't stand in the shadow of another holiday, even one as important as Christmas.

The world today is a fearful place: War, terrorism, senseless violence, social and political discord seem to be everywhere. As I bask in the glow of gathering at the Thanksgiving table with loved ones, my thoughts aren't on the bad, but the good things for which to give thanks. The nature of Thanksgiving itself calls for gathering together with family. I am thankful for my family and being able to be with them. In fact, being surrounded by family at Thanksgiving and Christmas is the ultimate definition of "It doesn't get any better than this."

Friends rank close behind family among the joys of life.

Everyone should be thankful for friends who are friends during good times and bad. Life would be terribly empty without them; I certainly am thankful.

Thankfulness for family and friends is probably the easiest joy to mention. The rest require some thought. Let's see. I'm thankful that I was born in the United States.

Some Americans may become unhappy with the nation and take to the streets to protest. I'm thankful they have the right to do so.

In some countries, protesters are rounded up and taken to jail, never to be heard from again.

We should be thankful that shouting our disagreements to the skies can be an integral part of being an American. In some corners of the world it might be treason, insurrection or revolt. Truth be told, I'm thankful that people who really annoy me have the right to do it.

Likewise, I'm thankful that I have an equivalent right to tell them how much they annoy me. Is this a great country, or what?

Throughout history, generations of young Americans have stepped forward to defend the nation in time of peril. Any doubts have been quashed that this generation might not have the right stuff to do the job.

Our young men and women in the military have proved they are up to the job. The terrorist attacks on America have been answered around the world by extraordinary young men and women. I am thankful that they have taken on the arduous task of defending the nation. Regardless of attitudes about the war against terrorism, I hope we all are thankful for our military personnel.

It is a tragic fact that many Americans suffer from poverty and are in need of some manner of assistance; some may need protection from someone or something. I'm thankful that countless service groups and churches give their time, effort and money a lot of money to feed, clothe, house and help the poor get on their feet. Some groups exist to protect the less fortunate from whatever situations that may threaten them.

Dedicated employees, supported by donations of time and money, enable groups to strive to keep up with the needs of the poor and helpless. It's a never-ending battle. I'm thankful for people who care enough to keep the battle going.

I'm thankful for the renovation of downtown Springfield.

Those responsible for the massive project hope to achieve financial rewards.

Nothing wrong with that. If there were no such thing as anticipation of financial rewards, we would all still be living in caves. Beyond attracting dollars and stimulating the local economy, the new facilities are a lot more attractive than the shabby ones they replace. That alone gets my thanks.

Now, allow me to be among the first to wish you a Merry Christmas.