Sunday, November 21, 2021

Bill Crawford: Whatever its origin, celebrate Thanksgiving

 Shall we debate the history and purpose of Thanksgiving, or humbly celebrate this national day for giving thanks?

For you debaters, Wikipedia provides the following: The Pilgrims held their first day of thanksgiving in 1621 in Massachusetts. English settlers in Berkeley Hundred, Virginia, held a required religious day of thanksgiving to Almighty God in 1619. A Puritan day of thanksgiving was held in Boston in 1631. Spanish explorers in Texas held a thanksgiving event in San Elizario in 1598. Florida Historians say the earliest thanksgiving service occurred on September 8, 1565, on a site near Saint Augustine.

On November 5, 1963, President John F. Kennedy sought to strike a compromise between the Massachusetts (secular) and Virginia (religious) proponents by issuing Proclamation 3560 and stating, “Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and in Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving. On the appointed day, they gave reverent thanks for their safety, for the health of their children, for the fertility of their fields, for the love which bound them together, and for the faith which united them with their God."

Kennedy was unable to settle the debate, but his statement of purpose for Thanksgiving sought to be inclusive enough for all.

However Thanksgiving Day came about, we have much to be thankful for, we Americans. We still live in a land of plenty with individual freedoms, the world’s best healthcare system, opportunities galore, and a beacon of hope to much of the world. 

Yes, on this national holiday we should set all debates aside and give thanks for America and its bounty and for our good fortune to live here. 

But, so too should we pray to remain this blessed. Nothing guarantees America a beneficial future and divine intervention might be our only hope. 

Indeed, rarely have we as a nation been vulnerable on so many fronts, from deadly and disruptive foreign disease and hackers, to international supply chain disruption and rare material scarcities, to emerging foreign military technologies and weaponry, to internal civil dispute, individual intimidation, and insurrection…the last making it all the more difficult to deal with the others.

You know, the gratitude embodied in our Thanksgiving fest is a derivative of love, the love of brotherhood, that wonderful notion that was once regularly depicted for us in the song America the Beautiful.

Do any miss the days when we would stand in unison and sing those words? Perhaps this year we should quietly recite the seldom sung words in the second verse:

America! America! / God mend thine every flaw / Confirm thy soul in self-control / Thy liberty in law!   

Happy Thanksgiving.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” – Psalm 18:1.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Consume more Chinese made goods on credit, sheeple!

Anonymous said...

Be thankful, Bill, that people will pay you for such pablum.

Anonymous said...

Don’t worry the miserable rejects on the left will always be complaining about something, ignore them. Enjoy thanksgiving with your friends and family and let the complainers who will still take the day off sit around alone and watch Pokémon or Hentai.

Anonymous said...

@3:48
I thought it was only the alt-right who lurked on anime websites like 4chan.

Anonymous said...

5:23 - How is it you know that lingo?

Anonymous said...

@6:04
I was stationed in Okinawa for a few years. And I still have a taste for jpop.

Anonymous said...

With times as they are....TG is just a day that empties my wallet as I watch my wife blow thru the savings to feed folks I don't even like and end up leaving with MY leftover breast meat !!

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
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