Having been brought to the U.S. as an infant refugee (@ 18 mos. old) of communist oppression and terror, I can tell you I give a humongous cr@p about
Thanksgiving and what the intent of the Holiday represents.
I care deeply for the freedom to speak my mind - and for the freedom for you to disagree with me.
I care deeply for my friends and family, and for the opportunity we've been given to grow and excel here, and for the equal opportunity that everyone
else has here to do the same - including the opportunity to still thrive on the largess of others if you so choose.
I care deeply for the hundreds of sovereign nations of Native Americans, especially out here in the West, and though they may not have the breadth or
depth of existence they had 200 or more years ago, having visited and worked with many of them, they have still fared better than many cultures that
have been exterminated completely in other lands and other cultures around the globe.
I care deeply for our beautiful planet, and thank the Creator - in whatever form you wish to recognize Him/her/Them, and especially that in this land
you are free to express and share such beliefs as you see fit.
I care for my employer, my neighbors, my colleagues, and their families, for they too, almost to the person, are also thankful and respectful and
humbled by their good fortune, and, like me, feel we have enough left over to help others in need.
I care deeply for my country, and am thankful to have served my country, and would willingly do so again if asked, and appreciate all others who have
served with me to protect her, and to protect her freedoms, including, if not especially, the freedom for those few others that speak unkindly about
her - and about us.
I am thankful for progress - humanitarian progress, technological progress, political progress - for I realize that though humans are not infallible,
we have come a long way, and as the years and decades fade by, I am hopeful we can, collectively, overcome our inferiorities, and evolve and prosper
as a species. One day - I hope we have matured enough to explore and colonize the galaxy.
I am also thankful for ATS. I've made some wonderful friends here - and each thread gives me hope that we are reaching toward a community of
humanity on Earth together.
And finally, I am thankful to the OP - for giving me a good reason to express my thanks and remind me to reflect on these thanks once again during
this important, unique Holiday...