11/26/98

Last week we talked about how history can be changed by the occurrence of one event. How the repercussions could be felt up and down the line. As we enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays, let's count what we can be thankful about.

We can be thankful that we as a country celebrate a holiday that crosses ethnic, racial and religious lines. We all enjoy this one. We can be thankful we have yet to wage war this century on our own soil. We can be thankful for all the advances in technology that have made our lives easier. We can be thankful that many serious, life-threatening diseases have been solved. The most pervasive one, cancer, is quickly being subdued in no small part due to the knowledge that prevention is seen as the best "cure." We should be thankful that improvements in communication and travel allow us to be closer to the ones we love and need.

By living in this country through the grace of God we have many things to be thankful for. For unimpeded travel. Thankful for the ability to earn as much or as little as we want. For the option of getting as much or as little education as we want or need. For the right to choose our elected leaders. For the right to not be a good citizen at all. We should be thankful for the guarantees that allow us to say what we want, where we want, and to whom we want. In other words, we have the right in this country to show our intelligence or our ignorance!

We should forever be thankful that we are guided in this country by laws and not by individuals. And when that tenet is threatened, that most people realize it is the best and most proven way. We should forever be thankful that our forefathers, for all their faults (after all, they were human), created a country that has as its cornerstone -- freedom, unfettered movement and the option to be involved in its government. No other country has those three things to the degree we have them or have had them for so long.

We should be thankful for the fall (football), spring (baseball), summer (no school) and winter (school!). We should be thankful for our parents, our children, our grandchildren, and all whom we count as friends. We should be mindful of those who do not have them.

As a southerner, I feel we can be extra thankful for additional reasons. For sunshine and warmth in November; clear streams for children to play in; wide open spaces to enjoy nature; abundant farmland and a place to worship on every block.

As a Georgian, we have even more reasons to be thankful. For the mountains as well as the ocean. For wonders like the Okefenokee Swamp to the Indian Mounds in North Georgia. For a University System that is recognized around the country for its excellence. For a road system that is rated the best in the country. For a government that keeps its taxes low, service high, educates its students and protects its citizens.

Too many times in our lives, we either take for granted the good things or complain too much about the bad things. This time of year is a good time to remind us to keep it all in perspective.