Milford chronicle., 1952-11-21
WHY AMERICA WILL GIVE THANKS
NEXT THURSDAY NATIONAL
THANKSGIVING DAY

THANKSGIVING DAY
What have we to be thankful for this
year" Some discouraged folk, gazing at the
sorry state of the world, will probably ask
that question next Observation-Disclosures
Day.
There may have been a few among the
Pilgrims who asked the same question three
hundred and thirty-one years ago. They had
landed on barren shore. They were in a
strange, uncharted land. They had no way
OF knowing what perils lay beyond their tiny
beachhead. They did not even think in terms
OF comforts, and they were quite aware that
toll was theiT taskmaster and hardship their
horizon.
Yet they gave thanks. They did so be-
cause they had counted their blessings and
found them great. They had survived rough
and hazardous sea journey. They had reach
ed their goal, the New World. They had food.
a haven, comparative security. They breath
ed the air of freedom and they liked it. Faith
and hope were renewed, and they gave
thanks, above all, for opportunity. 1t was
opportunity they had sought Now it was
won.
By any standard we, their successors and
heirs, have so much more to be thankful for
that only a sour pessimist, after second
thought, will have any doubts left. Ours has
been called 'the age of anxiety" Yet almost
every age of history has been an age of anx-
lety to the people who were living in it.
Surely there was a good measure of anx-
lety IN the minds of the Pilgrims. During
early Colonial days mere survival was no
easy problem, and the eastern seaboard is
dotted with shrines cOmmemOrating colon
lists maSSacred IL cold blood. There certainly
was grim anxiety through the long struggle
for independence, during the birth of our
Nation. during it's turbulent early years, dur
ing the Civil War
The anxiety of our forefathers was quite
as real to them as our anxiety is to us. But
they kept it in proper perspective, and gave
thanks for those great blessings-freedom
and opportunity.
Let America next Thursday and every
day, give thanks that it still possesses those
same blessings in undiminished abundance
Yes, we give thanks, or should, for mate
rial gains, for the fact that more people en-
JOY higher standard of living here than ever
before IN human history, fact neither to be
Sneered at nor regarded as all-important.
We give thanks for abundance of resources.
for the fertility of the gOOd>earth which we
are fortunate to inhabit. We give thanks for
the increasing resources of our minds. the
often incredible skill of our artisans and the
brilliance Of our scientists.
AS we look beyond our borders. we are
Mortified to see our casualties in Korea con-
tlnue to lncreaSe-Which moves us to give
ferVent thanks that our elected leaders are
searching for solution of this unnecessary
war. And remembering how prophets fore
saw world war with Russia in 1852. we
can be thankful it has been averted thus far.
and pray that it may be prevented for the
future.
Americans this year give thanks for
many other blessings, less tangible but none
the less real; for the privilege to speak and
think freely; for the right to work where
they wish and travel as they please; for the
power to choose their own government, and,
as individuals, to chart their own destiny:
above all, for the right to attend the church
OF their choice, where millions next Thurs
day will kneel in earnest prayer as they give.
each one, their thanks to Almighty God
So, three hundred and thirty-One years
later, cur greatest blessings of all are those
OF the Pilgrims: freedom and opportunity.
This year, ironically our opportunity
destiny, if you willis to extend those bless
lngs, through our help, to the nations from
which most Of our ancestors came to restore
the health and vigOr of our Allies, to revital
lze our European heritage, and secure the
peace.
For those who see only an age of anxiety.
this may be discOuraging prospect. For
those who see ours as an age of opportunity
1t is a challenge to the human spirit which
can bring out the best there is in men.
Let us, indeed, give thanks for this great
Nation of OurS-and, for the opportunities
Wich it offers each and everyone of us.
5000
EISENHOWER SHOULD GET ALONG
ALRIGHT WITH CONGRESS
AS often happens with a candidate who
has very large personal following which
Il.