This Thursday, millions of families will celebrate Thanksgiving with roasted turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, and (with only a slight amount of guilt) another piece of pumpkin pie. But in early America, days of Thanksgiving weren’t always about food.
Reflecting American religious practice, Presidents and Congresses from the beginning of the republic have from time to time designated days of fasting and thanksgiving (the Thanksgiving holiday we continue to celebrate on the third Thursday of November was established by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War).
Following a resolution of Congress, President George Washington proclaimed Thursday the 26th of November 1789 a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer” devoted to “the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.” In setting aside a day for Thanksgiving, Washington established a non-sectarian tone for these devotions and stressed political, moral, and intellectual blessings that make self-government possible, in addition to personal and national repentance.
Although the First Amendment prevents Congress from establishing a religion or prohibiting its free exercise, Presidents, as well as Congress, have always recognized the American regard for sacred practices and beliefs. Thus, throughout American history, Presidents have offered non-sectarian prayers for the victory of the military and in the wake of catastrophes. Transcending passionate quarrels over the proper role of religion in politics, the Thanksgiving Proclamation reminds us how natural their relationship has been. While church and state are separate, religion and politics, in their American refinement, prop each other up.
Therefore this Thursday, in the words of Washington, let us:
[T]hen unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Happy Thanksgiving!
the words of Washington are awesome! Totally without narcissism! We'd like to take this opportunity to give thanks to God for the history of the native Indians of this land and the founding fathers whose roles in humanity paved the sound principles in respect to all mankind! also in thanksgiving to all good willed people of America who reach out to those in need as the Indians had for the pilgrims. NO GOVERNING but self, required. We give special thanks and recognition in respect of today, to the tea party republicans and all who reflect personal strength and courage, out numbered by a government class who reflects the opposite! We'd like to give thanks to all those who respect and honor truth as a humane deservedness and those who seek truth with the strength to hold it accountable and against wrongful influence of wrongful leadership. We give thanks to all that expose all that stands in the way of truth to inform the truth! Heritage and the like!!!! God Bless!
Happy thanksgiving, everyone! Don't eat anything with Halal on the label!
Does anyone else notice the contrast between every president since George Washington and their devotion to God for blessing this nation, they listen to Obama who won't even mention God when addressing the reason we all should be thankful.
thanksgiving is the FOURTH thursday of november every year, not the third