A FEW THINGS AMERICANS SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

November 30, 2006

The holiday season is a time for reminding ourselves what we have to be thankful for. This time of year lists proliferate on television, in the media, and on the Internet. Here is my list of things I think all Americans should be thankful for.

We have not had another terrorist attack in the United States since 9/11. It’s certainly not because they haven’t tried. Sooner or later, however, terrorists will strike us again. I know of no serious politician or expert on terrorism who does not hold that view. No matter what we do, our country is too big and our society too open for us to protect against every plot. Whether conceived and executed by the leadership and followers of al Qaeda or by some independent terrorist cell, free societies are vulnerable and will always be vulnerable. But for over five years we have not been attacked on US soil. Someone has to be doing something right.

We should be thankful for everyone and anyone, from President Bush to the cop on the beat, who has played a role in keeping us safe.

The United States continues to be blessed with hundreds of thousands of dedicated men and women who are willing to join the all-volunteer armed forces and to fight and die to defend America. They have been much in the spotlight over the past few years in Iraq and Afghanistan and, with rare exception, they have done everything that we as a country have asked of them. There’s been discussion about the wisdom of an all-volunteer armed force. Some have suggested a return to conscription. The pros and cons of the all-volunteer force are debatable, but until things change, if they ever do, it’s what stands between our enemies and us.

We should be thankful for every man and woman in uniform who does his or her duty in defense of America. We should be especially thankful for those who were wounded or killed and for their families behind them.

Millions of Americans are living longer and staying healthier because of the continual progress of medical science. Disease continues to claim millions of lives every year, but step-by-step, day-by-day, people are living longer and surviving diseases such as cancer, kidney disease, and a host of others. I know many people, like myself, who are alive today because of the advances in medicine. No one knows that the future brings, but every day that might not have been is priceless.

While the American health care system is a costly one and not universal, we should be thankful for it and for all the lives it has saved.

If you believe the experts it’s only a matter of time till a natural disaster of biblical proportions occurs. Astronomers talk about a massive asteroid striking the earth and blanketing it with ash and debris that will devastate civilization. Ecologists and climatologists talk about global warming melting the glaciers, causing the oceans rise and warming them so that hurricanes multiply in number and intensity. Volcanologists tell us we’re overdue for a volcanic eruption of such magnitude that, like an asteroid, it will blanket the earth in ash and cause a super tsunami much worse than the one that occurred in Indonesia in December 2004.

They may or may not be correct, but these things have all happened before and likely will happen again. We should just be thankful they haven’t happened lately.

Americans live in the oldest democratic country in the world. Democracy is an imperfect and frequently messy form of government, but it’s still better than every other form of government. Partisan politics is a full contact sport in America. It has been ever since Andrew Jackson ran for president. The last few election cycles certainly have reminded us of this. And while America may be a bit unpopular in various parts of the world these days, people from all over the world continue to want to come here, legally and illegally, in large numbers.

Americans should be grateful to be Americans and for the opportunities this country has provided us. And we can be proud of what our country has done for mankind.

Of all the things in a healthy and growing American economy there are to talk about, the price of gasoline frequently tops the list. It’s something that affects everyone but few seem to really understand. Petroleum is a commodity; its price fluctuates with current supply and demand and the expectation of future supply and demand. The price of gas has been high in the U.S. in recent months. Not too long ago it was approaching $4.00 a gallon. More recently it’s been under $2.50 a gallon. No doubt it will go up again as there is only so much oil in the world. As the price of gasoline goes up, the less pressure we apply to the gas pedal on our automobiles, the more we talk about alternate sources of fuel, and the more we seek alternate forms of transportation. Nevertheless, gasoline, even at $4.00 a gallon, is relatively cheap in America compared to the price of gas in other countries and historical prices in the United States.

Americans have always had a love affair with their automobiles. We’re a big country with lots of open road. For those of us who enjoy owning and taking care an automobile and driving America’s highways and byways we should be thankful that our love affair with the automobile endures and that we can still enjoy driving one.

In today’s electronic age, computers, mobile phones, iPods, Blackberries, digital cameras and other electronic devices allow us to do things a very short time ago we could not do. We no longer have to find a pay phone to make a telephone call away from home or the office. We can carry our entertainment with us in our pockets. Waiting for film developing is no longer necessary. And we can shop the world without leaving our easy chairs. Not everyone is comfortable with these tools. They can be addictive, intrusive, and downright annoying. Nevertheless, they are here to stay. Everyone is just going to have to get used to them.

If you are “electronically inclined” I’m sure you are already thankful for all these gadgets. If you’re not, you should be thankful for those who are because these gadgets allow them to do things that benefit you directly and indirectly faster, cheaper, and more efficiently.

Finally, America is a crazy and wonderful place. In addition to being thankful for all the above, for our family and friends, and for all the good things in life we have enjoyed, we should thankful that Michael Richards didn’t run for congress in either party, that O.J.’s book and his interview were cancelled, that and that James Bond is back.