A time to give thanks for the many blessings

A year ago, we were in mourning for the loss of our innocence. Sept. 11, 2001, changed us forever. Terrorism became part of our lives, not just our vocabulary. The 3,000 deaths drove home the point that the United States was vulnerable to terrorist attacks and that we could no longer sit idly by while mass murderers like Osama bin Laden plotted other acts of barbarism.
Thanksgiving 2001 was unlike any other this nation had celebrated. Families and friends interacted with intensity, aware that the global war on terror declared by President Bush would last a long time and would undoubtedly result in the loss American lives.
But time does heal wounds, and so today we are less teary when we think about the victims of 9/11, we are less afraid and we are more determined than ever that the bad guys will not win.
There is reason to give thanks. Here's what the presidential proclamation declaring today A National Day of Thanksgiving states, "As the Pilgrims did almost four centuries ago, we gratefully give thanks this year for the beauty, abundance and opportunity this great land offers."
Yes, there is beauty, despite the manmade ugliness; there is abundance, despite the current economic hardships being experienced by many Americans; and there is opportunity, even in the midst of growing unemployment.
Desperate lives
It would be wonderful to be able to sit around the dinner table with family and friends and celebrate Thanksgiving without a care in the world. But that's not possible. We should not forget those in this country and around the globe whose lives are so desperate that hope is a luxury.
And we must not forget that a year from now, the United States may well be embroiled in a war with Iraq that could be costly in terms of lives and our economic well-being.
That is what makes today such a special occasion. We are thankful that a year has passed without another act of terrorism on our mainland, and we're grateful for the many blessings that have been bestowed upon this nation.
President Bush, in his address during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, expounded on that theme:
"As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remember to share our blessings and make this holiday season a time for giving to those in need.
"By helping a neighbor we serve our nation and we serve a cause greater than self-interest. Everyone can do something, and through the USA Freedom Corps you can find ways to help at a school, food pantry, or any other organization near you."
Last year, the outpouring of love, support and generosity for the families of the victims of 9/11 showed that as a people we stand head and shoulders above the rest. And it is this uniquely American trait that will bode well for us as we embark on the campaign to free the world from the shackles of terrorism.