| In our effort to make sure that God and His holy days have no relation to religion or each other, we've expunged God from the commemorations. This is much like remembering that you left the bride at the church after you arrive at the honeymoon suite without her. Many of the politicians that run our city apparently know better than Washington and Lincoln as to what these men meant by their proclamations. They are the historical revisionists excising both patriotism and pride from the public square. Rewriting history is the spoils of the victor. Every holiday is now taught in many of our nation's schools as just another multicultural lovefest. Even the Fourth of July is a holiday that has been corrupted. It was traditionally supposed to be a day full of parades, apple pie and patriotic speeches by national and local leaders. When was the last time you heard a stirring patriotic speech by a living politician? There is no longer a deep sense of patriotism instilled in our kids, few know the words to our national anthem and the learning of American history is abridged and is now somewhat unrecognizable from the days when you and I attended school. The celebration of our national holidays and traditions is regrettably just not the same. Washington and Lincoln now share a single holiday, President's Day, better known as White Flower Day at Macy's. Our country must stand for something, or it will fall for everything. So, as we sit down to our Thanksgiving feasts, let's remember to say a prayer to the Almighty, who has blessed us with so much. And let this be a time for both those bellicose liberals and conservatives who are at constantly at war with one another to take a deep breath and chill out. This is good time to come to terms with the Divine and be at peace with your enemies, if even just for this short holiday. It really is a good time to remember that these political road warriors who do battle with each other every day are just plain folks that really want the best for our nation, our families and our kids. We all think it's the other political party that doesn't have a clue. It's time to reflect that it's OK to have a different belief system. And, heck, maybe -- just maybe -- both sides are right. After all, you need to have both a right wing and a left wing for a bird to fly. And let's save, and savor, some time with our children while we salute this wonderful country, which has provided us with such a bounty and asks us for so little. And while we're at it, let's save a prayer and a salute for Mom and Dad. And why not try to share the holiday with them? They deserve it. If you can't do that in person, then at least call 'em. And let's bow our heads a moment in prayer. Recall that it's been one year, two months and two weeks since 9/11, and let's share this upcoming day of Thanksgiving and Prayer by coming together as a nation to ask this of God: "Lord, we praise You for Your kinds works on this benevolent nation. You have made us the world's leader, the freest, most generous and most powerful of nations in the world. The liberty you've given us has been a beacon to the world. Millions flock to our shores each year. We seek Your guidance as our nation travels through troubled waters. We pray for Your wisdom to guide our nation and our leaders. We pray for bloodless coups to topple brutal oppressors throughout the world so that the downtrodden may be free and may then share in the learning, wealth and health that the world may offer them. And may Your swift justice come to those leaders who commit violence and unspeakable cruelty unto their own people. "We beseech You to restore harmony and tranquility in the hearts of man, particularly in the Middle East today, but no less in our own hearts. We also wish to remember the souls of the victims of 9/11 and ask You to bring peace to their families as we remember them. We pray that our young men and women who are serving overseas won't have to engage in combat, but we seek Your blessings, guidance and protection if they must. And we pray that You, Heavenly Father, will lead us quickly from war and bring a swift peace to all the nations of this world. May justice prevail. In the Lord's Holy Name we pray, Amen." Adam Sparks is a San Francisco conservative activist. He can be reached at [email protected]. |