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The INDEPENDENT, November 15, 2007
The
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by
The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410.
Publisher Clark McGaugh, clark@the-independent.net
Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net
Assoc. Editor Noni Andersen, noni@the-independent.net
Opinion
It’s time to give thanks
Now is the time of year when we stop and take
inventory of the many reasons there are to be
thankful.
Originally, Thanksgiving celebrated the gen-
erosity of others who gave food to some early
English settlers who were starving on their own.
If you have food on your table, even if it’s much
more humble than a big turkey dinner, there is a
reason to be thankful.
There has already been one power outage and
winter is still new. Electricity and all the conven-
iences it brings, such as hot water, refrigeration,
heat and lights are all more reasons to give
thanks. It’s easy in the world we live in to take
such things for granted. There are still many
places in the world, undeveloped and warring
countries, for instance, where people live without
such niceties as safety, electricity, sanitation,
clean water, enough food. What a luxury, to have
clean water to drink, and even enough water to
bathe in and wash clothes.
Got a dry, warm place to live? Be thankful your
house wasn’t the one that burned down in Ver-
nonia, on November 13. Got a job? Got a car?
Got recreational opportunities? Yes, most of us
have lots, and lots for which to be thankful.
How about the really important stuff? Got a
family and/or friends? This is a good time to tell
someone you love them, or at least, that you ap-
preciate them.
Thank you to all volunteers. We won’t try to
name them all, lest we forget somebody like we
did last year. The amount of charity our commu-
nity (and we mean the whole area; Vernonia,
Timber, Mist, Jewell, Elsie, Birkenfeld, Buxton,
Manning, and Banks) is capable of showing dur-
ing times of need is overwhelming. There have
been a number of injuries, deaths and fires this
year that have brought out amazing generosity
and support for the individuals and families in-
volved. People helping people is what communi-
ty really means, and ours is a great community.
Finally, if all your basic needs have been met,
please consider finding a way to give to others. If
you can’t give lots, maybe just share what you
have, whether it’s time, money, food or love. And,
take time to give thanks.
Out of my Mind
by Noni Andersen
Setting aside time to give thanks for the bless-
ings we enjoy is fairly universal, but Thanksgiv-
ing as a holiday is a uniquely American idea
(Canada adopted it in 1879.). A part of that
uniqueness, unfortunately, is how we have re-
placed expressing thanks for true blessings into
an opportunity to overeat, followed by a day of
equally gluttonous shopping…for Christmas! It is
increasingly apparent that one day of giving
thanks is about all our culture can sustain.
Speaking of our culture, it isn’t surprising that
overeating and overspending both bring negative
outcomes - one for our health, the other for our
economy.
We think of thanksgiving as a fall event, when
the crops are in, and red and gold leaves have
painted the countryside. But the Pilgrims’
Thanksgiving proclamation was actually June
29, 1676. By late November, they were strug-
gling to maintain both food and shelter. We cer-
tainly have it easy, not just easier than our
founders, but easier than most of the people in
most of the world.
When the first national Thanksgiving was pro-
claimed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864,
he concluded with these words:
“And I do further recommend to my fellow-cit-
izens aforesaid, that on that occasion they do
reverently humble themselves in the dust, and
from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers
and supplications to the great Disposer of events
for a return of the inestimable blessings of
peace, union and harmony throughout the land
which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling-
place for ourselves and for our posterity through-
out all generations.”
Lincoln’s thoughts about “ the inestimable
blessings of peace, union and harmony” have
considerably more value than a frenzy of eating
and shopping.
I don’t know who wrote this little poem but,
aside from today’s often unaffordable health
care, it is a far better explanation of reasons to
be thankful than those promoted by our commer-
cial culture:
When we count our many blessings;
It isn’t hard to see
that life’s most valued treasures
are the treasures that are free.
For it isn’t what we own or buy
that signifies our wealth.
It’s the special gifts that have no price:
our family, friends and health.
Thanksgiving can be the therapy we all need
to remember the blessings and the beauty of liv-
ing, but only if we apply it.
On a lighter note, there is nothing wrong with
humor about Thanksgiving, indeed, laughter is
one of God’s blessings. So, at the Thanksgiving
dinner table when everyone goes around to say
what they are thankful for, say, “I’m thankful I did-
n’t get caught” and refuse to say anything more.
That should keep the family wondering all year
long.