State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Thanksgiving has become more secularized than Christmas. The fourth Thursday in November means the Rockettes dancing in front of Macy’s, the National Dog Show, football morning to night, the mountain of sale ads in the newspaper.
Understand, there is nothing wrong with parades and Packer games. However, we need to remember that Thanksgiving is much more
Like Christmas, the Thanksgiving holiday is under attack from those who wish to tarnish its tradition, even questioning its very origin.
Sadly, some historians are claiming the first Thanksgiving was not a religious gathering to give praise. The contention is that in 1621, the Pilgrims partied with a large feast. When shots were fired to add to the celebration, nearby natives crashed the festivities.
I prefer the thoughts of Yale professor David Gelernter who wrote the following in the Wall Street Journal in 2004:
“The First Thanksgiving is one of those heartwarming stories that every child used to know, and some up-to-date teachers take special delight in suppressing. It is especially sad when children don't learn the history of Thanksgiving, which is that rarest of anomalies--a religious festival celebrated by many faiths. The story of the first Thanksgiving would inspire and soothe this nation if only we would let it--this nation so deeply divided between Christians and non-Christians or nominal Christians, where Christians are a solid majority on a winning streak and many non-Christians are scared to death, of "Christian fundamentalists" especially.
Christian fundamentalists were the first European settlers in this country, and Thanksgiving is their idea. Many Americans are afraid that fundamentalists are inherently intolerant and want to stamp out all religions but their own. Yet that first thanksgiving was celebrated by radical Christian fundamentalists, and American Indians were honored guests--as every child used to know.
But that long-ago First Thanksgiving still speaks to and for every American, and we ought to listen. It speaks to Christians; they thought it up. It speaks to Jews--Pilgrim Christianity was a profoundly "Hebraic" Christianity. Thanksgiving speaks for Americans too: it is just like us to set a day aside for a national thank you to the Lord, or (anyway) to someone. Americans continue to be what Lincoln called us, the "almost chosen people," struggling to do right by man and God.”
Amidst the various television offerings and never-ending assortment of goodies, please remember the true, and yes, religious significance of Thanksgiving.As we reflect on our own blessings after a year of news stories about war and terrorism, those blessings certainly seem very clear. Pause and appreciate what we have: family, friends, individual liberties and freedom, and for those truly fortunate, rewarding employment and fine health. The most joyous season we are about to enter should be a reminder to all of us not to take any of what we enjoy each and every day for granted.
While we consider what we truly are thankful for, we should take time to also hope that those who are not as blessed may find whatever it takes to make their lives better. Far too many in our country and abroad have suffered great hardships this past year. They should not be forgotten. They need to be remembered in our thoughts and prayers.
Watch TV. Root for the Packers. Eat and eat some more. But carve out some time to gather as a family, ponder your many blessings, and give thanks, for that is the true meaning of this wonderful holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
