To Give Thanks

Thanksgiving has been a tradition in America since long before there ever was a United States. It was a feast of plenty, a celebration of bountiful harvests, and one final opulent smorgasbord before the dark days of winter ahead.

In the early years of European settlement of the Americas, it was still a wild and dangerous world. A world where you or your loved ones could fall prey to disease, weather, and justifiably upset Native Americans at any moment.

Over the years as the part of the American continent known as the United States grew in size, and the land became "tamed" and more safe for the nation's citizens, the memory of the hardships of the past have slowly waned. However, the results of those hardships have burned themselves deep into the collective subconscious of the people.

It has become, through tradition, a time of gathering; a time when you can see your family face-to-face in jovial celebration, and know that they are still safe and well. It has become a time when we give thanks for the blessings which we've been bestowed, either through history, the works of our ancestors, or our chosen deity(ies), wherever your belief lies.

But as you sit down to the modern tradition of stuffing your face and watching parades and sports events on television with your family, please do not forget the past. Please do not forget the struggles that were faced by those who came before you so that you may get to this point of comfort.

And also, just as our ancestors toiled and slaved (sometimes literally) to eke out a living from the bare wild earth, there are people living today, both in your own country and abroad, that are now in that position.

There are people within your own country that could make use of whatever scraps of food or clothing that you could spare. Stuff you aren't even using anymore could find greater use with someone that has greater need. Even the gift of life itself.

People outside of your country would benefit from even the simplest of motions, and if you feel especially gratuitous consider that there are many other people out there that have worked and are working to help the world become a better place. You may just find similar motivations in your own heart.

There are thousands of ways that you can help your fellow man. In the end, we are all fellow travelers on this spaceship called Earth. We are such an insignificant speck compared to the massive size of the cold, dead universe. And as of right now, we are alone with only each other.

Just as our ancestors were huddling close together this time of year just for warmth, our entire race is huddling together on this one world. We've only got each other to cling to. Since we've been blessed with so much, please consider paying it forward.

So while you are enjoying the time with your close family, please just remember that you have a much bigger family out there, your brothers and sisters across the world, many of whom need your help.

Or in other words:

Good Post Wes, We've already had our thanksgiving up here in Canuck-town, but it still means the same to me anyway. Kudos dude!

Why do we have it a month early up here some ask? Well, we have our winter weather coming in sooner, therefore our harvest comes sooner. There's some useless info for the day lol.

My thanks goes out to the people in the military for keeping this country safe while they risk their lives.To the people in law enforcement for keeping the peace for me and my familyand to all the other nameless people that do what they to do help.

My family went through our house this week and went through all our belongings(clothes,toys,books,etc) and are donating all this to charities.We cannot afford monetary gifts but we do what we can.

So Happy Thanksgiving to everyone wherever you might be.

My work is giving away any and all toys we can donate to kids in Africa. I've been collecting dbz action figures for years, accumulated about 157 or so, and so I sent them off. Kinda sad saying goodbye to a collection, but I feel great knowing that I may be partially responsible for many African dbz fans.

the " help an angel in shelter" tree is up at the local mall finally, thats my usual haunt. lotta kids being poorly served by people who should be better. That a good place for heroes to hit.

Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.

My job has the yearly Salvation Army Tree, with the requested gifts hanging on them from underprivileged kids and the like. Two years ago my boss realized that people would take small gifts but never the large ones, leaving any kid who wanted a bike S out of luck. so he proposed that everyone on our team give 5 bucks a month (15 team members) and we would "sponsor" a whole family. the money came in better then we thought and we supplied one family with 5 bikes and had enough left over to get another single kid a bike, these all included pads, helmets, and padlocks/chains. so we did it again this year, yesterday the two volunteers on our team went to toysRus and picked up 9 bikes and associated gear. three families this year, i know it's not that much in the grand scheme of things, but i vividly remember my first bike, and how excited i was. It makes me feel warm inside that 9 kids will feel that way this Christmas.

Such a pity that it takes a 'special day' for people to become generous.

Sorry, I'm a cynical git, and it saddens me that a lot of 'charity', especially from celebrities and stuff, is given not out of the goodness of their hearts, but in an attempt to look good.
Still, it is good that there are people out there who do care. That there are real Heroes doing what they can. And good on all of you.
I just wish everyone was like that.

One day I hope humanity can stand, not as 'them' and 'us', but as 'mankind', a proper united whole.
White, black, men, women, short or tall, we're all human.

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make this a place worth living in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.