GIVE THANKS!

Donald Trump continueD to campaign for President, knowing there was some risk and he got COVID. Democrats rejoiced. Some dreamed of his timely death. But Trump has now fully recovered. He stood on that White House balcony and defiantly removed his mask. He was sending a message to the American people. He admitted that he knew he was taking some risk by continuing to hold events and rallies, but he refused to let fear dominate him. The worse did happen, he did get COVID 19, but he survived. What made this doubly sweet is that the drugs he rushed into production probably saved his life. COVID 19 is real, but it no longer needs dominate our lives.

This reminds me of when Abraham Lincoln gave the first Thanksgiving Day proclamation. Prior to this, each state had its own thanksgiving celebration. Lincoln made it national. It is important to read what he said:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

Lincoln issued this proclamation on October 3, 1863. The war was far from over and many people were increasingly horrified at the tragedy of this war. Lincoln reminded the nation that we had much to be grateful for and that ultimately, even something as tragic as this Civil War could not overcome the numerous things for which to be grateful. While others offered only fear, Lincoln offered thankfulness and hope.

I think Donald Trump understands that. While his opponents are focusing on COVID 19 and demanding we all surrender even further to fear, Donald Trump took off his mask, expressed thanks for his own recovery and invited us to embrace hope, not fear. I suspect Lincoln would have understood. I also suspect the American people will understand far better than the fear merchants on CNN.

Give Thanks,

TDM