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THE "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" ARE BELOW THE EDITORIAL
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So, because of the huge public response to what originally was intended as a one-time observance by President Abraham Lincoln on the fourth Thursday of November of 1863, the United States still observes Thanksgiving Day – an official occasion for us all to give thanks for what we have.
There are many who may not feel all that thankful this November; that is true every year. There is actually no requirement that you be – it is simply an opportunity to review what you do have to be thankful for, and almost everyone can find something of that sort in their life – even if it is only the people who gather with you for the observance. But if you think about it for a while, you can always find more to celebrate.
Indeed there were a great many on that first national day of Thanksgiving who may not have thought they had anything be thankful for. The nation was still deeply embroiled in its catastrophic Civil War, with the very future of the nation in the balance – and with massive casualties that touched many families across the nation. But the 1863 celebration proved extremely popular, and the one-time event was speedily adopted by Congress as a permanent observance every November.
Americans are by nature a people who are oriented towards optimism – our resilience is noted around the world. And that certainly is one thing to celebrate, if you are making a list.
Here’s what President Lincoln was thankful for, when the Presidential Proclamation was issued on October 3rd of 1863:
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| An official photographic portrait of Abraham Lincoln made in 1863. (Photo by Daniel Hagerman) |
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A Proclamation.
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 defence, 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, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
Announced by William H. Seward, Secretary of State
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Certainly one of the things to give thanks for is that this nation even exists, and that we are part of it. It is possible you don’t remember much from your Civics class in grade school or high school, except perhaps about silversmith Paul Revere’s prearranged evening ride to alert the countryside to the approach of British troops in the early days of the Revolutionary War.
It seems pretty simple to us now that our nation exists, because it does. But if you have looked into the unlikely ways that the Declaration of Independence came to be, as well how a ragtag army of colonial volunteers then managed to thwart the powerful British Army through various challenges and by way of remarkable coincidences and circumstances that in retrospect were breathtakingly unlikely, you would come to be rather awestruck that this country ever did come to be.
One place to review some of the remarkable details of the story is, itself, quite unlikely – a musical comedy (!) called “1776”, which accurately depicts how thirteen very different, and in some ways unalterably opposed, colonies managed unanimous agreement to defy the British Crown. If you see the movie, you will not forget the amazing details about its creation you didn’t learn in Civics class. Do see the movie, or attend the stage show.
It is arguable that we would still be a country similar to Canada and Australia, still having allegiance Great Britain, were it not for a stunningly masterful sequence of parliamentary maneuvers by none other than Benjamin Franklin, who managed to convert the final vote of his own colony – Pennsylvania – from 2 to 1 against Independence to 2 to 1 for, at the very last possible moment, to seal the deal. Miracles were accomplished in its creation; and as President Lincoln might have said, it is fitting that we take a day to celebrate that, at least.
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Grants available in Southeast’s City Council “District 3”
Editor,
Southeast Uplift is holding a second round of funding for the Community Small Grants program. We’re offering grants up to $3,000 for projects that “build community and increase civic engagement”. Such projects can include: Engaging neighbors in creating a street painting to slow down traffic in a residential neighborhood; Workshops, forums, and trainings that create stronger skills among community leaders; Civic engagement efforts such as a voter registration drive led by high school students; Placemaking projects such as building a pergola for a food pantry to keep people dry as they wait for food; Translation of printed materials into multiple languages such as at a farmers’ market and neighborhood association.
- Projects must take place in, and/or serve residents within, the SE Uplift District 3.
- Applicants must be a nonprofit organization, community group, or collaborative project team; individuals are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be one of the following: a) a federally-designated 501c3 nonprofit tax-exempt organization, b) fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 nonprofit tax-exempt organization, or c) will apply for fiscal sponsorship through SE Uplift if selected to receive a grant.
- Past SE Uplift grant recipients must have completed their projects by the due date and submitted their final reporting paperwork to be eligible. Current SE Uplift grant recipients must contact SE Uplift prior to applying to verify that they have made sufficient progress towards completing their grant project.
- Past SEUL Community Small Grants recipients who have been awarded two years in a row may apply again only if they have a different project or project phase for funding.
We’ll be accepting applications from December 16 through January 26. Applicants can apply to me by email – alex@seuplift.org
Alex Cherin
Grantmaking Programs Manager
Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition
Doesn’t care for Hallowe’en
Editor,
All Saints Day used to be in place of halloween, however the pagans got hold of Halloween and replaced All Saints Day with Halloween!! God does not want children scared by fear if you don’t give me a treat, then I will give you a trick. . . God says No to Halloween (the day). Its Satanic, wicked, evil!! I rest my case!!!!
Donald Juchemich
S.E. King Road
EDITOR’S NOTE: For context, Mr. Juchemich enclosed a page from the last issue of THE BEE in which we covered “Scaregrounds” at Oaks Park, and offered photos of Hallowe’en displays around Southeast Portland.
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Letters to the Editor may be submitted via e-mail by clicking HERE.
All letters to the editor are subject to editing for clarity and available space, and all letters become property of THE BEE.
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READY TO MOVE ON TO THE COMMUNITY STORIES AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS ON PAGE 4? CLICK HERE!
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For our Thanksgiving 2023 editorial in appreciation of dogs, CLICK HERE
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