Thanksgiving Day Speach, if I were giving one.
Here on this, among the greatest days of our nation, I wish to give thanks to all those people who serve our nation and to the Higher Power that we as a nation surrender our judgment and purpose. I wish to thank our leaders for their ability to relive the days of persecution and injustice that forced our ancestors to board a small ship and sail to a new land. I wish to thank those same ancestors for giving us a heritage of repression, greed and injustice that has been and continues to be passed down from generation to generation. I wish to give thanks for the hypocrisy that allows us to live out our days in a blissful inconsiderate way.
In giving thanks for all these things, I hope for the day that these things will be looked upon, as days for which we should be thankful no longer exist. I give thanks for the durability of humankind, that one day we will surpass this age of repetitive history. I hope for the future that there will be a time when people will look beyond themselves and the face or difference of the next person and look at their actions and their worth. I speak this in the hope that on this day of thanksgiving people will feel shame for what has happened to this country of freedom, of this land that once was a symbol of hope and happiness, a land of new beginnings.
These last decades will stand as a testament to the future that history is doomed to repeat itself again and again. These last decades will speak to the future that will likely learn about it and forget it, just as we have done. We are taught history for several reasons, once I was told that it was so that we would not repeat it. Another time I learned that it was to learn our heritage and know our society and culture better. Another time I learned that history was taught because it would help the mind grow. During my adult life, I have not seen any of this in practice. History has proven to be nothing more than a waste of time or a point from which to argue.
At this time, I give no thanks for my heritage, for the history I have learned. I give no thanks for this land, its people, or its beliefs. I cannot, in all good conscious, thank the higher power at this time for this country, the food I will eat, or the year ahead or past. This land and its people could not accept my sacrifice because of who and what I am. This land cannot accept me. In this lack of acceptance, it has repeated history in persecuting those who are different. It has persecuted me. It has used its history to justify the continuance of history. In this justification, it has proved that “New World” is the “Old World.” The “Old World” has become the “New World.” The “Old World” has moved to make amends for its history and move beyond persecution and injustice.
On this day of Thanksgiving, I cannot give thanks for God and Country. I hope that I can give thanks for the good will of my family, friends, and those who suffer that we might someday move beyond persecution and injustice. I am gay. I am an American. I am a Veteran. I am a patriot. I support the constitution, I once swore to uphold and defend it. I will continue to do that.
Thank all that is greater than I for this ability. Thank all that is greater for the blessings of life. Thank all that is greater for family and friends. Thank all that is greater for love.
Because I am somewhat religious, let me say a short prayer:
Almighty, I pray for the future and the people of this world. I pray that we will someday come to love one another for our differences. I pray that one day we will have a world without injustice and prejudice. I pray one day that if not as a whole, at least as a country, we can be once again a shining beacon of hope and prosperity to the world. A country that can be looked upon as the place where one can be different but treated as anyone else. I pray, Almighty, that one day my fellow man and I will be able to give thanks for being nice to our neighbor. I pray today that you will bless us with happiness and full stomachs. I pray that you will bless those who are poor and live with out much, with food and clothing, plenty for the years to come. Amen.
In giving thanks for all these things, I hope for the day that these things will be looked upon, as days for which we should be thankful no longer exist. I give thanks for the durability of humankind, that one day we will surpass this age of repetitive history. I hope for the future that there will be a time when people will look beyond themselves and the face or difference of the next person and look at their actions and their worth. I speak this in the hope that on this day of thanksgiving people will feel shame for what has happened to this country of freedom, of this land that once was a symbol of hope and happiness, a land of new beginnings.
These last decades will stand as a testament to the future that history is doomed to repeat itself again and again. These last decades will speak to the future that will likely learn about it and forget it, just as we have done. We are taught history for several reasons, once I was told that it was so that we would not repeat it. Another time I learned that it was to learn our heritage and know our society and culture better. Another time I learned that history was taught because it would help the mind grow. During my adult life, I have not seen any of this in practice. History has proven to be nothing more than a waste of time or a point from which to argue.
At this time, I give no thanks for my heritage, for the history I have learned. I give no thanks for this land, its people, or its beliefs. I cannot, in all good conscious, thank the higher power at this time for this country, the food I will eat, or the year ahead or past. This land and its people could not accept my sacrifice because of who and what I am. This land cannot accept me. In this lack of acceptance, it has repeated history in persecuting those who are different. It has persecuted me. It has used its history to justify the continuance of history. In this justification, it has proved that “New World” is the “Old World.” The “Old World” has become the “New World.” The “Old World” has moved to make amends for its history and move beyond persecution and injustice.
On this day of Thanksgiving, I cannot give thanks for God and Country. I hope that I can give thanks for the good will of my family, friends, and those who suffer that we might someday move beyond persecution and injustice. I am gay. I am an American. I am a Veteran. I am a patriot. I support the constitution, I once swore to uphold and defend it. I will continue to do that.
Thank all that is greater than I for this ability. Thank all that is greater for the blessings of life. Thank all that is greater for family and friends. Thank all that is greater for love.
Because I am somewhat religious, let me say a short prayer:
Almighty, I pray for the future and the people of this world. I pray that we will someday come to love one another for our differences. I pray that one day we will have a world without injustice and prejudice. I pray one day that if not as a whole, at least as a country, we can be once again a shining beacon of hope and prosperity to the world. A country that can be looked upon as the place where one can be different but treated as anyone else. I pray, Almighty, that one day my fellow man and I will be able to give thanks for being nice to our neighbor. I pray today that you will bless us with happiness and full stomachs. I pray that you will bless those who are poor and live with out much, with food and clothing, plenty for the years to come. Amen.
posted by Luke at 7:26 PM
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