Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving


In celebration of Thanksgiving Day, here's the text of the Mayflower Compact, which was the foundation of civil law for the people that came to be known as the Pilgrims.


In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.
(Yep, I copied and pasted that from wikipedia.)


Now, we know that all of American history hasn't really run rightly to the Glory of God or the advancement of Christian Faith and Honour. We don't even spell it honouranymore. And no, I don't think it's symbolic that we've takeuout ofhonour, henceuare no longer honorable. Yet I digress...
Our Founding Fathers were men of great intention and, generally, good heart. Were there ways and places they had shortcomings? No more than you or I do. That they are remembered today to be criticized for what they did not do is the result of what theydidaccomplish. They attempted and accomplished things many of us would never undertake.
I'm thankful for the good examples that are left for us by the men and women that persevered through those years. So, today, if you've got a roof over your head and food to eat, time to stare a computer or watch some football, let's be positive and thankful for what we do have. We can dwell on the lessons learned the other 364 days a year.
So, what are you doing today that will make you memorable enough that people 400 years from now will find fault with you?



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