Many of us Liberals thought last year that our country would have a completely new look of justice for all by the next Thanksgiving. I, for one, am disappointed that things aren't quite up to par.
As Thanksgiving 2009 approaches, I find myself thankful for the usual stuff: family, friends, food, health, shelter, love and all those other warm fuzzy things.
But I think what is more interesting are the things I'm not thankful for this year. So I ask the following questions:
* Why do we remain in Afghanistan and why are we having to risk our children's lives in order to commit some 30,000 more troops into that country?
* Has President Obama not studied our involvement in Vietnam, how we thought we had to do the same some 40 years ago when we feared the Communists instead of today's terrorists?
* Why can't the Senate get their act together and approve health reform for citizens that would give us some of the benefits they now themselves have?
* Why are one in seven in this country hungry while a few of those other seven live in extreme wealth letting their money support them rather than their labor?
* Why are one in four homeowners behind in their mortgage payments while those who approved many of those mortgages continue to get bonuses?
* Why does the Catholic Church welcome disgruntled married Episcopal MALE priests into its fold while telling their own priests that they will never be able to marry?
* Why do our automobile manufacturers continue to make vehicles we don't really want rather than cars that are reasonably priced that offer us outstanding fuel efficiency and a good cup holder?
* Why are our schools becoming more and more dangerous even though more and more dollars are poured into them each year?
* Why do otherwise intelligent men and women continue to deny that global warming is really happening as they drive their Hummer a couple blocks to get a cup of coffee?
* Why is it that when you are young you are underqualified and when you're old you're overqualified. And when you are "best qualified" you don't happen to be looking for a job?
* Why does it seem that when your kids are young it seems that they'll never grow up, but when they are grown up and gone, their childhoods seem like they didn't last any time at all?
* Why does Bill Moyer have to leave PBS when he's the best news commentator out there?
* Why do people insist on shopping at 4 am on the day after Thanksgiving when they could be sleeping in and enjoying one more day off?
* Why can't the Israelis and Palestinians get along and let their children grow up in peace?
* Why do we insist on putting bandaids on injustices rather than working for justice?
* Why can't a person make enough money to live above the poverty level when they work full time?
* Why can't edible food be eaten by someone who is hungry instead of it being thrown into a locked dumpster or trash compactor?
* Why do some industrial farmers have to plow under perfectly good food rather than give it to hungry people or at least selling it at a cheaper rate?
* Why are our farmers subsidized to raise food that is not good for us or our livestock?
If anyone can answer these questions for me, I'll be more thankful this Thanksgiving. I get tired of just loving warm fuzzy feelings and things.
In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to you!