MM#65--Happy Thanksgiving

Welcome to the theory to action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time to help you take action immediately, and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life. Now, here's your host, David Kaiser.


Hello, I am David and happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I hope you already are, or will be enjoying this wonderful holiday with those that you love. And I greatly appreciate you taking the time out of your day. To listen, we are supremely grateful for your time and we understand how much it really means to us. Please know how much it really means to us. That you do listen, this podcast is growing. And again, we are extremely grateful. And Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday. For sure. It is a traditional American holiday. It's a holiday, where all Americans are grateful for all of Providence, his blessings. And for me growing up in Columbus, Ohio, the memories of Thanksgiving holidays are always surrounded by the lead up to the highest state Michigan football rivalry game that always occurs the following Saturday, after the Thanksgiving Thursday. And for sure, mom's pumpkin pie and family gatherings always harken back those memories. And speaking of traditions that shouldn't be lost. The Wall Street Journal newspaper has printed the same annual editorials on the Thanksgiving edition since 1961. 

These are two canons of American journalism. One editorials titled the desolate wilderness, which reminds the country where we have come from, in the risks taken to secure this land of hope. And please allow me just a just a brief portion to read from it. Quote, here begin with the chronicle of the memorable circumstance of the year 1620 as recorded by Nathaniel Morton, the keeper of the records of Plymouth Colony, based on the account of William Bradford, some time Governor thereof. Later on it says, quote, when they came to Def Saven, they found the ship and all things ready. And such of their friends, as could not come with them followed after them in sundry came from Amsterdam, to see them shipped, and to take their leaves of them. One night was spent with a little sleep with the most but, but with little sleep with the most, but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse, and other real expressions of true Christian love. And finally, it says, besides, what could they see, but he hideous and desolate wilderness, full of the wild beast and wild men. And what multitudes of them there were, they then knew not, For whatsoever, they turned their eyes save upward to heaven. They could have but little solos and content, in respect of any outwards object. For summer being ended. All things stand and appearance, with a weather beaten face, and the whole country full of woods, and thickets, represented a wild and savage you. If they look behind them, they saw there was a mighty ocean, which they had passed, and was now as a main bar and golf to separate them from all the civil parts of the world. 

And again, that's the one of the annual editorials from 1961 of the wall street journal publishes every year. And just think about that, the first pilgrims came over. And indeed all the civil parts of the world were left. They had nowhere else to go, they landed on a new continent. And we know this was the Dutch experience and perhaps it was the Northern European experience, as well, as certainly we know is the English experience. But you can insert almost any nationality or ethnicity into that experience. And later times, the Italians the German To the Jews, the Catholics will come. And then the 20th century, the Asian, the Hindu, the speakings, the Spanish speaking peoples, and the Muslims will come. legal immigration is at the core of the American experience.

I have loved reading that editorial each year, and I thought you would like it too. And one of our country's greatest virtues is what Cicero called, not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all other virtues that have gratitude. And Americans intuitively know in their heart of hearts, that we are the inheritors of this great land, and this free Republic. And we are incredibly grateful for this land of eternal hope. And now this first editorial was always accompanied with a second editorial on the same day, Thanksgiving. 

The second editorial was titled, and the fair land written by Vermont Royster, then the editor of the journal, in 1961. And like I said, both of these editorials are Canons in American journalism. And I'll put both links in the show notes and I encourage you to read the full editorials yourself. Now allow me to read just a quick portion of the second editorial because it really frames Thanksgiving wonderfully. And again, this is a reading from an affair land. Anyone whose labors take him into the far reaches of the country, as ours lately have done is bound to mark how the years have made the land grow fruitful. This is indeed a big country, a rich country, in a way, no way array of in a way, no array of figures can measure. So in a way past belief of those who have not seen it, even those who journey through its Northeastern complex, into the southern lands, across the Central Plains, into its western slopes can only glimpse a measure of the bounty of America. And a traveler cannot be but struck on his journey by the thought of this, that this country, one day can be even greater. America, though many know it nod is one of the greatest underdeveloped countries of the world. What it reaches for, exceeds by far, what it has grasped. And later on, it says. And this is an important paragraph, how can they turn from melancholy When at home, they see young arrayed against old, black against white neighbor against neighbor, so that they stand in peril of social discord, or not despair, when they see that the cities in the countryside are in need of repair, had find themselves threatened by scarcities of the resources that sustain their way of life. Or when in the face of these challenges, they turn for leadership to men in high places, only to find those men as frail as any others. 

And the editorial ends in this. But we all can remind ourselves, that the richness of this country was not born in the resources of the Earth, do they be plentiful, but in the men that took its measure, for that reminder is everywhere in the cities, towns, farms, roads, factories, homes, hospitals, schools, that spread everywhere over that wilderness, we can remind ourselves that for all of our social discord, we yet remain the longest enduring Society of free men and women governing themselves without benefit of kings, or dictators, being so we are the marvel in the mystery of the world, for that enduring liberty is no less a blessing than the abundance of the earth. And we might remind ourselves also, that if those men and women setting out from death saving, had been daunted by the troubles they saw around them, then we could not this autumn, be thankful for a fair land. Isn't that such a well written piece? I encourage you again to read the full editorials, both of them that I will put in the show notes, and indeed this autumn today, we do remind ourselves for this fair land and we are excited really grateful for our enduring liberty and for being that longest enduring Society of free men and women on the face of the earth. And that's the point isn't it?

Is the opportunity America provides everyone, all those legal immigrants, for all those that have sacrificed for this country, for others in their family to have that opportunity. So in today's Mojo minute, let me say the greatness of our country is in its gratitude for the country. Despite the troubled times we all have been through. Let us all Americans live up to Cicero's ideal virtue. And in fact, another great virtue of our country is that we genuinely have the universal love of neighbor. We want to help our fellow citizens, no matter their race, their color, their creed. And hopefully we will never ever forget this virtue. 

In fact, Martin Luther King gave up his life, ensuring that we live up to our founding documents, and his immortal words judged not the color of our skin, but the content of our character should be learned by every American and etched in their hearts. 

So on behalf of the Mojo Academy, we wish you a heartfelt and happy Thanksgiving. And so on our celebration this Thanksgiving of 2021 We ask that you be grateful for your family and your loved ones and most especially for this country where freedom still shines through troubling skies as a city on the hill. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone from our mojo family to yours.

Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this theory to action podcast. Be sure to check out our show page at T Mojo academy.com where we have everything we discussed in this podcast as well as other great resources. Until next time, keep getting your mojo on