The virtue America forgot: Why gratitude still matters for our national character

Does America request to absorption much connected the civic virtuousness of gratitude? It’s a question worthy asking arsenic we attack Thanksgiving.

We bash not mean idiosyncratic gratitude. Most Americans are nary uncertainty grateful for their families and friends, the roofs implicit their heads, God’s creation, and the blessings we bask successful this country.

But successful our nationalist discourse, bash we publically admit those blessings enough? Do our leaders regularly explicit acknowledgment for this nation’s greatness? In our schools and colleges, are we teaching young radical however fortunate we are to beryllium Americans — and the value of gratitude for our country?

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There are immoderate troubling signs. For example, a caller Axios–Generation Lab canvass recovered that much assemblage students person a affirmative presumption of socialism than of capitalism.

Yes, capitalism has its problems, and the anxiousness of young radical facing issues similar pupil indebtedness and precocious lodging costs is understandable. But are we losing our appreciation for the American escaped endeavor strategy that has lifted millions retired of poorness and helped countless radical physique amended lives for themselves and their families?

Schools utilized to walk important clip connected the communicative of the archetypal Thanksgiving and however the pilgrims, having made it done the "starving time," sat down to feast and springiness acknowledgment with the American Indians who had helped them survive.

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Today, galore schools are conscionable arsenic apt to skip that story, propulsion acold h2o connected the archetypal Thanksgiving tradition, oregon people the play with a generic harvest celebration.

In his Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789, President George Washington urged Americans to admit "with grateful hearts the galore awesome favors of Almighty God…"  (iStock)

It would beryllium absorbing to cognize however often parents perceive their children say, "We learned to beryllium thankful for our state successful schoolhouse today."

Pick a assemblage and look astatine its database of American past courses. You’ll apt find descriptions with words similar "exploitation," "oppression," "imperialism," and "exclusion." You astir apt won’t find galore with phrases specified arsenic "the occurrence of America" oregon "achievements of the American spirit."

Certainly, the United States has astatine times fallen abbreviated of its ideals. It has committed sins—some grievous. But for each its errors, ours is the communicative of a large federation that gives america overmuch to beryllium thankful for.

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If we thatch young radical to rotation their eyes—or worse—at their ain country’s past, portion neglecting to thatch them gratitude for it, we’re not being just to them. In fact, it’s a look for taste decline.

In our governmental discourse, we walk a batch of clip — understandably — connected our problems. There’s overmuch to discuss. Too galore Americans aftermath up worrying astir making ends meet, uncovering a job, oregon paying aesculapian bills.

But let’s not permission our nationalist blessings retired of the conversation. America has the world’s strongest and astir resilient economy. No different state offers much accidental to ascent the ladder of success. We bask freedoms that millions astir the satellite would emotion to have. American companies pb the satellite successful technological advancement.

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In a caller interrogation connected Fox News’ "Fox & Friends," Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., took a infinitesimal to explicit gratitude for his beingness and his country. When asked, "What’s adjacent for Senator Fetterman?" helium replied, "My aboriginal is to observe Thanksgiving." It was a refreshing answer.

Our nation’s top leaders emphasized gratitude. In his Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789, President George Washington urged Americans to admit "with grateful hearts the galore awesome favors of Almighty God, particularly by affording them an accidental peaceably to found a signifier of authorities for their information and happiness."

George Washington, representation coating by Constable-Hamilton, 1794. From the New York Public Library. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

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In 1863, successful the midst of a unspeakable civilian war, President Abraham Lincoln reminded Americans that they inactive had overmuch to beryllium thankful for, including fruitful fields, bountiful earthy resources, and the anticipation of coming years "with ample summation of freedom." Lincoln asked that these gifts beryllium "reverently and gratefully acknowledged arsenic with 1 bosom and 1 dependable by the full American people."

The contented of giving acknowledgment arsenic 1 radical runs heavy successful the American spirit. Ours is 1 of the fewer nations successful the satellite to acceptable speech a time each twelvemonth specifically to connection thanks. The United States was arguably the archetypal state to found an yearly Day of Thanksgiving with Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation. That’s thing we tin each beryllium arrogant of.

"The First Thanksgiving astatine Plymouth successful 1621," is simply a coating from 1914 and presently portion of a backstage Collection. Artist Brownscombe, Jennie Augusta (1850-1936).  (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

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In these days of fierce partisan divide, erstwhile Americans wonderment however we tin travel unneurotic to tackle formidable problems, possibly shared gratitude is simply a archetypal measurement toward mounting things right. "In everything springiness thanks," the Bible says.

That’s bully advice. Sharing acknowledgment — similar breaking breadstuff — mightiness bash wonders to bring Americans together.

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