The true story of thanksgiving (narrated)

The Church of England under King James I was persecuting anyone and everyone who did not recognize its absolute civil and spiritual authority. Those who challenged ecclesiastical authority and those who believed strongly in freedom of worship were hunted down, imprisoned, and sometimes executed for their beliefs. A group of separatists first fled to Holland and established a community.

"After eleven years, about forty of them agreed to make a perilous journey to the New World, where they would certainly face hardships, but could live and worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. On August 1, 1620, the Mayflower set sail. It carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by William Bradford. On the journey, Bradford set up an agreement, a contract, that established just and equal laws for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Where did the revolutionary ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact come from? From the Bible. The Pilgrims were a people completely steeped in the lessons of the Old and New Testaments. They looked to the ancient Israelites for their example.

"And, because of the biblical precedents set forth in Scripture, they never doubted that their experiment would work. But this was no pleasure cruise, friends. The journey to the New World was a long and arduous one. And when the Pilgrims landed in New England in November, they found, according to Bradford's detailed journal, a cold, barren, desolate wilderness. There were no friends to greet them, he wrote. There were no houses to shelter them. There were no inns where they could refresh themselves. And the sacrifice they had made for freedom was just beginning. During the first winter, half the Pilgrims – including Bradford's own wife – died of either starvation, sickness or exposure. When spring finally came, Indians taught the settlers how to plant corn, fish for cod and skin beavers for coats.

"Life improved for the Pilgrims, but they did not yet prosper! The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community as well. They were going to distribute it equally. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community as well.

"Nobody owned anything. They just had a share in it, It was a commune. Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first harsh winter, which had taken so many lives. He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace. (That's right. Long before Karl Marx was even born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what could only be described as socialism. And what happened? It didn't work!" They nearly starved!)

What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation! But while most of the rest of the world has been experimenting with socialism for well over a hundred years – trying to refine it, perfect it, and re-invent it – the Pilgrims decided early on to scrap it permanently. What Bradford wrote about this social experiment should be in every schoolchild's history lesson. If it were, we might prevent much needless suffering in the future," such as that we're enduring now. "'The experience that we had in this common course and condition...'" this is Bradford. "'The experience that we had in this common course and condition tried sundry years...that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God,' Bradford wrote.

"'For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense,'" without being paid for it, "'that was thought injustice.' Why should you work for other people when you can't work for yourself?" That's what he was saying. " The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive. So what did Bradford's community try next? They unharnessed the power of good old free enterprise by invoking the undergirding capitalistic principle of private property.

"Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products. And what was the result? 'This had very good success,' wrote Bradford, 'for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.' ... Is it possible that supply-side economics could have existed before the 1980s? Yes. Read the story of Joseph and Pharaoh in Genesis 41. Following Joseph's suggestion (Gen 41:34), Pharaoh reduced the tax on Egyptians to 20% during the 'seven years of plenty' and the 'Earth brought forth in heaps.' (Gen. 41:47) In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves.

"Now, this is where it gets really good, folks, if you're laboring under the misconception that I was, as I was taught in school. So they set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Indians. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London. And the success and prosperity of the Plymouth settlement attracted more Europeans and began what came to be known as the 'Great Puritan Migration.' But this story stops when the Indians taught the newly arrived suffering-in-socialism Pilgrims how to plant corn and fish for cod. That's where the original Thanksgiving story stops, and the story basically doesn't even begin there. The real story of Thanksgiving is William Bradford giving thanks to God for the guidance and the inspiration to set up a thriving colony. The bounty was shared with the Indians." They did sit down" and they did have free-range turkey and organic vegetables, "but it was not the Indians who saved the day. It was capitalism and Scripture which saved the day," as acknowledged by George Washington in his first Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789.

George washington's 1789 declaration of thanksgiving

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor -- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me 'to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'" So, the first paragraph of Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation is essentially thanking God for the Constitution. (interruption) It was! Don't smirk in there, Dawn. Washington was thanking God for our founding and our Constitution.

"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be -- That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks -- for His kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation -- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed -- for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted -- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.

"And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions -- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually -- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed -- to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us -- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. -- Given under my hand at the City of New York, the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."

49 questions about me

 1. What time did you get up this morning?
A: 9:30

2. How do you like your steak?
A: I LOVE THIS QUESTION! RARE!!! kill it, skin it, wipe it's ass... And put it on a plate!!! Please pass the A1 steak sauce.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?  
A: star trek with my best friend Rudy, my son Nicholas and his daughter Elizabeth. It was bomb- diggity!
 
4. What is your favorite T.V show?
A: the Event... Frakking aliens! 'nuff said!

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
A: for someone who doesn't want to die from drowning, I would love to live in Venice. I KNOW... HOW STUPID IS THAT!
 
6. What did you have for breakfast?
A: nothing yet, but I'm hopeful that my adoring wife would surprise me with a combo breakfast burrito from tasty burger. YUMMO!

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
A: does sushi count as a cuisine...? Then sushi it is! :•)3
 
8. What foods do you dislike?
A: Sauerkraut sucks ASSphalt Something fierce! <--- did I hide that well?
 
9. Favorite Place(s) to Eat?
A: HOO DOGGIE! now we're talkin' 
Trattoria25; chen's; and Tokyo lobby... To name a few. 

10. Favorite dressing?
A: HAIL CAESER!!!
 
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
A: jeep grand Cherokee Laredo 
 
12. What are your favorite clothes?
A: shorts and a T- shirt

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
A: Uranus! LMAO!!! j/k... I would have to say... Italy, they speak English there.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
A: half and half... Depending on my mood and the day. 

15. Where would you want to retire?
A: Vegas... If I'm retired, I'm gonna have me some fun!

16. Favorite time of day?
A: whatever time i decide to feed my face.

17. Where were you born?
A: where was I born??? I was... Born in east L.A. Oralé!!!
... Downey, Ca. South central Downey, fool!!! 

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
A: FOOTBALL!!! all other sports suck... Especially basketball!!! Yeah, I said it!!!

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
A: NO ONE! THIS DARN THING IS TOO FRAKKING LONG! URGH!

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
A: legally, I have to say Julie... But we all know that won't happen! ;•)

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? 
A: no one, your all so special to me! :•)3 *coughing* BULLSH!T

22. Bird watcher?
A: if it's being flipped... Definitely! But I have to say, I'm more participant, than spectator.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
A: definitely night... The freaks come out at night you know.

24. Pets?
A: I have 5 kids... 'nuff said

25. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share?
A: Julie might have a new job! YAY US!!!

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
A: big... Hahaha! You knew that was coming. 

27. What is your best childhood memory?
A: riding my inchworm, BEFORE my uncle Ralph ran it over with his car! I'm still traumatized about that!!!

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
A: I would have to go with dog. He is, after all... MAN'S best friend. No bitching from the ladies... You gals have diamonds! Pfftt!!!

29. Are you married?
A: yes... AND I'M PRAYING FOR THE END OF TIME!!! LMAO!!!
sorry, inside joke.

30. Always wear your seat belt?
A: seat belt??? I throw caution to the wind baby! My life's motto: "why be safe and sane, when you can be dumb and dangerous!" true spit right thare!

31. Been in a car accident?
A: many... But I was never at fault! Not because I'm a good driver, or I'm safe and sane... But because I got a damn good lawyer! He fights for me!!!

32. Any pet peeves?
A: people that think they know it all, and are always right. Whatever! Other than me!!!

33. Favorite pizza topping?
A: pepperoni and black olives... YUMMO again!

 34. Favorite Flower?
A: twolips! ;•) LMAO daffodils

35. Favorite ice cream?
A: rocky road and black cherry from rite- aide

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
A: pound for pound... Nobody beats arry's! NOBODY!

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? 
A: surprisingly... None

38. From whom did you get your last email?
A: Email... What's that? That's what facebook's for!

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
A: best buy

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
A: I answered this frakkingly long questionnaire! Thanks for asking!

41. Like your job?
A: yes, as a matter of fact, I do. What's not to like about working a 4 on, 3 off work schedule... Especially when your three days off are Saturday, Sunday and Monday. YAY ME! don't hate! Pptfttt!!!

42. Broccoli? Cauliflower?
A: broccoli... Cauliflower looks like brains!

 43. What was your favorite vacation?
A: Vegas! Waay back when.... *sighing* I need another REAL vacation.

 44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
A: my mama  sotá Julie! Your milkshake brings...

45. What are you listening to right now?
A: still answering this frakkingly long questionnaire!!! I'm going to kill you misty!

46. What is your favorite color?
A: red / blue / purple... Is bruise a color? I like bruise!

 47. How many tattoos do you have?
A: none... Unless you count my cherry! But we won't go there!!! I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't! Sorry, another inside joke!

48. Coffee drinker?
A: coffee suck arsenic! COKE BABY! the only way to get caffeinated!

49. How many children do you have?
A: one over half a baseball and six less than a football team.

YAY! THIS DAMN THING'S OVER!!!