November 25, 2004
Gracias, Tio Sam
It's 5:30 am on Thanksgiving Day. I've been sitting here for about a half hour trying to write a Thanksgiving Day post expressing everything I have to be thankful for. It's not an easy task because...well... where do I start? There is just way too much to appreciate today.
I guess, most importantly, I need to express my gratitude toward this country. If my family had never exiled here from Cuba, my life, my world, would be completely different. It isnt only that I would not have all the tangibles I have today, but I would not have the thing we should all value and be thankful for the most: freedom. I wouldnt be an individual. I wouldn't be able to express my own opinions. I would not be able to speak out. I would not be able to choose for myself what my life would be. I wouldnt be free to worship God how I see fit. I wouldnt be able to learn about the world around me on my own, without the indoctrination by the state. I would, for all intents and purposes, be part of a collective living and working and breathing solely for the benefit of one man.
I am thankful for being an American. I am thankful for the freedom to be me.
Every single one of us should be thankful for being Americans. Thankful for being a part of a country that gives each and every one of us so much and asks for so very little in return. And we all need to be thankful for those few who put the heavy burden of protecting our freedoms upon their shoulders and sacrifice themselves so that we may remain free.
Thank you America, for being my family.
And thank you, God, for life's little gems.
Posted by Val Prieto at November 25, 2004 06:02 AM
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Comments
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Val.
Posted by: michele at November 25, 2004 06:19 AM
Happy Thnksgiving Val to you and your family. I am also thankful for people like you who write such wonderful sentiments, feelings and thoughts that I have a hard time expressing, and you say it all so beautifully for me. Thank you for being there from all of us out here.
Mercedes
Posted by: Mercedes at November 25, 2004 07:53 AM
Our holiday sentiments are here:
http://www.brandondufau.com/archives/000065.html
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Posted by: Amanda at November 25, 2004 09:10 AM
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Val! :)
Posted by: pam at November 25, 2004 10:59 AM
Bien dicho Val,
Thank God for those crazy radicals in 1776 for thinking they could actually pull it off.
Happy Thankgiving.
Posted by: Hank at November 25, 2004 11:05 AM
Uncle Val,
I loved your Thanksgiving Post. Every year at this time I think about my Thanksgiving in 1999, which I spent in a very uncomfortable hospital bed... I am thankful that I dont have to spend this day that way, again. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Posted by: Maura at November 25, 2004 11:25 AM
You guys have a great one today!!
Posted by: j.scott barnard at November 25, 2004 11:37 AM
Val,
Happy Turkey Day to you and yours!
Ray
Posted by: Ray Smith at November 25, 2004 06:45 PM
