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Thanksgiving… Veterans Day Style
November 26, 2003
By Rev.
Todd Crofford
Sr. Pastor
Laurel Wesleyan Church
Gasping for breath, being crushed in-between the costumes of Halloween and the
candy canes of Christmas is a wonderful holiday we call Thanksgiving. More than
a day to eat turkey and watch football or an opportunity to rest up and
strategize for black Friday shopping, Thanksgiving is a time of reflection on
the blessings that have been afforded this country. This holiday has roots of
great religious significance as Pilgrims, who had made their way to America to
enjoy religious freedom, joined the native Americans in thankfulness for the
harvest.
This season I have been particularly thinking about the significance of the
proximity of Veterans Day to Thanksgiving. What a tremendous sacrifice in blood
has been given by Veterans again and again to protect the precious rights that
the first pilgrims sought. One right we celebrate in particular is the freedom
of speech- the right to freely exchange information and opinions without fear or
retribution or censorship. However, recent freedom of speech issues cause me
considerable worry.
To illustrate my concern, let’s compare and contrast two issues of free speech
and expression in our current marketplace; abuse of the flag and display of
manger scenes.
Nothing turns my stomach like seeing protesters in America burn our own flag.
Claiming it is a legitimate expression of their freedom to dissent; in reality
these people mock and debase that which is precious and sacred. Do we honestly
believe that we curtail someone’s freedom or ability to express their views
simply because we draw the line at trashing our national symbol? Enter the
American Civil Liberties Union, who will spend from their deep pockets to defend
someone’s “rights” to enact such an atrocity!
This very same group, the ACLU, spearheads efforts to remove any display of
nativity scenes from public areas. Somehow these lighted renditions of a baby in
a manger surrounded by some cows and sheep are a dangerous and insidious threat
to this country. Is something upside down and backwards here?
Ask Americans all over this country as to which is a more legitimate expression
of our culture; a manger scene or a burning flag; and I am quite certain you
will find an overwhelming majority of Americans would gladly outlaw the flag
burning and show up for the lighting of the manger scene. Though claiming to
exist for the protection of our rights, the ACLU is completely out of touch with
the heart and mind of a majority of Americans. Somehow we have drifted into a
culture that allows a bunch of ACLU lawyers to dominate our legal system and
craft and control legislation that is just simply what we don’t want.
Let’s remember that we are the people who elect the representatives who make the
laws. Ultimately, we get the freedom to choose what laws we will and won’t be
governed by through those choices. We don’t have to just sit back and “take” it.
To disrespect our flag, to deny our Judo-Christian heritage, or to continue to
allow the assault on values going on in our country today does a disservice not
only to our current communities but to all who served so valiantly in our
yesterdays to keep this a free country. So this Thanksgiving, raise your voice
in gratefulness for all that God has given, and set your intention squarely to
help return this nation to the precious heritage of freedoms so central to the
blessings we enjoy.
The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Site One
Networks, Inc, the congregation of
the Laurel Wesleyan Church or the Wesleyan Church International. You may respond
to the author directly by E-mailing laurelwesleyan@siteone.net
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