Jim Stillman
NevarA Wonderful Thanksgiving
November 23rd 2007 19:04
Every year, for the past 45 years or so, we have had a Thanksgiving dinner and family gathering in our home; yesterday was no exception. For three or four days, The Lovely Joan, purchased the “makings” and then proceeded to cook a fantastic meal: cheese platters, veggies and dips, provided by one daughter, turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes and marshmallows, curried fruit, 12 pounds of mashed potatoes, corn pudding, gravy, five kinds of pies, and on and on. We had originally planned on 18 to 20 people and by the time yesterday arrived, the guest list had grown to nearly 30!
Among the gang were a dozen or so children, ages 2 through 18, including grandsons Joshua and Jake, 18 and 11 respectively. As readers of my various musings and commentaries, I have strongly held opinions and love, absolutely love, being challenged by people who are prepared to offer rational argument.
Among the guests were a sister-in-law from New Jersey who took the position that nearly all of her friends had decided that Hell would freeze before any of them would vote for Hillary Clinton. When I asked the reasons for the apparent hatred of Senator Clinton, there was an inability to articulate the reasons. There was a disapproval of Bill Clinton’s personal morality and a “feeling” that Mrs. Clinton was “too driven” to become president! But that’s the extent of the depth of feeling.
Another guest was a native of Ethiopia who had lived, and prospered, in the United States. In discussing what he termed a “War on Terror”, he acknowledged that this was not a conventional war, with a beginning and an end. His answer was to bomb all of the bad guys and their homelands: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria and on and on. Suffice it to say, rational discussions of cause and effect and consequences were impossible.
Then, a friend and I became engaged in serious discussions with Josh and Jake. I have had occasion to speak of our grandchildren in the past and the extent of my pride in each of them. Last evening, our friend Mal and I became involved with these young people and never have I been more impressed with their thought processes and ability to present an argument rationally and clearly.
Essentially, the issue was the forfeiture of some rights of privacy in return for an increase in security. Were we willing to surrender the rights to privacy of communications, the requirement that searches be authorized by an independent judiciary? What freedoms were we willing to surrender in order to protect ourselves against terrorists? The bottom line was that these young people were far more willing than either Mal or I to sacrifice any personal rights for a safer society.
I quoted Ben Franklin ("Those who would give up their freedom for security will have none and deserve neither.") and discussed the “slippery slope” argument with analogies from the various positions on abortion, preventive imprisonment. Neither “side” was able to convince the other. While I wish that my logic and values were able to prevail, I came away with total admiration and respect for the ability and thoughtfulness of these young people.
I was also left with the opinion that our country was in good shape, in spite of all its problems, just as long as there are Joshuas and Jacobs to lead the way.
Thanks, guys, for making it a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Among the gang were a dozen or so children, ages 2 through 18, including grandsons Joshua and Jake, 18 and 11 respectively. As readers of my various musings and commentaries, I have strongly held opinions and love, absolutely love, being challenged by people who are prepared to offer rational argument.
Among the guests were a sister-in-law from New Jersey who took the position that nearly all of her friends had decided that Hell would freeze before any of them would vote for Hillary Clinton. When I asked the reasons for the apparent hatred of Senator Clinton, there was an inability to articulate the reasons. There was a disapproval of Bill Clinton’s personal morality and a “feeling” that Mrs. Clinton was “too driven” to become president! But that’s the extent of the depth of feeling.
Another guest was a native of Ethiopia who had lived, and prospered, in the United States. In discussing what he termed a “War on Terror”, he acknowledged that this was not a conventional war, with a beginning and an end. His answer was to bomb all of the bad guys and their homelands: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria and on and on. Suffice it to say, rational discussions of cause and effect and consequences were impossible.
Then, a friend and I became engaged in serious discussions with Josh and Jake. I have had occasion to speak of our grandchildren in the past and the extent of my pride in each of them. Last evening, our friend Mal and I became involved with these young people and never have I been more impressed with their thought processes and ability to present an argument rationally and clearly.
Essentially, the issue was the forfeiture of some rights of privacy in return for an increase in security. Were we willing to surrender the rights to privacy of communications, the requirement that searches be authorized by an independent judiciary? What freedoms were we willing to surrender in order to protect ourselves against terrorists? The bottom line was that these young people were far more willing than either Mal or I to sacrifice any personal rights for a safer society.
I quoted Ben Franklin ("Those who would give up their freedom for security will have none and deserve neither.") and discussed the “slippery slope” argument with analogies from the various positions on abortion, preventive imprisonment. Neither “side” was able to convince the other. While I wish that my logic and values were able to prevail, I came away with total admiration and respect for the ability and thoughtfulness of these young people.
I was also left with the opinion that our country was in good shape, in spite of all its problems, just as long as there are Joshuas and Jacobs to lead the way.
Thanks, guys, for making it a wonderful Thanksgiving!
| 71 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Hope you had a happy 'Thanksgiving".
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Benjamin Franklin did put it best and anyone who thinks otherwise really doesn't deserve freedom. Freedom is precious and to give it away for 'security' is an insullt to those who died fighting for freedom.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Comment by Jim Stillman