We like to think of Thanksgiving, the most American of holidays, as also the most unspoiled holiday.
As we’ve noted before, Americans love to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks and picnics, but few of us ever really reflect on the “self-evident truths” set forth in the Declaration of Independence.
Memorial Day? Labor Day? They’ve come to signal the coming and the end of summer more than days to honor the dead or the struggles of working people.
But Thanksgiving, much as it was in the 1600s, is still a day to gather with family and friends, to feast and to count our blessings.
And even though our country is mired in a deep recession and unemployment nationally hovers around 10 percent, we still have much to be thankful for as Americans and as Coloradans.
So as you, our readers, whom we are most thankful for, take stock of your blessings, allow us to recall some of what we’ve come to be thankful for over the past year:
• Colorado’s economy, while struggling, is better than others around the country. With our endless sunshine, breathtaking mountains and pioneer can-do spirit, we’re hopeful the state will pull out of the economic tailspin ahead of the rest of the country.
• The profiles of courage we continue to see from some of our elected leaders. Even though it’s tough to raise fees or taxes, the state legislature passed FASTER. Yes, it raises our vehicle registration fees and it’s only a drop in the bucket toward meeting our state’s transportation infrastructure needs, but it’s an important one. We’re also thankful for Sen. Chris Romer and others who push to give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants whose only crime was following their parents to a new country of opportunity.
And, of course, we’re thankful for the U.S. House’s passage of a comprehensive health care bill with a public option. It doesn’t bring down overall costs, but does expand coverage to more people.
• Congress’ enactment of the largest expansion of the country’s wilderness lands in 15 years, including parts of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Dominguez and Escalante canyons.
• The return of the ski train, or at least a reasonable replica.
• The no texting and driving bill, which goes into effect Tuesday. We hope it makes the roads a safer place.
• Former Congressman Tom Tancredo’s decision not to run for governor, ensuring the gubernatorial campaign doesn’t become an illegal immigrant bashing sideshow.
• The medical marijuana craze. It gives us something to write about besides the depressing state budget.
• The impending retirement of state Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs. Among his career lowlights, saying HIV-infected pregnant women ought to have to watch their child grow up with AIDS as punishment for being promiscuous, and likening the president to a terrorist.
• Schools such as the Denver School of Science and Technology and the Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in Thornton, where the only sacred cows are children.
• And finally, Ward Churchill’s $1 award from a jury — even though it was more than he deserved.
