In Thanks to Our Generic American God

Thanksgiving is an easy holiday. We are not required to find gifts for family. We are merely called upon to make a big meal, eat too much and watch football. It's a classic holiday in the Roman tradition of feasting and kicking back.

Abraham Lincoln, in setting up this great American Holiday, wrote:

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

Prior to Lincoln, we have none other than George Washington, declaring nobly:

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.

It is a unique and awkward God we serve here in these States United*. This "Being." This "Author." This "Providence." He is a nameless god, lest he give offense. And that is how it should be. We are not allowed as a collective people in this country (since we welcome all faiths to our shores) to recognize a particular deity (or His Son). And we therefore cannot, and will never be, a Christian Nation.

May the Generic American God bless you all.

* American Christians: you pray to a more specific God, one whose interest in this country has very little to do with your precious documents of Liberty and Freedom. I don't mean to offend you, but you need to get your facts straight. Quit praying for the United States in your own self interest. And quit calling this country "the greatest country God ever established on this green earth." Read your Bibles. You don't matter. And may God have mercy on you for being so arrogant as to think you do.

But If You Wanna Leave, Take Good Care

One of my earliest memories is of riding in the back seat of the station wagon, listening to the hits of the day coming from the AM radio between my parents in the front. This song from Cat Stevens still grabs me and throws me back to those days if I accidentally come across it, as happened today.

Before you watch the video, check out these verbatim comments on the song from YouTube:

"Who doesn't love this song?"

"My mum use to sing this song for me when I was a little girl. So It s full of souvenirs"

"I'm Catholic And I Love Cat Stevens..Whats Your Problem? So What If He's Muslim?"

"On film, a reporter asked Yusuf his opinion of the "fatwa" to KILL S. Rusdie. It was right after the fatwa was issued by IRANs Ayatolah Komeini. (Sorry -mis-spelled) Cat said he "agreed with the fatwa,,,Rushdie should die because it said so in the Koran." I was deeply offended, that HE, of all people, would say such a thing. Cat has also performed for Al Qaida fundraisers."

"who gives a F(_)CK what you all belive in. keep it to yourselves!!
let the rest of us enjoj a god song and read the comments about the songs."

"yo shit the fuck up nigga. u sound like a retard."

"Yikes! You guys. I know nothing about Cat Stevens personal life - and frankly, I could care less. I LOVE his music. This was one of his all time greats."

I'd have to agree with the person who begins, "Who gives a fuck?" Just enjoy.