Giving Thanks On Thanksgiving And Every Day

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." Cicero

Food usually becomes the centerpiece for most of our celebrated holidays, and we forget about the true meaning of these occasions. Though there is no consensus about the actual history behind the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, we do know it was a day to give thanks to God and the bounties of the harvest. They had gone through challenging times, losing half the Pilgrims during the first harsh winter, but eventually prospered. But even through the hard times, they gave thanks for God's blessings.

We too are going through difficult times, and as challenging as it might be to find something positive to be grateful for, we should be thankful for what we do have, even if it's not much. If you look close enough at your life, you can always find something to be grateful for.

But Thanksgiving shouldn't be the only day to give thanks for our blessings, we should find things to be grateful for every day. In fact, there have been studies proving that gratitude and giving thanks brings health and happiness to those who do so on an ongoing basis.

WAYS TO GIVE THANKS:

Journaling is one way to to take stock of our daily blessings. Before you go to bed, make a list of all the positive things that occurred, that you can give thanks for. Even if it's finding that one last parking spot in the mall parking lot. Or the fact that you didn't get angry at the slowpoke in the fast lane.

Thank someone if they have been helpful or kind and then return the favor.

In spite of the current political climate, we have much to be thankful for. We still have our freedom and the ability to fight to maintain it. We have people willing to join the military to protect those hard won freedoms. There are still good people in this world who are willing to help those who are less fortunate and to stand up for what's right, even at their own peril.

A very Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless you all!

Little Noah Biorkman, Michigan boy who had requested Christmas cards passed away November 23

Little Noah Biorkman, the 5 year-old boy who was battling cancer and had requested Christmas cards for an early Christmas celebration, passed away on Monday, November 23rd. He received more than 1 million cards from all over the world and the family is extremely grateful for "the outpouring of love and compassion .."

They have requested the following:


In lieu of cards and flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Noah's name to either of the following:

Department of Pediatrics and Oncology
University of Michigan
1500 East Medical Center Drive D4202MPB
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5718

Checks payable to: The University of Michigan -- Noah's Pediatric Oncology Fund

or to
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan
230 Huron View Blvd.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103

Checks payable to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan -- Memo: Noah Biorkman


Rest in peace, little one.

Crossposted on Mind, Body, Spirit.

AFA's Christian Boycott of The Gap Goes Too Far

The pro-family Christian organization American Family Association (AFA) has issued a temporary boycott of The Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores because, according to their website, they're pissed off that the Gap has refused to use the word 'Christmas' in its TV ads.

Problem is, this isn't quite true, since the following ad features dancers singing a ditty that clearly contains the word Christmas, and given top billing, to boot.

"Go Christmas, go Hannukah, go Kwanzaa, go Solstice... do whatever you wannukah, and to all a cheery night."

Personally, I don't find anything offensive about the ad, though I know there will be some who take issue with the fact that it includes other holidays. I will be the first to criticize how pc this world has become, but there is a difference between being pc and being inclusive. Christmas is not the only celebrated holiday during the December 'holiday season', and it's not as if the Gap was excluding Christmas or calling it something it isn't. Yes, it's stupid to call a Christmas tree a Holiday tree, that indeed is being pc, but to wish someone Happy Holiday's is not pc, since not everyone is Christian.

Let's all be more charitable during this Holiday Season. Since that's what the season is all about. Isn't it?

Happy 'Eid al-Adha' on Best Buy Thanksgiving Day Sale Sunday Ad Insert

I'm in the market for a new laptop, since mine seems to be on its last legs. And, as always, prior to a major purchase I do my research; and though I haven't quite settled on which one to buy (it has to be good for my photography) I decided to check out the Sunday advertising inserts today.

So, I'm checking out Best Buy and smack dab on the front page, right on top of the "Shop Thanksgiving Day at BESTBUY.COM" is Happy Eid al-Adha. Odd, methinks, since nowhere does it say Happy Thanksgiving, just shop Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Eid al-Adha? On a Thanksgiving Day advertising circular? Now, I thought Eid ended the month of Ramadan, but it turns out Muslims celebrate 2 Eid festivals. This one occurs after the completion of Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca). This year it is celebrated from November 27th through November 30th, though the dates fluctuate from year to year.

Interesting how things have changed, of late. Now, I'm pretty open-minded and I have no problem with being inclusive of other religious holidays, as long as it doesn't co-opt the original one, like Tyson Farms attempted to do with Labour Day and Eid al-Fitr, the other Eid holiday.

And since when do companies start honoring the lesser known holidays of the major religions of the world? They don't even honor the well known ones. Anyone seen Happy Diwali (Hindu) on a Best Buy insert? And forget any of the Buddhist holidays.

It just would have been nice to see Happy Thanksgiving somewhere on the insert, considering the sale is a Thanksgiving Day sale, not an Eid al-Adha sale.

Joke of the day- The Terrorist and the Porn Star- Khalid Sheik Mohammed and Ron Jeremy

Separated at birth?? 9/11 mastermind- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Porn star Ron Jeremy.

The similarities are astounding.

2nd Annual Infidel Blogger Awards- Vote now!

Blazingcatfur has asked to let y'all know about the Infidel Blogger Awards 2nd Edition.

Here's your chance to vote for your fave infidel blogger. From our Canuck cousins up North:

The "Georgies" are Back!

We hope to build on last year's enormously popular effort to recognize the very best in Non-"Canadian Human Rights Commission" approved blogging & punditry and of course further our goal of offending the Kommissars of the Human Rights Kult and their politically correct enablers in the MSM, Judiciary, NGO community & Government.

Thank you once again for your support of the "Georgies". Remember free speech & blasphemy are your rights, exercise them and have yourself some good old-fashioned Offensive Fun!

This year's categories are listed below, click the link and make your nomination in the comments for each respective category. Nominations will close Nov. 18th. Voting will commence on Thursday Nov. 19th and end Tuesday November 24th with the winners announced Wednesday Nov. 25th.

NB: All categories are open to your International Favourites save for "Best Overall Canadian Infidel Blogger" .

Click here to vote.

On Freedom and the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall-

22 years ago, on June 12, 1987 Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate, in West Berlin, and challenged Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin wall. His now famous words

"Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"

turned into reality a little over 2 years later.



Today marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an historic occasion which Obama has chosen not to participate in, because apparently he is too dang busy. Of course, he wasn't too busy when he was campaigning to make a grand appearance there, but I suppose that was different. At the time, he was trying to win hearts and minds of the American people and the rest of the world, but since he won the presidency he doesn't have to work so hard. It's actually rather shameful considering what tearing down the wall symbolized.

So, 20 years ago the Wall was torn down and with that came freedom for the East Berlin Germans. Ironically, though the cold war ended several years later, it's been replaced with another war, one far more terrifying because the enemy has no moral compass. At least with the communists there was the whole issue of MAD (mutually assured destruction). There was never really any fear (at least for me) that they would actually attack us. Islamists, on the other hand, would love nothing more than to destroy us and our western ways. And there are no borders. Their terror is not relegated to one region. It is global and far reaching.

As for freedom, we are no longer free. Islamists have constructed an invisible wall, that we have helped to build through our PCness, that may not be so easy to knock down. Our freedom of speech has been drastically reduced. People fear being called Islamaphobic, so they keep their mouths shut. People fear offending, so they censor themselves. The director of 2012, Roland Emmerich, scrapped a scene (where the Kaaba in Mecca was to be destroyed, along with Rio's Christ The Redeemer) because he feared a fatwa. And it's not just the Islamists; conservatives in this country are not free, either. If we criticize Obama and his leftist policies we're called racists and other nasty things. At least we're not killed for our criticism.

It's incumbent upon us to make sure that we don't allow others to infringe upon our freedoms, by fighting the good fight. Tear down the shackles of bondage and let freedom ring!


Take the Spiegel Berlin Wall Quiz for fun. Click here.

The Difference Between a Conservative And a Liberal

This has been making the rounds via the internet. For those of you who might not have received it, enjoy!

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.

If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.

A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a black man or Hispanic are conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.

Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.

A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.

Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.

A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. (Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!)

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.

A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a conservative slips and falls in a store, he gets up, laughs and is embarrassed.

If a liberal slips and falls, he grabs his neck, moans like he's in labor and then sues.

If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.

A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".

So true!

URGENT: Christmas Card Request For Dying Boy in Michigan- Noah Biorkman

UPDATE: Little Noah passed away on Monday November 23rd. He received 1 million Christmas cards. Rest in peace, little one.




5 year-old Noah Biorkman is dying of Neuroblastoma cancer. He has been battling it for almost half his young life. He loves Christmas cards and since they don't think he has much longer to live, his mum is celebrating Christmas early, and has requested cards or letters for her little boy.

I checked this on Snopes, and it is for real! It's something one needs to act upon now, before it's too late. Mrs. Biorkman is friends with the a.m. DJ on Michigan radio station WKSR and sent an email with the request.

Christmas Cards Requested
Posted on November 04, 2009

Christmas will come early for a five year old Michigan boy this year. Noah Biorkman is battling cancer and is not expected to live much longer.

Noah’s mother and WKSR morning personality Ed Carter went to school together years ago. They keep in touch by email. She mentioned the early Christmas for her son in an email to Ed today.

Mrs. Biorkman is asking for Christmas cards for her son. If you would like to take time to send a card or letter, send it to:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon , Michigan, 48178.

Crossposted on Mind, Body and Spirit