Grandfather William

In the course of a recent genealogy project assigned to my son's 5th-grade class, he and I discovered that we are among the direct descendents of William Bradford, second Governor of Plymouth Colony, author of the Mayflower Compact, Pilgrim with a capital "P". I guess that makes me just about as invested as you can get in the world-altering advancements, embarrassing excesses, and shameful injustices that all are a part of the still-evolving American experiment.

Grandfather William (well he is family now!) would also have been among the hungry diners at that harvest festival that's come to be known as the "First Thanksgiving". I doubt that he realized as he sat there, grateful merely to have survived the torturous journey and weathered the harsh conditions of the Massachusetts coast, what an amazing contribution he'd helped make to the essential principle of the nation. For while the good William certainly possessed a distasteful degree of religious separatist fundamentalism, he and his disparate compatriots somehow stumbled upon an idea that is the very foundation of a democratic society. Mr. Bradford wrote,

"...it was thought good there should be an association and agreement, that we should combine together in one body, and to submit to such government and governors as we should by common consent agree to make and choose..."

And so, on this Thanksgiving Day 384 years later, I'm additionally thankful to live in a nation where we do have the right and power to shape our society "as we should by common consent agree to make and choose." That ours is a system strong enough at its roots to withstand the abuses and incompetence of the last five years, and still rebound, retool, and revive if our commitment to doing the right thing is strong enough as a people. And that the dialogue necessary to reach that common consent can draw us closer together, not polarize the populace as a handful of extremists on both Right and Left have attempted to do.

But enough politics. Time to eat, drink, and drown ourselves in an orgy of televised football! My best to everyone, and warm wishes for a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. Remember to be grateful for families and loved ones; for the genuine bounty we enjoy in the U.S.; for the dedicated volunteers and veterans of the military, fire, medical, education and police professions who walk the walk, protecting us and preserving our freedoms every day; for the wonders of the planet on which we each get to rent a little time. If you have the chance today, reach out to someone less fortunate, here or around the globe, and start some momentum for the better in the world around you.

And thanks, Grandfather William, for that belief in having an equal say in the choice of those who govern - and the right and responsibility to make a change when necessary for the good of the colony.