Happy Thanksgiving
I am planning to take Sunday off (and give my wrists a well-deserved rest), while I join extended family members for Thanksgiving dinner.
I just want to leave you with this very fine Thanksgiving editorial from my new favourite newspaper, The Record - Giving thanks in uncertain times (excerpt below):
…Well, let us stop and take stock — then send fear packing. Let us count the blessings of life in Canada and the things that even recession cannot easily strip away. And if we do, we should not only be less apprehensive, we should be a whole lot more thankful.
We should be thankful for a country that is, in reality, half of a continent, filled with the beauties and wonders of nature and endowed with almost every natural resource the modern world requires. We have enough farmland to feed ourselves and entire nations besides. We have cities, teeming with skilled, educated workers and enriched by the wisdom and experience of millions of immigrants who have come from every nation. We have one of the world’s most advanced economies, some of the world’s top universities and most effective hospitals. We have police who protect, rather than oppress. We have dissent that respects the law.
Let us be thankful for our freedom. We have democracy. We have the right to choose who leads us. We have good and dedicated people who want to serve us. We have a citizenry which, if our record of persevering through history’s worst depressions and wars can serve as any example, are able to rise to any challenge, withstand any crisis and stand shoulder-to-shoulder to help those around them who should stumble and need a hand back up. If such patriotism is unfashionable, we plead guilty. We call it realism.
None of us can know what the coming weeks will bring. But we can know that there is no better place on Earth to be now and in the coming days, however tough it gets, than this home we call Canada. To paraphrase the words of a very old prayer: For what we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful.
Amen.
* * * *
BTW, could someone please send that line that is highlighted in red to Danny Williams, Elizabeth May and Stephane Dion? (What a crew!) Thanks.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Have a wonderful thanksgiving gathering Joanne, but we expect to see you back here after your day’s rest….if not…please have a complete itinerary dropped off to my desk explaining your absence…
yourth thintheerly
Myrna ever watchful
coordinator of blogs…
October 12th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Amen and amen to the above post.And yes we are indeed fortunate to be living in this great country,and it’s too bad we didn’t spend more time appreciating all the good things Canada is.I’m thankful for a wonderful job I love,that my hubby has a solid,secure job as well ..even tho it takes him away from home a lot.We are both relatively healthy (for old timers!),and have 3 great dogs to make us laugh!
I’m really enjoying my new ‘friends’ here as well,and want to wish each and every one a truly blessed Thanksgiving..travel safe..we want you all back on Tues.nite to CELEBRATE!
October 12th, 2008 at 7:34 am
if not…please have a complete itinerary dropped off to my desk explaining your absence…
Ha-ha! Yes, Myrna. I promise.
Sammy, your comment brings us all back to reality. We really are truly blessed to be living in this wonderful country. We all need to do our part to keep it this way.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
You are so right! We have many reasons to be thankful!
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.Count your blessings, enjoy this beautiful creation that surrounds us, and hug your family…all things that bring joy everyday!
Our maples are glorious in Northern Ontario this year…it’s a real treat!
And I hope you will enjoy the fragrance of turkey in the oven and the taste of cranberries!
God Bless you!
October 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
God bless you too, Bluetech!
And as our Prime Minister said at the end of his speech in Kitchener on Friday, “God bless Canada!”
October 12th, 2008 at 9:49 am
That is a fine editorial. Top it off with this stirring, praiseworthy piece from Michael Coren. It’s an instant classic, probably the finest column I’ve ever read in a newspaper. Email it to all your friends.
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/michael_coren/2008/10/11/7051036-sun.html
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:55 am
EBD - That is a terrific column by Coren. Thanks so much for providing the link.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
There is a ‘breaking news’ headline over at Bourque,and I’m wondering how this will play out:
Dion’s secret deal with May-deliver Green votes to the Libs,get a Senate seat,AND a cabinet post as Min.of Environment.Didn’t the Libs howl like banshees over Fortier? Hypocrites indeed.BTW,cbc newsworld replaying the Mansbridge/Dion interview now…and it still makes no sense!
Sorry to spoil the wonderful mood here..just ‘talking turkey!’
Dreary,rainy day here in SE Man…but I have a lovely fire going..oops,that’s not green…but the dogs and I are toasty warm,still in my jammies,have the house all clean and tidy (I know how much we women love that!)..and looking forward to a peaceful,quiet day.Hubby away working,so will spend a lazy Thanksgiving,with my dogs,but will celebrate the day on Tues,when the man gets home!Thot it was appropriate,as can tie it in with the Cons WIN!
October 12th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
MUST READ BOURQUE ! He is filling in the gory details of the May/Dion coalition..it is being ‘leaked’ by Lib insiders that don’t like Dion,and supported someone else for leader.This is gonna get interesting indeed.
October 12th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!
Joanne, your blog was mentioned in the Radio-Canada program Les coulisses du pouvoir, which airs both on the regular Rad-Can station and the RDI station (re-broadcast tonight Sunday at 9:30 on RDI).
http://www.radio-canada.ca/actualite/v2/coulisses_du_pouvoir/
There’s a segment towards the end of the program, which will eventually be available on their website, where Michele Lamarche covers what various bloggers are talking about.
Congratulations! You’re really in the big leagues.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Enjoy your holiday!
Tuesday will be fun. Unless you’re a Dioniste, of course. I’ll be out of the country again for several days, but checking the “tubular” internet for results.
I did vote in the advance polls, though.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I have been posting all over that May would be appointed to the senate and get the enviro ministry. Finally it is get out there. My question to Green Candidates, supporters, voters etc. Are you willing to give May a lifetime job in the Senate, after she has thrown all of you under the bus. Didn’t she say there was no deal, didn’t Dion also say that. Isn’t May the fraud and liar now and both she and Dion owe PMSH a huge public apology. I wonder if the Green party will ever regain the trust of their supporters.
And, if you think she will make a difference for your party if she does get a cabinet job, she wont. Her plans will be soundly defeated in the HofC, in the budget and throne speech. Vote PMSH to send her and other leaders you can’t be taken for granted. Voters in NFLD should also pay attention. Do they really want to be called zombies and give up their secret ballot.
Layton blew his chances to be NO 2 by going for NO 1. Has anyone asked him where he planned to get 100 more seats. He forgot, that to be PM he had to have MPs elected. Never going to happen, but he could have taken on Dion, to show he was capable of being the govt in waiting. And we should never forget that it was a liberal PM that appointed the Bloc as NO 2 years ago. I expect a couple of leadership changes before the next election. Duceppe has hinted this was his last election, but will Iggy/Rae really want to go for it if Dion loses big time. And what will they do if he wins. Force him to resign as leader and appoint one of them as interm leader. Never going to happen.
October 12th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Dion is screaming at Liberal Rallys that Harper is a liar. Now Canadians know that Stephen Harper was telling the truth. Will the MSM remind Canadians that Stephen Harper predicted this on day one of this election. Canadians should be very afraid of Dion!!!!
October 12th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Happy Thanksgiving Joanne and all posters to this wonderful blog!
Remember Joanne, no fighting with relatives about politics at the dinner table!
October 12th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Holy Greenshift! Thanks for the Bourque tip!
Remember Joanne, no fighting with relatives about politics at the dinner table!
Heh. No fighting, Barbara. My sisters and I are all voting Conservative.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Joanne, your blog was mentioned in the Radio-Canada program Les coulisses du pouvoir…
Thanks, Gabby! What were they saying?
October 12th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Bourque has updated the story..not sure if you checked back,but this fiasco could really backfire for both parties.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Sammy, from what I can see at Bourque there are a lot of rumours, but no facts. Still, it is interesting that Dion has refused to deny the story that he agreed to give Elizabeth May a Cabinet post.
Somehow we need to get to the bottom of this before Tuesday.
October 13th, 2008 at 12:06 am
My 28 year old daughter just got back from a three week echo tour of central America.
She said that this trip changed her.
It was fun dad she said, but I am so glad to be home in Canada.
We live in the very best place in the world.
One only needs to travel to any country in the world to appreciate what we really have here.
And how easy we could loose it unless we are vigilant about protecting our identity and our diverse cultures within our borders
I have always taught my children to always think that we won the lottery and we get to live in Canada.
May I suggest to everyone that during this time of economic uncertainty that we keep our eyes open for those that are having real trouble, reach out and ask how can I help.
Lets invest in people, our people.
Like it or not we are our brothers keeper.
October 13th, 2008 at 2:30 am
I do believe dion has promised May a cabinet post, by having her cross the floor if elected or a senate seat if she isn’t. But, the question is, would he keep the promise. Who will break the promise first. She has turned against the greens, so if it looks like Dion was lying to her she has no place to go.
But, dion is promising and insisting on the greenshaft. Is May telling him to do this or she will go to the media with their pact. Expect a high placed liberal to give an exclusive to the media, to throw both May and Dion under the bus. Unnamed soucrs of course. Hey, I can dream.
October 13th, 2008 at 9:27 am
[...] T presented an intriguing theory in the previous post: I do believe dion has promised May a cabinet post, by having her cross the floor if elected or a [...]
October 13th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Dion was probably TOLD by May - GIVE me a Senate seat, MAKE me Enviro Minister, AND I’ll send Green votes your way. No way our Steffie is crafty enough to come up with this himself. It was Lizzie. She’s the dangerous one in this terrible twosome. She has Steffie by the nuts right now.
Now if something backfires and Dion, in a coalition gov’t, is talked out of appointing her by his handlers in the Lib party, all hell will break loose. Remember, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! Then again, Steffie is so stubborn it hurts and we may get this woman hoisted on us anyway. Thinking out loud here.
What worries me more than this right now is that if Harper gets a weak minority again, this election could very well be stolen by a coalition. And that is not good news for the country. Most of us in the West will consider this a HUGE slap in the face, especially Alberta and Sask. I live in the Fraser Valley in B.C., and though the ridings are solidly Conservative out here, I can’t say much for the north and the nuts in Vancouver.