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We have much to be thankful for, even in these dark and difficult days. First of all we should be thankful we have one another. The American people are determined to persevere and excel in spite of the horrors we've experienced and the serious threats we face.
The courage and generosity we've witnessed over the last two months is edifying and reassures our sense of a society that can recognize what is truly important.
We should be thankful for President George W. Bush. No, it's not a typo. Your eyes are not failing. The president has shown leadership and focus during the most trying times and his words have consoled and strengthened the American people.
The best move the president made was dramatically discarding the isolationism that distinguished his administration up until Sept. 11. Before the terrorist attacks, to the dismay of our friends and the delight of our enemies, the United States was increasingly on a "let's go it alone" course in the world.
The president has wisely changed direction and you can't hear a peep out of the isolationists and America Firsters in the Pentagon, State Department and Congress.
We must give thanks for our great neighbors, the Canadians and the Mexicans. The governments of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Mexican President Vincente Fox were the first to offer help after the attacks. And remember the people in those neighboring countries buy more American goods and services than the rest of the world combined. It's easy to find bad neighbors. We're blessed with good ones.
Across the Atlantic, the NATO Alliance is showing its importance and reliability in standing with the United States, and we should be thankful our European allies are willing to do whatever is asked.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder even risked a no-confidence vote for his coalition government to show support for the United States.
On the world stage, no one has been a better friend and more forceful advocate of our national interests than British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He has been invaluable in building an international coalition of nations necessary to root out terrorism. Every American should be grateful for Tony Blair.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is showing unflinching support in the struggle with terrorism and taking on the terrorist havens in Afghanistan. Watching Northern Alliance troops riding into Kabul on Russian tanks in American-supplied uniforms is a symbol of what the former foes can do together.
And let's give special thanks that the Taliban are now on the run. Before the terrorists attacks, they were nothing but a bunch of murderous thugs whose principle religious tenets were intolerance and oppression.
After the attacks, they became aiders and abettors of mass murder. A grateful good riddance to those mangy dogs.
And let us all give thanks that the world is finally catching on to Saudi Arabia and its despicable royal family. Yes, these oil billionaire princes used the money Americans paid at the gas pump to finance bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban's terrorist training schools.
No, they are not our friends and never will be. The only nation state that can be linked to the Sept. 11 attacks in terms of where the killers came from and where they got the money is Saudi Arabia.
So much is happening for which we should be thankful. And remember, this week especially, we live and eat better than any other people on earth.
Poverty and hunger breed terrorism. We must strive to remove the violence of unjust economic structures which impoverishes so many in the world and provides us with plenty well beyond our needs.
When we do that we can truly give thanks.