[NonValueAdded]

Mark has a touch of Dave Barry going on there.

[blueheron2]

The US constitution has worked so well I’ve always wondered why other countries haven’t simply copied it. Is it true Britain has no constitution?

[I see my hands]

"World should give thanks for America"

The world should give thanks to America. Tribute in the form of oil, gelt, and other riches would be a modest start.

[Yardstick]

Mark Steyn

[Hornitos]

Already posted: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1927210/posts

[jwparkerjr]

It saddens me to remember when I was a kid in elementary school in rural Florida in the mid-50’s the America Mark talks about here was the America we were taught about. Whether it was singing the national anthem, saying the pledge of allegiance to the flag, removing your hat and covering your heart with your hand when a flag passes by in a parade, or taking part in a school activity to burn the retiring flag that had flown over the school for the last year or so, we did it with great pride.

I know America was, and is, far from perfect, but I liked those days. I’m sure my memories of them have only been made better by the passing of 60 years, but standing every morning while a bugle played the call to colors and the patrol boys raised the flag in front of the school were part of what made my youth what it was, and therefore what I am as an adult.

It’s interesting, and depressing, that it takes a French President or an Brit to say the things about America that its leaders used to profess half-a-century ago.

God bless America, and the men and women who serve to protect and defend her in God-forsaken countries half-way around the world. Whether in Iraq or on board the two navy ships that already on station to help the victims of the latest storm in one of the poorest nations on Earth, they are there and have been there for over 200 years.

Words cannot express the disdain I have for the Pelosis and Kennedys, Reids and Murthas of the world who talk of respecting the troops but whose actions speak anything but respect and support.

There, I feel better.

[jveritas]

Great article. Every time I go to Europe or any part of the world on business, I get more and more convinced by the superiority of America on every level and I cannot wait to get back home.

God bless America.

[Madame Dufarge]

Not surprisingly, this is the best essay on Thanksgiving I've read in a long time.

Mark Steyn has an amazing eye for perspective.

[cyclotic]

It’s difficult to be sure, but I think this may be Mark Steyn’s best column ever.

[Biblebelter]

When I went to college, my major required me to take a course called Western Civilization. As I remember it the teacher was not particularly good, but the content and premise of the course was. When I read Mark Steyn, I think that is his major theme, Western Civilization and what is good about it and what it is threatening it. He is great and reading his column is like being educated on Western Civilization. Today’s students should be required to read Mark Steyn for the purpose of the study and the understanding of Western Civilization.

[Peter Libra]

I have read much of my native England's history. While very enthusiastic about most of it's great achievements, one thing sends shivers down my spine. It is of the mind boggling way of executing people up to about 1783. It is not to be read by the squeamish.

I believe that the Founding Fathers knew that the death penalty would be exacted in America. They did however pass the eighth amendment to the Constitution.

That of no cruel and unusual punishment to be enacted. In short get it done and over with.

I visualized the terror of the 59 men who had signed the death warrant for King Charles 1st in 1649. Thanks to Wikipedia, I traced the fate of some of these men. Hanged, drawn and quartered. They were cut down while still conscious and disembowelled. Three men fled to the New World. Whalley, Dixwell and Goffe.

The long arm of the new King(1658), followed them to Connecticut. For years emissaries from London, tried to identify and sieze them. How lucky they were. Governor Leete took the chance of being charged with treason and helped hide the men. People remained closed mouthed and spurned rewards.

All men died in the new land. They must have blessed America with their dying breath.

[canuck_conservative]

Trouble is, by end-November a lot of Canada is already buried under snow or very cold, making get-togethers difficult. I actually like early October, it’s closer to the real harvest season.

Cheers. :)

[Ditto]

"What's it about?" an Irish visitor asked me a couple of years back. "Everyone sits around giving thanks all day? Thanks for what? George bloody Bush?"

I give thanks that I had an ancestor smart enough to get the hell out of Ireland.