A Thanksgiving toast to America

On a recent morning in Germany, an American hailed a cab.

The driver, somewhat younger than his early-70’s passenger, immediately recognized that his fare was from the States.

Breaking into a huge smile, he exclaimed, “Ich bin ein Berliner,” showing his keen awareness of JFK’s famous words in Berlin in 1962.

Such stories drive home the point that, despite our problems, America still means so incredibly much to the rest of the world.

Truth is, if not for the incalculable blood and treasure the United States expended defending freedom, much of Europe and Asia would still be rubble, its citizens living in tyranny.

It’s all too easy to get caught up in our own issues and fall victim to pervasive negativity, forgetting our glorious past and losing sight of all that we do right.

This Thanksgiving, rather than selling ourselves short and contributing to the nation’s divide, let’s give thanks for the blessing of living in the world’s most benevolent nation.

Light in a dark world

America’s past is certainly not without its faults, from slavery to internment camps, and from mistreatment of Native Americans to supporting brutal foreign leaders.

But through it all, America remains a nation that has uniquely conquered many of its demons, rectified mistakes, and made things better.

That liberalism (small “l”) has not gone unnoticed around the world.

America, for virtually its entire existence, has been a beacon of hope for millions who crave freedom, tolerance and a fresh start.

When the Irish suffered during the potato famine, they didn’t head east to much closer Europe, but to the distant shores of America.

In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, many Southeast Asians sought refuge in the safe confines of America.

Millions who flee persecution, and death from tyrants, risk life and limb to make America their home.

And why? Because America offers even the poorest and most downtrodden the opportunity to carve out a life not just of existence, but one whose standard of living is more than most would ever dare dream.

Like JFK, Ronald Reagan re-instilled faith in America, both at home and abroad, when he spoke of our nation as the “shining city on a hill,” whose potential and promise were limited only by one’s imagination. How right he was.

Just as Kennedy intimately connected with a Europe in the middle of the Cold War, reassuring free peoples and inspiring those trapped behind the wall, so did Reagan when he bonded with millions by challenging Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”

And that is exactly what happened. Because of America’s resolve, the wall of oppression fell, freeing countless people from authoritarian rule.

America remains the rock star of the ages, with the world wanting our blue jeans and Coca Cola. Even more, they want to emulate us, and much of what we stand for. They want to be “American” in every sense.

Benevolent in battle

Upon their nation’s surrender in World War II, many Japanese soldiers feared what their American captors might do to them. And the Americans did plenty.

They accorded the same medical treatment to the Japanese as to their own soldiers.

They openly shared cigarettes with their prisoners, something that Japan prohibited when the tables were turned.

They fed the Japanese the same food that the Americans received.

In short, despite many wartime atrocities committed by the Japanese against American POWs, America treated its vanquished foe with unprecedented restraint.

Most telling, during the surrender ceremony on the battleship USS Missouri, the Japanese officers were absolutely mystified as to how much dignity the Americans allowed them to maintain, certainly not expected from a nation that had just achieved total victory.

It is exactly that kind of benevolence — doing the right thing just because it’s right — that still carries the day and earns the admiration of the world.

Throughout history, many victors enslaved their conquered peoples and laid waste to their lands.

Yet America has always done the opposite, pouring untold billions into Japan, Germany, Italy, and later, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Unlike most countries, America, for the most part, has left the nations with which it warred better off than when it found them.

And when famines and disasters strike, America is always first in, leading the way by sending people, supplies and billions to help fellow humans in need — because that’s what we do.

So this Thanksgiving, let’s say a prayer of thanks for who and what we are, and ensure that America’s beacon of hope always remains lit.

Here’s a toast to America! Happy Thanksgiving!