400 Years of Gratitude

While we are not certain of the exact date, we do know that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving celebration in Plymouth.1

In the fall of 1621, “the 53 surviving Pilgrims and Chief Massasoit with his 90 Indian braves”2 (of the Wampanoag Tribe) came together to mark the bounty of their harvest and to give praise to God for graciously preserving them and providing for them.

Discussion

Introducing ‘Recorded: Remembering 9/11’

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“In these stories of loss, trauma, redemption, and eternal hope, we see that God was, is, and always will be at work—even in the darkest moments.” - TGC

Discussion

On Nationalisms Through Time

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“Goldman’s book is a thoughtful extended essay on the idea of nationalism … for Goldman, nationalism entails that if the motto e pluribus unum—one out of many—is indeed meaningful, the unum must be some intelligible unifying principle or other…. Goldman proceeds to trace three rival conceptions of American national identity” - John Ehrett

Discussion

Conciliation With the Colonies

Edmund Burke, on moving his Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies. House of Commons, March 22, 1775

Below are excerpts from the first fifth of the speech. The speech is public domain. All 24,000 words are available at Project Gutenberg.

Discussion

We Should All Be Madisonians

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“The main lesson [of Rasmussen’s new book Fears of a Setting Sun: The Disillusionment of America’s Founders] is to not place much hope in the amount of happiness, amity, and social progress that politics alone can produce. And the great teacher of that lesson, the lone Founder who retained a great deal of optimism about the American future, is James Madison.” - The Dispatch

Discussion

1776 Project vs. 1619 Project: an evaluation

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1776 Project: “although the argument for less ideologically driven historical education could not come at a more critical moment, the report is a missed opportunity to make it.” - Commentary

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A Christmas Eve Message from the Moon

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“ ‘We were told that on Christmas Eve we would have the largest audience that had ever listened to a human voice,’ recalled Commander Frank Borman during the 40th anniversary celebrations in 2008. ‘And the only instructions that we got from NASA was to do something appropriate.’” - IFWE

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Thanksgiving Is Not a Lie

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“It’s true that debunkers can score some easy points. The term ‘Pilgrims’ wasn’t popularized until later. They didn’t wear dour clothes. They didn’t consider their iconic gathering in 1621 a formal thanksgiving… But the basic contours of the holiday are recognizable in that long-ago event.” - N.Review

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