Inspiration from Zion: This is a Love Story

I have lived in Israel long enough that it is only my American friends who remind me that the holiday called “Thanksgiving” exists.

I have much that I am thankful for but my thoughts don’t exactly fit into the template of warm and fuzzy holiday musings.

I am thankful I was born in America in a time where Superman stood for “Truth, justice and the American way” – before he gave up his US citizenship and became a citizen of the world.

I am thankful I was born in an America that believed in American exceptionalism and equal opportunity for all individuals – regardless of race, religion or sex.

I am thankful I was taught the American values of respecting hard work, with the understanding that achievement is a product of work and determination. In the America of my childhood the only people who could not improve their status in life were the people who would not do the hard work necessary to create change.

I am thankful that I grew up believing that America was a power for good in the world, that it was a sort of magic talisman that would protect me everywhere I go.

I am thankful because these experiences gave me standards by which I measure everything else.

Even if America no longer believes in them, I still do.

I am thankful that I live in a country that clings to truth and knows that justice is not something automatically given to you because life is not “fair”. Life itself is not something automatically protected and justice is something that we must strive towards not expect because it is our “right.” Life, justice and particularly freedom are things you have to work for yourself or be given by God and never ever left to the mercy of the so-called “civilized” nations.

I am thankful that I live among real heroes, not comic books. My heroes are the Everyday Heroes. They may not be tall and impressive looking but they are breathtaking in their achievements and willingness to sacrifice for love.

I am thankful that I live in a country where skills and achievements count, where PC labels don’t matter and what you can DO – does.

I am thankful I live among people who have no patience for whining and victimhood. I do dread the rising globalist trend that is stretching its tentacles here as well, trying to make victimhood fashionable – an attitude that is antithetical to Jewish identity and ultimately annihilationist in nature.

Surviving is good, thriving is better.

I am thankful I live among people who will help anyone in need. They might shout that the government should fix the problems. They will complain while fixing it themselves but it is the people who are the salvation – who has time to wait for the government? If there is a real need, it needs to be addressed NOW.

I am thankful that while I dreamed of a country that would reach across the world to save me if it was necessary. Now I have that country.

I wish all my American friends a happy Thanksgiving and I pray that the country of my birth will remember what she was designed to be. Before it is too late. I truly believe that if America is allowed to morph into the socialist image currently being pushed on so many levels, the light of freedom, the lamp held high by Lady Liberty will go out, the golden door will close and only Israel will be left.  

We don’t have “Thanksgiving” in Israel. We have “Independence Day.” In fact, all our holidays and Memorial Days are days of thanks for those (God, men and miracles) who made it possible for us to live and be the Nation that we are today.

This Thanksgiving I am grateful that I can remember the time when the rest of the world thought my values were the obvious ones. I pray that I will be able to remember even if everyone else forgets.