We are seemingly bombarded almost constantly with news reports about how bad things are today. Iraq, Afghanistan, recession fears, market fluctuations, oil prices, and housing difficulties are among the major topics of conversation.
There are also myriad suggestions being made by some business leaders and politicians regarding ways to resolve these situations as well as the inevitable finger pointing as to who is to blame. It’s almost enough to make us weary of our existence.
I have always been one to look for the silver lining in every situation, and if you’re a Texan—either native born like I am or one who made it here as soon as you could—you don’t have to search very hard to realize that doomsday is not approaching. Far from it! And Thanksgiving is a highly appropriate time to recognize and appreciate what we do have.
When we think of the traditional Thanksgiving celebration, our minds often go back to what we learned in grade school about the Pilgrims. Of course, we also frequently equate the observation of the fourth Thursday of November with feasts and football, as well as a time for family get-togethers.
Although we usually trace the beginning of Thanksgiving to the time when colonists and Indians first dined together, the celebration did not really begin in America. Most European nations had observed it annually to mark the completion of harvest time long before the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria arrived in North America.
During much of US history, Thanksgiving days were used to designate or commemorate special occasions, such as the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, the ratification of the nation’s Constitution in 1789, etc. In 1863 during the Civil War, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day to bolster the Union’s morale. Gradually, Thanksgiving became a time of appreciation, especially of home and family.
With the urbanization of the nation in the 20th century, Thanksgiving became a day that indicated the Christmas shopping season had arrived. In fact, in an effort to appease retailers, President Roosevelt in 1939 shifted Thanksgiving Day from the traditional last Thursday in November to a week earlier to kick off Christmas shopping sooner. After much opposition to the change, two years later he signed a bill establishing the fourth Thursday of November as the official time to celebrate Thanksgiving.
Through all its historic machinations, Thanksgiving has remained in the minds of most people as a day to be thankful and to count one’s blessings. So, in spite of various naysayers’ proclamations about what’s ahead for us economically, I like to consider the positives. Today for Texans, there are many.
Our state economy continues to be a dominant force in moving the nation’s economy forward. Even though difficulties confront us, Texas remains on solid footing. Based on gross domestic product, the Lone Star State ranks among the top 16 economies in the world.
Texas has been the nation’s export leader since 2002, and current reports indicate the success we enjoyed in 2006 will be significantly eclipsed this year. In addition, Texas is among the top states in terms of investments and business relocations and expansions.
Furthermore, the strength of our economy is reflected in the ongoing creation of new jobs. Over the past two months, approximately 47,300 people have been added to the payrolls, bringing the total increase in employment to 206,400 over the past 12 months. Notable expansion has occurred in the number of jobs in 10 of the 11 industry sectors.
Much of this growth is attributed to the state’s dynamic economy and the manner it has embraced globalization. Other contributing factors include the amount of available land and low construction costs, as well as limited regulations and taxes. Of course, the friendly business atmosphere so prevalent across the state also plays a vital role in our success.
Although the economic fortunes of the nation are sometimes marked with slides, shifts, and shortcomings, the US economy continues to move forward, albeit at a more modest pace than in the recent past. For Texas, the picture is even brighter.
Truly, Thanksgiving 2007 is a time of recognition and appreciation and an appropriate occasion to count our blessings. Keep the day (and the season) for what it should be.