Author and Lecturer: Ethics, Religion, Political Philosophy
Fresno Bee, Nov. 27, 2025 Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on what we value. A useful place to start is with George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789, which established the first American Thanksgiving. “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be …
Continue reading “Thanksgiving: open-hearted, open-minded gratitude”
Fresno Bee, November 24, 2020 Gratitude lubricates social relations. To say thanks is to express gladness. But gratitude is also a spiritual capacity that lightens and energizes. Some call it the wine of the soul. When we drink it, we want to share it with others. Social rituals revolve around thankfulness. We thank people throughout …
Thanksgiving opens our hearts and minds to others – which is badly needed today Fresno Bee, November 17, 2017 In 1789, George Washington proclaimed that a Thursday in November should be set aside for giving thanks. Washington’s proclamation echoed the deistic religion of his day. He acknowledged the “providence of Almighty God.” And he gave …
Take 10 steps to defuse post-election tension that threatens a family Thanksgiving Fresno Bee, November 19, 2016 More than one person has told me they will avoid relatives this year at Thanksgiving because of political disagreements. Someone suggested segregating Thanksgiving by political party, with a Trump table and a Clinton table. How sad! Thanksgiving should …
On Thanksgiving, be thankful for liberty Fresno Bee, November 14, 2014 We should be thankful that the Pilgrims are not in charge of Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims condemned sports and other recreations along with idleness, gluttony and drunkenness. They celebrated modesty, frugality and hard work. One Pilgrim, William Bradford, recounted an incident in which some men refused …