Next week, we will gather around a turkey to give thanks, but I hope it means something to you. We have more to be thankful for than our Pilgrim predecesors. If you ever think you’ve got it rough, think of them. The Pilgrims were a branch of the English Puritan movement, a group of ultimately violent revolutionaries who fought in the English Civil War of the 1640s, overthrew their king, cut off his head, and, under their leader Oliver Cromwell, established history’s first modern military dictatorship. Can you imagine living then? No one even had the right to dissent under their authoritarian rule.

Beyond such historical musings, of all our national days of celebration, this day stands out because it gives us all a moment to pause and consider the fact that none of us—even in this age of individualist capitalism—are completely the masters of our own destiny. Each of us owes, in no small part, whatever we have to be thankful for to the divine provenance that guides us and to our family and friends whom support us.

There are numerous reasons for us, as individuals and as a nation, to give thanks. There are, of course, Thanksgiving’s three F’s (family, food, and football) and the big S (shopping!). Okay, so shopping may not be the most appreciated part of the season, but for those that lament the commercialization of Thanksgiving as the official kick-off of Santa madness, blame it on the rise of retail department stores during the turn of the 20th century. But don’t complain too long. There are worse things than living in a country with a Dominos or Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner, and one of those is living in a country too poor to afford a Dominos or Dunkin’ Donuts on any corner.

Give thanks for living in a country that, twice in the 20th century, helped save the world—first from the Nazi threat, then from Soviet totalitarianism. What would have been the world’s fate if America had not existed? After defeating Germany and Japan in World War II, the United States proceeded to rebuild both countries, and today they are American allies. Now we are doing the same thing in Afghanistan and Iraq.

If your family is not among the world’s 852 million people living in hunger or the 1.2 billion people currently living below the international poverty line, give thanks. Of course, if you are one of America’s 228 billionaires, give a lot of thanks.

Give thanks for living in a nation that has gone farther than any other society in establishing equality of rights.

Give thanks for living in a nation that offers more opportunity and social mobility than any other country, including countries in Europe. Only in America could Pierre Omidyar, whose parents are Iranian and who grew up in Paris, have started a company like eBay.

If you are not one of the two million Americans in military uniform, or hundreds of thousands wearing a police badge or firefighting gear, give thanks for the valor and sense of duty of those who are.

Or if you live by the wise words of David Letterman’s Top Ten lists, give thanks that United States scientists have virtually eliminated static cling.

This year we have much to reflect upon and to give thanks for. I ask that each of you spread the goodwill of the season to assist someone that doesn’t have as much. Because this time of year can be a lonely one for our troops overseas, I ask that you particularly consider helping a program called Operation Uplink (http://www.operationuplink.org/) where you can donate a calling card to keep service members in touch with their families. If you can’t afford to donate much other than a thought, you can send our troops a thank-you note via email (visit http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html).