Prevailing in Hope: What I’m Thankful For

I t’s easy to be downbeat about the state of the country. Whether considering a Trump–Biden rematch in 2024, increasing inflation, the likelihood of World War III, or the ways in which technological advancement may further denigrate public morality, social media provide a constant download of negative information, and our imaginations do the rest.

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is an opportunity to infuse some hope into our pessimism. Life in America in the 21st century could be better. Yet it could also be much, much worse — as it is for many people across the world and as it was for many of our ancestors. Meditating on this fact can help restore a healthy perspective.

This year was my eighth celebration of this great American holiday. To mark the occasion, here are eight things about the United States that I’m grateful for.

The Constitution. The American founders devised the best written constitution in the history of the world. Its guaranteed freedoms of speech, press, and religion, its due process of law, and its protections against cruel and unusual punishment stand in obvious contrast with laws in authoritarian countries such as the CCP’s China or Putin’s Russia. But there are also subtler comparisons to be made, such as with the sweeping “hate speech” laws across Western European countries, by which law enforcement has become a public menace.

Religion and public morality. America is a deeply moral country, one in which the dictates of conscience are taken seriously. When the Pilgrims settled near Cape Cod in 1620, they found what they were seeking: freedom of religion. It is no coincidence that the 18th- and 19th-century abolitionists were predominantly men and women of faith. And it is no coincidence today that the pro-life movement — seeking an end to violence against preborn children — is unwilling to compromise on the God-given right to life. Moreover, in the U.S., conservatism remains tethered to religious and moral principles even when these prove politically unpopular. This is not true in the U.K., as I wrote recently.

Global dominance. From seeing off the threat of the Barbary pirates in the early 19th century to the quelling of fascist and communist threats in the 20th, the emergence of American military dominance as a successor to the British Empire has been critical to international security in the free world. There is today no other country we would trust to fulfill America’s role.

Prosperity. Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863 spoke of the “blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.” In the 19th century, America was the land of plenty. Today, America is the richest country on earth by GDP and total wealth.

Culture. Growing up in the U.K., I could appreciate that most of the great movies are American. America gave us Hitchcock, the Coen brothers, Spielberg, Scorsese, and Tarantino (for those who like that sort of thing). America also gave the world John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Meryl Streep; Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Flannery O’Connor, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The list goes on.

Natural beauty. Americans are often mocked for how little they travel outside the States. But there is so much to see at home. The sheer variety in the American landscape is a marvel. From national parks such as Yellowstone and Yosemite to natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, from the mountains of Colorado to the beaches of Southern California. What else could you want?

The weather. On The Editors podcast, my colleague Charles spoke about America’s superior weather. Charlie, who grew up in England, lives in the Sunshine State, but even on the Northeast coast, I (who grew up in Scotland) can relate. There are approximately three extra hours of daylight during the winter here compared with Scotland. In New York, I’m grateful to experience four distinct seasons and the realistic hope of a white Christmas.

Americans. I’ve written about my experience with Southern hospitality and the warmth and charming self-deprecation of Midwesterners. The Northeast coast, meanwhile, is full of interesting people, full of talent and ambition, from every corner of the world. To this day, America is a nation of immigrants.

Of course, for everything I’ve mentioned you can make the opposing argument. America’s great geographical variety means that Americans must learn to live with extreme weather and natural disasters. Its vast roads lead to high speeds and great numbers of traffic deaths every year. We need only look at the Afghanistan withdrawal to know that U.S. influence abroad has not always been positive. Its religiosity can, when misdirected, give rise to fanaticism and idol worship of many sinister varieties. Its prosperity and industry have led to corruption and greed, from the brutality of the slave trade to the opioid crisis. As for the people, there is no shortage of crime and antisocial behavior on American streets.

But, as the Founders knew, America is full of human beings, not angels. We can be embittered by the country’s shortcomings, or we can be grateful for its blessings. Of course, it’s easier to be grateful when there is someone to be grateful to. In 1620, when the first Pilgrims made their treacherous sea voyage, they conceived of their journey in terms of biblical displacement.

They felt then as we feel now: that the future is precarious. But as citizens of heaven first, we can, like them, prevail in hope.