by George Washington

City of New York, October 3, 1789

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th. day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to

pardon our national and other transgressions,

to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

It's funny how New York is really New Toronto if you think of it.

Have you ever seen Gangs of New York, rusty? This is one of the things I love about Scorsese films - and why I believe he's one of the very best: you always learn something from his films. The history of New York is astonishing, and it's all built on a "Dutch" foundation, when you think about it. The names are still there. (SoHo, Harlem, etc.)

I guess the English just sorta paid New Amsterdam an extended visit, eh?

Toronto, on the other hand, has always been a city of yellow-bellies :wink:

(Hell! They can't even be trusted to take out the trash.)

I loved Gangs of New York. And I hate Toronto. I hate any big cities on the matter. I like my small town feeling where I live.


I always thought Harlem was in Detroit.

I am the compltee opposite, I find small towns dull, lifeless and just boring...give me a big city. There is no shortage of things to do and learn in NYC.

nope. It's all about NYC.

Some areas of Detroit are SO bad, you just sorta step on the gas and get the hell out of there ASAP. But it's getting a bit better.

BIG cities are inevitably ruined by greedy developers. Some Canadian cities have been able to protect themselves (like Ottawa and I guess Calgary); but huge cities like New York are actually being "taken over" by "foreigners." I know that sounds xenophobic, but's it's actually true.

but then again: we were ALL foreigners at one time or another.... even the "Indians."

Cleveland rules

That's a lot of words for the Original X-Man. Perhaps if someone could perform a song and dance number, then I could more properly retain the information.