| Last week’s curation at RealClear’s American Civics portal rightly focuses on Thanksgiving. Our first piece comes at RealClearHistory from Israel Benporat, a fellow with the Jack Miller Center. He reflects on the marble obelisk that stands as a testament to Plymouth founder William Bradford’s legacy. As Benporat notes, “Etched on the stone are three Hebrew words that in English read, ‘God is the help of my life.’” Originally, there was a different inscription on Bradford's headstone: “[God] is the portion of my inheritance,” which was drawn from Psalm 16. Benporat points out that the change from “portion of my inheritance” to “help of my life” remains a mystery. “Was it an intentional reframing of Bradford’s legacy or simply a stonemason’s error during a restoration?” Benporat concludes by noting that “The marble obelisk on Burial Hill, with its antebellum origins and evolving inscription, stands as a testament to Bradford’s legacy, the religious foundations of early New England, and the enduring relevance of historical memory.” At Public Discourse, Yuval Levin focuses on the all-important theme of gratitude. In our age of constant anger and outrage, he argues that “gratitude may be exactly what can help us distinguish” our justified feelings from those that are not. Gratitude, Levin teaches, “is the proper disposition toward all the good we have been given and that we have done so little to earn.” Gratitude has been at the core of the American story stretching back to those who first stepped onto our country's shores. “It calls on us to conserve the preconditions for the good in our lives,” Levin continues, “which are also the preconditions for combating and changing the bad.” Conserving America “demands that we approach the larger society by inviting it to partake in a spirit of thanksgiving.” Levin ends by pointing out that “Our society, even in this age of outrage, is plainly hungry for that spirit, and is open to it. And that is one more reason among many to be grateful.” Essential Reading Alberto Coll, RealClearPolitics As he promised throughout his campaign, one of President-elect Donald Trump's top priorities is to end the... Israel Benporat, RealClearHistory Standing on Burial Hill overlooking Plymouth Harbor, a marble obelisk marks the grave of Governor William Bradford... In the News Yuval Levin, Public Discourse Andrew Fowler, Philanthropy Daily Josh Hammer, RealClearPolitics Christopher Klein, History.com Editors, Wall Street Journal Aubrie Spady, Fox News Carson Holloway, The American Mind Salena Zito, RealClearPolitics Mary Grabar, RealClearHistory Mark Noll, Law & Liberty Eryn Dion, Cape Cod Times Cynthia Shirk, Fox 28 Tim Rockey, Alaska Public Media Robert Gilbert, Hechinger Report Domenico Montanaro, NPR Captivating History In 1620, the Pilgrims started their journey from Plymouth, England, and were blown off course, landing in... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories Good morning, it's Nov. 29, 2024, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and the day of the week in which I reprise ... Good morning, it's Nov. 22, a date which once caused Americans of all ages to shudder as they contemplated the ... Over the years of this newsletter, one or two of my readers have suggested that I sometimes write too long ... | 