Despite hardships, we're still doing well

As we pass Thanksgiving amid understandable anxieties about the so-called "economic meltdown," Americans need to keep a clear perspective. No matter what the impact on us personally, at least two thirds of the world's people view us as incredibly affluent.

Some of our population will endure hardships in various degrees, but we can and will get through this. America's greatness is rooted in its bountiful blessings and resources, among which are the resilience and determination of its citizens. This crisis may bring us to our knees, but it will not crush us.

And being on our knees may be the appropriate response. For people of faith, such trying times serve to remind us that the true source of our security is not our accumulated wealth. If we forget that, we are like the prosperous landowner who built larger barns to store his rich harvest. We all know what happened to him. For at least one day, let us focus on counting our blessings.

Dan McGuire

Bensenville