Happy Thanksgiving! On this uniquely American holiday, I would like to share a very interesting article about Thanksgiving in 1810 that was written one hundred years ago.
We have much to be thankful for in 2010, and the article underscores that fact by offering a rare glimpse at life in America over the past two centuries. The author, Clifford Howard, was measuring the progress of our nation at that time and wondering what life would be like in another hundred years. You can read Howard’s article by going to “Thanksgiving in 1810, 1910 and 2010.”
On this day of thanksgiving, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank writer- and blogger-extraordinaire, Walter Olson, for bringing this wonderful piece to my attention. Also, I want to take this opportunity to thank the incredible folks at the Foundation for Fair Civil Justice for giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts on life in the most lawsuit-happy society on earth via this blog.
As the creator of the Wacky Warning Label Contest and the author of a book based on that contest, Remove Child Before Folding, I can’t help thinking that despite the remarkable progress that has been made in our nation over the past 200 years, we have regressed in at least one area. We can no longer rely on our court system to defend common sense.
That is sad. It’s also why today, family chefs around the country will be cooking their Thanksgiving feasts in bakeware that actually warns: “Ovenware will get hot when used in oven.” If you have oven pots made by Revere Ware, check it out. You can also see the warning here.
I will be most thankful when the American civil justice system finally progresses to the point where the hardworking men and women throughout our nation who make all the great products that make life better don’t have to worry about getting sued if they don’t warn us about obvious dangers.
Until then, I’ll keep riding through the countryside like Paul Revere, who, in case you wondered, is indeed the man whose hard work and innovative mind gave rise to the company that would one day make Revere Ware cookware. Only I’ll be shouting, “The lawyers are coming…the lawyers are coming.” Paul Revere would understand.
