"13.7 pounds-The quantity of turkey consumed by the typical American in 2003 and, if tradition be true, a hearty helping of it was devoured at Thanksgiving time. On the other hand, per capita sweet potato consumption was 4.7 pounds.

"IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:----- Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the seventh.

JOHN HANSON, President. Charles Thomson, Secretary.

The harm that parental divorce visits upon children largely transcends cultural differences. So suggests a Turkish scholar in a recent analytical comparison of studies on parental divorce conducted in Turkey with those conducted in Western countries (including the United States). Noting that Turkey has witnessed "a marked increase in the divorce rate" in recent years, especially in urban areas, psychologist Dilek Sirvanli-Ozen of Okan University in Istanbul compares Turkish studies of the impact of parental divorce with those conducted in Western countries with markedly different cultural backgrounds. It is largely the same dark picture that Sirvanli-Okan sees in both sets of studies.

Surveying "studies conducted both in the Western countries and in Turkey," the Istanbul scholar sees strong evidence that parental divorce may have "detrimental effects on the levels of behavior and adjustment problems of children, the parenting styles they perceive, and the attachment styles they develop." Thus, when Turkish studies reveal that children whose parents divorce suffer from "more psychological problems," achieve less "academic success," and develop "more fearful attachment styles" than peers from intact families, these findings fit all too well in "a general assessment" based on research around the globe. In summing up the "general" international pattern, Sirvanli-Ozen highlights disturbing "deficits" documented in the lives of children affected by parental divorce: "anxiety, depression, phobia, and irregularities in eating and sleeping ... negative attitudes towards marriage and other relationships ... a decline in self-esteem ... a decrease in the acceptance/interest the children perceive from their parents ... and a tendency to develop insecure attachment styles."

Apparently, whether parents divorce in Indianapolis or Istanbul, the likely outcome for their children is quite negative.