Thanksgiving - Open Thread

Every year, on both Thanksgiving and Christmas, there crawls from the woodwork a million little voices screaming about observances they don’t either understand or appreciate and sure don't respect.

Well, I just thought I’d see if I could offer a few opinions on the subject before it devolves into the annual morass of insults and abuse that so regrettably falls upon ATS.

(Note: I really had no idea where this fit so... I planted it here. Please feel free to re-pot in more fertile soil if such exists.)

First… and speaking for myself, I don’t celebrate turkey day, consumerism day, pilgrim’s day or gluttony day. Thanksgiving is about joining with family and friends to show appreciation for life’s blessings. You don’t have to be American or Christian or a specific race, gender or religion to say thanks to someone. All that is really required is to step away – for just a moment - from our smug little social comfort zones and our political polarizations... to break bread with those whom we care for.

It’s just that simple.

There is so much in life that we completely miss until later when so much of that life itself has already passed us by. But... you don’t have to wait for that.

In fact, you are invited… and all you have to do is to say thank-you to some one, or for some thing... and then if you have a moment, stop and share the meal. It is entirely symbolic but it can also taste pretty damned good, too.

Happy Thanksgiving to all here at ATS. May you always have something in your life to be thankful for.

I am thankful I have people like you in my friends list.
Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.

Actually, the true meaning of thanksgiving is all but forgotten

the concept was a harvest festival..the pilgrims realized after getting tons of food that they were going to make it through the winter without starving/dying. it was suddenly fully possible to live in this new place...

so, its not really about being with loved ones, or being thankful about what happened the previous year...its about hope for the upcoming year if anything, and being optimistic that things are going to be alright.

however, I am just splitting a hair here. but ya...harvest festivals are about feeling secure about whats coming up, not about being happy for what has occured already...so...tomorrow when feasting, cheer the hell up and decide that the next 6 months are going to be good and you...that may be more inline with what the intent is.

and consumerism...yes...turkey day is actually about establishing trade and gaining from it (indians...etc)..so, a bit of commercialism was actually part of the initial experience...well, more charity and mutual benefit than actual commerce...but you get the point...go see a movie maybe.