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I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.
I see that Scrooge has arrived early for the holidays. My recommendation is to take a deep breath, let it out, and then pass the turkey.
You and those like you can practice your "fun sucking" all you want on Thanksgiving by burning the Constitution in effigy on the Capitol's steps; for me and my kind, we'll celebrate Turkey Day the way it's meant to be with friends, family, food, football, Pilgrims, Indians, and giving thanks.
Now, who looks the more foolish between those two scenarios? (I can't wait to hear the justifications made with the responses to this question.)
by
Tom Murphy (3 articles, 3 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 1494 comments)
on Friday, November 16, 2007 at 11:09:43 AM
Any particular Indian you have invited to the Thanksgiving dinner this time aside of some guy playing Squanto? Also, had you invited any strangers lately? That's what it is about, isn't it?
I do not care much about Thanksgiving, I hate turkey meat and all those sauces, football and stuffings. But it is a day off, so be it. I doubt if the Day of Atonement would be a day off. On the other hand, it would be nice if we do not pretend, do not tell stupid stories about those nice Piligrims and do not tell the children that we here are the salt of the Earth. And I would recommend to invite a real Indian and let him/her tell the true story. Hey, Americans are so big about Holocaust, the atrocity they have nothing to do with that they are close to celebrating it. Why won't we instead make a Thanksgiving day a day free of hypocricy?
by
Mark Sashine (46 articles, 19 quicklinks, 235 diaries, 3358 comments)
on Friday, November 16, 2007 at 12:01:08 PM
So... I'll put you in the "fun sucker" category, Mark?
"I would recommend to invite a real Indian and let him/her tell the true story. "
And I would do this because... they were there... they are more objective... they are more connected to the land? Be careful of using the term "true" because it always has a time element to it. A good read on the Pilgrims and Indian is presented in "Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War". Perhaps you could read it and learn a bit more about their collective history on your day off?
actually read even that book you have mentioned at the table, I wonder. But why that one? How about John Steinbeck? Or Charles Upham on Salem trials. Or many more. And why would the Indian be objective- I do not want it at all. I want HIS story. Objectivity is the privilege of two English gentlemen on the couch- I want the truth and truth is never objective- it consists of perceptions and derivatives as Guinness Beer is still a magic.
Tom, acknowledge the simple truth- we all love to b comfortable and do not like to be disturbed. But it is disturbance which keeps us human and Thanksgiving is for that. We thank God for keeping us human.
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Mark Sashine (46 articles, 19 quicklinks, 235 diaries, 3358 comments)
on Friday, November 16, 2007 at 2:40:20 PM
Personally I don't need a special day to be thankful for all my wonderful friends & family. I can do that 365 days a year! I'm grateful every day for another opportunity to continue my very short & insiginificant life on this earth. Besides, I'm a vegetarian & I don't really care for sports.
Tom: I find your response juvenile & indicative of man who may not be able to critically think. I notice your is Murphy. I don't if your an Orangeman or Catholic. However, if your were Irish here in America, let's say from 1845 to WW II, it's highly likely that you would have very little to be thankful for, even on the 4th Thursday in November. If it were not for men & women who saw through all the crap & made changes possible by challeging the status quo & all of these "sacred" traditions & customs (many steeped in pure myth & utter nonsense), you might find yourself working in a coal mine for 12 hours on T-Day. Just be happy you're living in the 21st century where you can enjoy TV & turkey & keep in mind a lot people lost their land, their liberties & even their lives for you to do so.
by
iman (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 89 comments)
on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 2:03:20 PM
I might have invested my meager savings in a local railroad that expanded over time and made millions.
I'm not overly fond of "what if" scenarios because be defintion they don't deal with reality as we know it today. It's nice to fantasize so long as your realize it for that and NOT reality.
Thanks for the history lesson but I found it juvenile and reflective of a non-critical thinker tainted by the allure of fantasy and whim.
And... I'll also put you in the "fun-sucker" category, making a note to serve only cranberries and lock "Spoonge Bob Squarepants" on the TV for iman on T-day.
by
Tom Murphy (3 articles, 3 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 1494 comments)
on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 6:45:29 PM
Thanks for your reply Tom. Just remember what is sacred & precious to one man is utter claptrap to another. It can be anything from religion & politics to culinary delights & ethnicity. I respect your right to criticize me, my response to you & Mr. Latham's article in general. I'm happy to hear you don't dwell in if/what scenarios. However many of us do & there are actually people who make a living at it in the field of decision sciences. (it's vital to national security by the way). Perhaps, someday you'll subconsciouly find yourself saying "what if I had bought that stock & fantasising about to what to do with all the money" It's a part of human nature & of actually growing older & wiser, I hope. And by the way, if you ever get a chance, visit some real American Indians on a reservation & get their perspective on, well...anything. It will be a great experience for you. Have a great T-Day & please avoid name calling (fun sucker & Scrooge), you seem like to nice of a man to resort to such juvenile rhetoric. Oh by the way, I'm Irish, too!
by
iman (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 89 comments)
on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 2:43:27 PM
