In the US, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November to give thanks for the year's blessings and bounty. At least that's how it began. It's not, however, the current practice. Most people defile the day's spirit in how they spend it over a full four day holiday weekend - with overindulgent eating, parades, "can't miss" football from Thursday through Sunday, and, key for merchants, the "official" start of the Christmas holiday shopping season. It begins Thanksgiving Friday, is now an orgy of holiday consumerism, continues through Christmas eve, ebbs for a day, then builds again for a final celebratory new year's welcome with more overindulgent eating, drinking, partying, and binge-shopping for nonessentials.
This holiday, like all others, is also replete with myths, and young minds are filled with them. They're taught the Pilgrims invited Native Indians to share their bounty in a show of brotherhood and friendship with an array of foods early settlers never heard of that were indigenous to the Americas and introduced to them by Native peoples. The Pilgrims had nothing to do with this tradition. It began with Eastern Indians observing fall harvest celebrations centuries before the first settlers arrived. After they did, there was no such observance as "Thanksgiving."
While George Washington had days for national thanksgiving, modern holiday celebrations date from the Civil War in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln wanted a way to boost morale and patriotic fervor of the Union Army. His idea was to proclaim a national Thanksgiving holiday for the first time ever. It had nothing to do with the Pilgrims nor were they ever mentioned until 1890, and the term Pilgrim was never even used until the 1870s. So much for tradition and what passes for history that, in fact, is pure myth.
The Thanksgiving holiday is also a way to promote what Edward Herman calls our "indispensable state," our innate goodness and the illusion of American exceptionalism, moral and cultural superiority, and the belief that the Almighty made us special the way ideological Zionists feel Jews are "the chosen people." It's a short step from these views to judging others inferior, especially those ranked low in the racial, religious, ethnic or cultural pecking order - blacks, Latinos, and today's number one target of choice for a nation at war and an enemy needed to justify it - Muslims hatefully portrayed as "radicals, extremists, gunmen, insurgents," and "Islamofascists."
Thanksgiving also serves another purpose. It has special religious significance in a nation with three-fourths of the population Christian, and the traditional separation of church and state now weakened. The US was founded as a secular state, and First Amendment constitutional law affirms it stay that way with freedom of religion guaranteed. In 1802, Jefferson called for a "wall of separation" between them, and earlier Supreme Courts agreed. They ruled this separation is required to prohibit any state religion and require government avoid undue religious involvement, its trappings or expressions. That's now changed under radicalized right wing rule.
Today, the extremist Christian Right jeopardizes religious freedom with frightening implications to consider. Their movement became dominant in the Reagan 1980s and reemerged even more virulently under George Bush. It's close to the seat of power with ideologues like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell while he was living, James Dobson, and radical Zionist Muslim hate-preacher John Hagee having enormous influence on the administration and Congress.
Religious freedom was jeopardized by the introduction of the "Constitution Restoration Act of 2004" that was reintroduced in near-identical form in 2005. So far it's gone nowhere, but if introduced again and adopted in the 110th or a later Congress, it would turn the US into a de facto theocracy even though its supporters deny that intent. Don't believe them.
Dominionists like Pat Robertson and others support the bill as do influential sponsoring members of both Houses. Their goal is simple, but they won't admit it - tear down the sacred wall between between church and state so the US can be governed by their extremist Christian dogma. It would make believers of other faiths, or none at all, lawbreakers with their version of Christian canon the new law of the land - a very scary prospect for about 75 million non-Christians in the country and many of Christian faith who won't go along.
If it's ever adopted, this bill will prevent the Supreme Court from challenging the right of anyone in or affiliated with federal, state or local government to affirm "God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government" - an extremist Christian God, that is. Any judge at any level interpreting the law otherwise would henceforth be subject to impeachment and prosecution in the new USA ruled by the empowered Pat Robertson types in it. It would also likely make Thanksgiving an obligatory Christian observance, even for non-Christians, and make its religious overtones mandatory.
As it's now celebrated, Thanksgiving is already shameful. While barely giving thanks, if at all, we forget millions of poor, deprived and oppressed peoples everywhere and our government's role in their condition. We also ignore the systematic dismantling of our constitutional rights and denial of essential social services to growing millions without them. And we're too distracted by bread, circuses and overindulgence to oppose injustice and support the rights and needs of people everywhere.
This day and others should be times of reflection, thanks and much more. Blessings aren't given. They're earned and just as easily lost when rogue leaders threaten our freedoms, and democracy is an illusion. But it's not something new. Our tradition is long and disturbing with conflict, violence, and our framers design that the "supreme Law of the Land" give government unlimited power, the Executive unchecked amounts of it, and "we the people" meant only the privileged. It's pure fantasy thinking we have limited government, constitutionally constrained and one of, by and for the people. Look at the record.
Along with war, militarism, expansionism and free market fundamentalism, we're a nation addicted to privilege. It's always been this way despite our prevailing fiction of an egalitarian country respecting everyone's rights. That's nonsense in a nation glorifying wealth and power and those with it claiming a divine right for more.
It's always been that way and especially since WW II when the US emerged unchallenged as the world's only superpower. Since then we've had imperial wars, CIA-instigated coups, political assassinations, and disdain for the law to defend unfettered capitalism from beneficial social change. On November 22, we should do more than give thanks. We should ask for forgiveness and demand accountability.
Journalism Professor Robert Jensen is right calling for a "No Thanks to Thanksgiving" in his earlier writing. He suggests we'd be hugely uplifted by replacing our overindulgent "white supremicist" Thanksgiving ritual with a "National Day of Atonement" and have it include self-reflective fasting for our forefathers' "original sin" no matter where our own came from. Establishing that tradition would be an important step forward - toward a day to give thanks every day in a land with leaders resolved never to repeat the crimes of the past and equally committed to public service instead of just for the elite part of it.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
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 (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 1263 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 (42 articles, 19 quicklinks, 226 diaries, 3204 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 (42 articles, 19 quicklinks, 226 diaries, 3204 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 (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 1263 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
