Don’t Call It Thanksgiving
I have discovered that I find the use of the term Thanksgiving to be offensive. Henceforth, I am starting a campaign to either eliminate the undeserved day off from work (and the subsequent start of the mad rush to Seasons Greetings Day) or change the name to something that is less offensive and more descriptive of the current reason for the celebration. When the pilgrims originally celebrated their thanks for everything they had and the hardships they had endured, the name Thanksgiving actually meant something. Today it is nothing more than the day before we all rush out to start our annual spending spree.
So what should be the new name? There are several avenues that can be taken in the search for just the right descriptive. How about Turkey-Lastic Day? That would be what most people eat and what they wish they were wearing afterwards. While mostly accurate, it leaves out those who have another type of meat or simply do a tofu turkey. How about Dysfunctional Family Holiday? Since this is one of those times when we are forced to sit with relatives for a meal (and actually remember why we do not do it more than once per year) and be civil, that description would be accurate but not for everyone. So Dysfunctional Family Holiday works for some families and provides fodder for the mediocre Hollywood script machine but would not be a universal solution.
Since we are such a consumer society and have come to expect bigger, better faster and at the same time have developed into an entitlement society in which we expect to be rewarded just for wanting something, there may be an opportunity to combine those two characteristics into a common theme. The pilgrims had to make everything they used and grow or hunt everything they ate. For them taking a break to thank the Lord for the bounty He provided was a reflection of their faith and a true devotion to the Lord. Today we expect our place of work to give us the day off, with pay and provide the meat for the meal. So as we approach November 22, 2007, let us all join in a jubilant celebration of Unrealistic Expectations Day. It is the one day when all of those things we expect and deserve can be truly brought to light. Nah, I think after long thought, I will stick with Thanksgiving. All I did was provide the hands to prepare. The rest came from the Creator and Giver of all things in life.
Icool
Cobb
So what should be the new name? There are several avenues that can be taken in the search for just the right descriptive. How about Turkey-Lastic Day? That would be what most people eat and what they wish they were wearing afterwards. While mostly accurate, it leaves out those who have another type of meat or simply do a tofu turkey. How about Dysfunctional Family Holiday? Since this is one of those times when we are forced to sit with relatives for a meal (and actually remember why we do not do it more than once per year) and be civil, that description would be accurate but not for everyone. So Dysfunctional Family Holiday works for some families and provides fodder for the mediocre Hollywood script machine but would not be a universal solution.
Since we are such a consumer society and have come to expect bigger, better faster and at the same time have developed into an entitlement society in which we expect to be rewarded just for wanting something, there may be an opportunity to combine those two characteristics into a common theme. The pilgrims had to make everything they used and grow or hunt everything they ate. For them taking a break to thank the Lord for the bounty He provided was a reflection of their faith and a true devotion to the Lord. Today we expect our place of work to give us the day off, with pay and provide the meat for the meal. So as we approach November 22, 2007, let us all join in a jubilant celebration of Unrealistic Expectations Day. It is the one day when all of those things we expect and deserve can be truly brought to light. Nah, I think after long thought, I will stick with Thanksgiving. All I did was provide the hands to prepare. The rest came from the Creator and Giver of all things in life.
Icool
Cobb
posted by Cobb at
2:58 PM
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