Happy Thanksgiving One and All
Nov. 27th, 2008 11:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rabid1stI know this holiday isn't celebrated worldwide today...but it is celebrated by most nations in some form at some time.
Thanksgiving is non-denominational. And it's my favorite holiday. Why? Pie!
No...wait...because it is about gratitude for your life and home and friends and family. And yes, pie! It is a holiday with less expectation and more spiritual centering and therefore, it seems to me, that it often goes better than other holidays of this season. All you have to do is show up and be civil as you eat. Of course, I've never had to cook...so that might be why I like it so much. :grin:
Here in the U.S. of A. Thanksgiving holds the idea of safe arrival after trials and journeys "over the river and through the woods", but also the ideal of strangers, even enemies, sitting down at a table in a spirit of cooperation and friendship. We could look at what happened to the Native side of that first feast day with a cynical eye. Note all of the horrors that followed and call it all a farce. But that first Thanksgiving is equally symbolic of what we can be as a species...if our primitive desires are satisfied.
We are primitive and at war all over the world. People aren't satisfied. But everyone understands gratitude for good food, because everyone has to eat. Everyone understands about breaking bread. Sharing food is primitive peacemaking, because deep inside we know food is precious, even when we have plenty. That's why we have state dinners, right? And we can be civilized for an hour or two, yes? United over pie or wine or treacle or dal or hummus? And if we can be civilized for an hour...then why not a day or a week? Okay, maybe I'm saying the world should be fat (and/or drunk)...and passed out in front of the TV...but I would take that over taking hostages. Satisfied, yes. People need to feel satisfied every once in a while. I'd give thanks for a happily sated world...wouldn't you?
Rae
writing out her check to OxFam!
Thanksgiving is non-denominational. And it's my favorite holiday. Why? Pie!
No...wait...because it is about gratitude for your life and home and friends and family. And yes, pie! It is a holiday with less expectation and more spiritual centering and therefore, it seems to me, that it often goes better than other holidays of this season. All you have to do is show up and be civil as you eat. Of course, I've never had to cook...so that might be why I like it so much. :grin:
Here in the U.S. of A. Thanksgiving holds the idea of safe arrival after trials and journeys "over the river and through the woods", but also the ideal of strangers, even enemies, sitting down at a table in a spirit of cooperation and friendship. We could look at what happened to the Native side of that first feast day with a cynical eye. Note all of the horrors that followed and call it all a farce. But that first Thanksgiving is equally symbolic of what we can be as a species...if our primitive desires are satisfied.
We are primitive and at war all over the world. People aren't satisfied. But everyone understands gratitude for good food, because everyone has to eat. Everyone understands about breaking bread. Sharing food is primitive peacemaking, because deep inside we know food is precious, even when we have plenty. That's why we have state dinners, right? And we can be civilized for an hour or two, yes? United over pie or wine or treacle or dal or hummus? And if we can be civilized for an hour...then why not a day or a week? Okay, maybe I'm saying the world should be fat (and/or drunk)...and passed out in front of the TV...but I would take that over taking hostages. Satisfied, yes. People need to feel satisfied every once in a while. I'd give thanks for a happily sated world...wouldn't you?
Rae
writing out her check to OxFam!
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-27 06:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-27 07:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-27 10:49 pm (UTC)It does seem especially unfortunate that everything in India is going on on today of all days. I for one would welcome some degree of peace - I mean, what happened to the good old days where the two sides can stop for a celebratory game of football on christmas day? (Not sure if that was real or 'The Great Escape?' but either way - the message stands!)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-28 05:40 pm (UTC)*feeds you pie*
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-03 07:21 pm (UTC)On the upside: yes, I've had pie. ;)