Thanksgiving II: Revenge of Tradition

What has happened to thanksgiving? The Detroit Lions won a football game! Wait you don’t have a TV? No problem you can go to the store and get one now even though its thanksgiving, of course, you already missed the game…but you might be able to get highlights on your phone unless your phone is old then you’ll have to upgrade there while getting your new discounted Black Thursday TV.

That’s what we’re calling it now I hear – Black Thursday. Blasphemy. A holiday about gratitude for and sharing of blessings turned into another exercise in narcissistic materialism. The news reports about economic indicators – a 2.9% increase in holiday spending worrying retailers and such. The home country from which we sprung, Britain was once derisively referred to as a nation of shop keepers a tradition we have maintained and improved upon, but should we be so obsessed with shopping, profits, markets, and economic indicators?

The real crime here is this insanity threatening thanksgiving, giving Detroit a chance to win, comes to us courtesy of another day of religious significance destroyed by materialism. It’s as if the whole baby Jesus's story was about the gifts that were brought him and how important they were. The baby was just an excuse to use a coupon and an event to spur economic activity at the bazaar. Xmas is already destroyed and they are trying to roll over thanksgiving - the only thing is left protecting Veteran’s Day and Remembrance Day from Xmas. Veteran’s day won’t have a chance if thanksgiving falls, with less than 1% of our country serving or having served. Pagan (and fun) Halloween will be destroyed next and before you know it we’ll be letting Santa usher in Labor Day – also marked by sales, most notably at mattress discounters.

Thanksgiving is a day for God. Black anything doesn’t belong anywhere near it. I just re-read President Washington’s thanksgiving proclamation I see God mentioned 9 times (19 if you count the pronoun “His”), prayer 3 times but no mentions of shopping or discount. Sure he was the man who has everything but surely he could have used a properly fitted coat at least?

It’s clear what the man who gave us the holiday thought of it and what its true purpose was. For me, I too am thankful for God and His blessings but I yet struggle how best to introduce the kids to this concept which I believe is best-experienced vice explained? For now, it’s enough to go through the motions, spending time with family and eating far too much – which I why I suspect Washington’s clothes were always a bit large for him – they hadn’t yet invented the elastic waistband.

But I digress.

If you know me and TO&S, you know I’m thankful most for my family and that starts with my wife. So for me, the holiday is about her and the time I get to spend with her. We did something special and new this year – we started prep work, not just cleaning and re-arranging the furniture or decorating but the real tangibly intimate tender togetherness that cooking together is for us. I feel tears well up when I try to imagine the holiday without her. I hope it never happens. For some, they are alone and they’re doing it for us – whether they understand the war or even agree with it – they’re in uniform on the watch for us, or our sons or friends. The photo was especially poignant for me having just a few months ago volunteered to come out of retirement and don once more the Army uniform for another term of service. That fellow manning that wall eating pressed turkey out of a box and ready mix mashed taters could easily have been me, and may yet be.

We’re not having it. Any of it. We’re pushing back (okay it was mostly her idea). I’m a fighter, so Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving is now Thanksgiving and it’s a two day holiday with Thanksgiving proper and Eve. From this day forth I proclaim it so, that if Black Thursday becomes a thing there will always be at least one day for my wife and me to enjoy giving thanks (for each other at least). Even if we’re forced to spend it assembling PB&J sandwich brown bag lunches for a long Thursday trek to some far off mall assigned as our official shopping center by the Obama website people for Black Thursday minimum economic stimulus activity required under the commerce clause.

So help me God.