Thanksgiving is for everyone

I went out in my neighborhood today to run some errands. I went first to the local grocery store that is run by a Muslim family from Ethiopia. The mother and I are on happy small-talk terms because I am in there every day. She wished me a very happy Thanksgiving and gushed over how much she loves this holiday.

From there I went to the coffee shop run by a young Hispanic man who is becoming one of my best five-minutes-a-day buddies. He just moved into his new apartment and is making himself for dinner tomorrow. His family, I gathered, is elsewhere and he was on his own. He was really excited by the prospect, however; Thanksgiving at his place meant he had arrived, I think.

After that, I headed to the small furniture store down the block to check out new couches. The place is run by an older Chinese man. He guided me around the different stuff, and at one point asked me what I was doing for Thanksgiving. I told him, and he replied that his whole extended family was coming to his house for dinner. He was smiling ear to ear, and wished me a happy holiday when I left.

Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, which in my opinion makes it profoundly important to this country's essential core. Christmas is for Christians, Hanukah is for Jews, Ramadan is for Muslims, etc. Any of these religions can partake in the other holidays, and do, but the intimate mysteries of each faith make each holiday essentially exclusive for each religion.

But when this nation was first formed, the ideal was simple: America is for everyone, a secular nation where all religions are welcomed and none are enforced over the others. The fact that we seem to be losing that essential understanding of ourselves makes this holiday all the more important.

The noise of commercialism, the business of cooking and traveling, and the sadness for some whose circumstances make this time a sad affair, have a way of obscuring the meaning of this day. It is for everyone, the way America should be, and that's why I like it so much.

Just some thoughts.

Wonderful thoughts on one of my favorite holidays. Have a great day tomorrow, Will. :hi:

Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July.

Uniquely American, and deeply entrenched in our history.

By the way, did you know that there is an American Thanksgiving service in St Paul's Cathedral in London!
You have to get tickets in advance to go.

Some friends of mine were living in England a few years ago and her sister & family went over for Thanksgiving..Julie got tickets to this service and they all went. Apparantly it was a wonderful service.

I don't know if it goes back to WWII or further...anybody?

:D

Happy Thanksgiving, Will

:hi:

blow some of his patented hot air on his momma's turkey, but I'd never say that, would I now. :7

:grouphug:

He read Geo. Washington's proclamation (several references to GOD you know) and Rush stated that THAT was the establishment of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was not established to thank the Indians and the Pilgrims learned just fine how to take care of themselves thank you (RWers call Native Americans "heathens" )

He also said that the Pilgrims rejected the "common shares" idea (socialism you see) in favor of a capitalistic system.

And on and on

this defenselink tells a different story.

http://www.defense.gov/news/Nov1999/n11221999_9911221.html

Hope you have a great day.

The secular nature of Thanksgiving, that it can be shared with all Americans, and bring us, at least for a day, together, makes it the most democratic of all holidays. And I love it.

Even my cynicism cannot trump.

I ALWAYS take stock of what I have and not what I don't have on that day. We should strive to live each day that way.

I am thankful for my friends on DU, who have been a beacon in the present darkness.

Point well taken