In Protest-NO Thanksgiving

We just decided that our immediate family is going to give-up the traditional Thanksgiving Day celebration.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday (not religious) to give thanks for the blessings of our nation.

That is simply not ringing true for us this year. We are not thankful that over 1100 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq. We are not thankful that 100,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed by the actions of our country on the orders of George W. Bush. We are not thankful that the 2004 presidential election has been stolen. We are not thankful that the results of that stolen election has installed Bush into office for another four years.

So we will take a pleasant extended four day family weekend. We will probably watch some football and eat well. But we are not going to call November 25, 2004, "Thanksgiving".

Finally, we don't feel like changing our attitude about Thanksgiving is letting the radical Republicans alter our lives. We do believe that we have to begin changing our perceptions about our relationship with the national community. If we do not accept that things have to change, even activities that affect our own comfort, then we cannot begin to do the things that will bring us our country back.

serving the poor.... There will surely be record numbers this year...

We're skipping Thanksgiving as well. We never spend it with family since they live so far away, and in reality, the holiday smacks of everything that is wrong with America - greed and excess. It's morphed from a celebration of our gifts to a chance to pig out and then lie in a vegetative state watching teevee.

Anyway, I echo the previous post's sentiments. Maybe spend the day working at a soup kitchen helping those in need. And on Friday, stay home and spend time with your family instead of shopping. I couldn't think of a better way to spend that holiday weekend.

edited to fix grammar mistake.

this shit is nothing new.

If it works for you, good for you. But I don't think of Thanksgiving in reference to the government or, thanks for nothing, I'd hardly ever have a Thanksgiving considering the "great" presidents in my life like Nixon, Reagan, Ford, and Bush the Vomiter, let along the current Chimperor.

I think of it in more of a pagan or native sense as being thankful to be alive and enjoying the bounty of the earth.

Besides, it's usually my one chance a year to spend all day in the kitchen without being expected to do anything except play with food.

There is some good sense being made here:

We do believe that we have to begin changing our perceptions about our relationship with the national community. If we do not accept that things have to change, even activities that affect our own comfort, then we cannot begin to do the things that will bring us our country back.

I just don't think I can give up my turkey. :-(

The only way we celebrate, is if my family wants to get together. But.. otherwise we collect food, deliver food baskets, or help at senior or homeless dinners on that day. I did it for the first time 20 years ago, when I was single.. and it's just the BEST way to spend the day.