Happy Gracias-giving

When I was in undergrad and working with the Religious Studies department there was a "thing" about Thanksgiving, and the "thing" was they didn't like it. The reasons that they didn't like it were pretty simple to understand; "it exploits the Native Americans", "the whole sit down at the table thing really didn't happen", "they didn't eat a whole lot of turkey they were on the coast"...yadda, yadda, yadda. The Religious Studies department was looking at it from a historical fact point of view, and their idea of Thanksgiving and their opinion of Thanksgiving, was more along the lines of Wednesday Addams' point of view. While I understand that, I just don't agree with it.

At that time I was a lone dissenter and to a certain extent I guess I still am. I like Thanksgiving, I like that while, not always in practice but at least in theory, Thanksgiving gives America a chance to realize its blessings and thank whatever, whomever they please for the blessings they have in life. It's a chance to get together with friends and family and just take a moment to slow down and enjoy life, something that is rarely done in our consumer driven, obsessive society. I always make it a point to have to say "thanks" on Thanksgiving and forget about the frenzied insanity that the commercialized Christmas season will bring, and I encourage all of my readers to do the same.

So everyone gather up your Friends DVD's, turn on some football, snuggle up with family and say thanks for what you do have.

I'll end on a quote that I'm borrowing from a friend who is quoting the Greek philosopher Epictetus;

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has - Epictetus

Happy "Gracias-Giving"