Author Topic: To Who Am I Thankful?  (Read 3960 times)

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Brassmask

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To Who Am I Thankful?
« on: November 21, 2007, 09:33:48 PM »
You celebrate Thanksgiving Brass? Who do you give thanks to? Yourself?

On Thanksgiving Day, as we gather 'round our yearly feast of turkey, cranberries and yams, I will be thankful. 

I am thankful to my friends who are with me in times of trial and times of treasure.  My friends who help move.  My friends who love my kid.  My friends who trade plants in our yards.  My friends who make me laugh.

I'm thankful to my family who are with me in times of trial and times of treasure.  My parents who love their son.  My father who beams with pride.  My mother who has been my guide.  My sister who stands by her brother.  My family who loves me through thick and thin.

I'm thankful to my son who I'm with in times of trial and treasure.  My son whose smile can lighten any day.  My son who loves me unconditionally. My son whose laugh sparkles.

I'm thankful to my wife who's with me in times of trial and treasure.  My partner for our lives.  My help mate who works with me to acheive our dreams.  The mother of my son.

And yes, in a small way, I must thank myself for having the presence of mind to associate myself with these people.  For having the wherewithal to get out of bed every day to be around these people who make me so happy and enrich my life.  For having the gumption to go to work to draw a check and pay the bills and buy groceries and make sure the kid eats right (for the most part).  Yeah, I thank myself, but for the most I thank all the others in my life.
« Last Edit: November 21, 2007, 09:36:51 PM by Brassmask »

Universe Prince

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2007, 01:37:27 PM »
To Whom...

;-]
Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever.
--Hieronymus Karl Frederick Baron von Munchausen ("The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" [1988])--

Brassmask

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2007, 05:41:32 PM »
To Whom...

;-]


LOL

You know when I originally posted it, I had the subject as Whom and then changed it after I read it.  I thought of it this morning and thought, "Wait, it is whom!"

chickencounter

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2007, 07:47:59 PM »
Today I am thankful to the doctors and nurses at UCLA medical center who cared for my niece for the last three months and made her well enough so that she could finally come home yesterday and join us today for Thanksgiving dinner and her favorite apple pie.  Thank you!!

hnumpah

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2007, 08:28:27 PM »
Here's an easy way to remember: if, in a statement about the subject, you would use the word him, then use whom (I am thankful to him; to whom am I thankful?). If you would use the word he, then use who (He is thankful; who is thankful?).
"I love WikiLeaks." - Donald Trump, October 2016

Richpo64

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2007, 11:43:46 PM »
>>On Thanksgiving Day, as we gather 'round our yearly feast of turkey, cranberries and yams, I will be thankful.<<

You do realize that Thanksgiving is a religious holiday? I would think rather than celebrating it you would be out protesting it's existance.

Henny

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2007, 06:47:57 AM »
>>On Thanksgiving Day, as we gather 'round our yearly feast of turkey, cranberries and yams, I will be thankful.<<

You do realize that Thanksgiving is a religious holiday? I would think rather than celebrating it you would be out protesting it's existance.

And then of course there is the debate as to whether Thanksgiving is a religious holiday at all. (I know you were waiting for someone to take you up on that statement, and I am the asshole who did.)

I actually Googled this statement to get a broader base of opinion on the subject, and while there are a few who believe it is religious, the overwhelming consensus is that it is a secular American holiday. Americans come in many different shapes and sizes with many different belief systems (or lack of belief systems) and they are all celebrating an American holiday.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2007, 06:59:15 AM by Henny »

Xavier_Onassis

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2007, 10:37:54 AM »
Thanksgiving is whatever you want it to be. It is religious for some, but not for others. Just because it BEGAN as a Christian day of gratitude does not mean that it is a Christian holiday for all. The common denominator seems to be gluttony and familial fellowship. Gluttony is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but we get a respite on Thanksgiving, apparently.

We should be thankful that the Pilgrims made it on a Thursday, because that way we get Friday off as well.
 Unless we are in retail, of course.
Greed follows gluttony.
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."

Stray Pooch

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2007, 10:47:49 AM »
And then of course there is the debate as to whether Thanksgiving is a religious holiday at all. (I know you were waiting for someone to take you up on that statement, and I am the asshole who did.)

I actually Googled this statement to get a broader base of opinion on the subject, and while there are a few who believe it is religious, the overwhelming consensus is that it is a secular American holiday. Americans come in many different shapes and sizes with many different belief systems (or lack of belief systems) and they are all celebrating an American holiday.

FTR, I don't think "asshole" applies to you.

But I have to say that Thanksgiving has only become secular in the same sense that Christmas has.  Turkey, parades and football (and how 'bout that LSU-Arkansas upset!!!!)  serve about the same purpose as Santa, Toys and Rudolph do.  They have changed the focus from the meaning of the celebration to the method.  Still, the implication of the term "Thanksgiving" is religious.  It was intended, from its beginning, to be a national expression of gratitude to God.   This is an American expression of the concept of harvest festivals that have gone on from ancient times in many cultures.  It is well expressed in the beloved hymn "Come, Ye Thankful People Come."  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comeytpc.htm

Brass has chosen to turn this inward, by expressing his love and gratitude to those who are important in his life.   I think that is a very constructive way to reconcile the traditions of our culture with his own value system.  This is an example of the kind of assimilation that has been very successful in cross-cultural situations throughout history.  This approach is rather the opposite of the endless, shrill protests of any mention of "Christ" in the holiday season.   "Season's Greetings" "holiday shopping events" and "family trees" have replaced "Merry Christmas" "Christmas Sales" and "Christmas trees" out of a silly sense of PC.  Thanksgiving, since the "thanks" could be equally applied to my god, your god, nature or your loved ones, is more easily reconciled. 

The problem is that some on the anti-religion or anti-Christian side of the issue insist on stifling religious expression.  Equally, some of those on the pro-religion or pro-Christian side insist that compromise is a betrayal of faith.  With Brass's interpretation of "thanksgiving" as general gratitude rather than gratitude to a particular deity, he can still participate in the celebration - including in it, perhaps, those of his family and friends who are religious - without compromising either set of values.

I am curious, Brass, if you read this.  Do you have the big family get-together and turkey-fest?  If so - and assuming you have some family members who view this holiday in the more traditional sense - is a prayer offered?  Is it specific (said, for example, in the name of Jesus Christ or addressed to "Our Father in Heaven") or do you opt for a more generic prayer or expression of gratitude?   If the prayer is specific, how do you deal with it? 
Oh, for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention . . .

Stray Pooch

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2007, 10:59:20 AM »
Greed follows gluttony.

I'll bet your pretty proud of that comment, aren't you?  Well, I'm going to vent my wrath on you!  If you weren't so slothful, you could have come up with a much better way of expressing this thought!

Alright, I'll admit it.  I'm just envious of your punsmanship. 

I think I'll stop typing this and go surf some porn . . .  :D
Oh, for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention . . .

The_Professor

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2007, 02:43:13 PM »
Thanksgiving is whatever you want it to be. It is religious for some, but not for others. Just because it BEGAN as a Christian day of gratitude does not mean that it is a Christian holiday for all. The common denominator seems to be gluttony and familial fellowship. Gluttony is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but we get a respite on Thanksgiving, apparently.

We should be thankful that the Pilgrims made it on a Thursday, because that way we get Friday off as well.
 Unless we are in retail, of course.
Greed follows gluttony.

http://www.amazon.com/Inferno-Larry-Niven/dp/0671826581/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195929764&sr=8-1
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Richpo64

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2007, 02:45:29 PM »
>>And then of course there is the debate as to whether Thanksgiving is a religious holiday at all. (I know you were waiting for someone to take you up on that statement, and I am the asshole who did.)<<

Hmmm ... I'll let that one by without taking a swing.  ;)

I'm not one to put much faith in Google as evidence though. Thanksgiving IS a religious holiday, the question of whether everyone views it that way anymore is certainly valid.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2007, 02:47:59 PM by Richpo64 »

The_Professor

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2007, 02:48:51 PM »
Thanksgiving is whatever you want it to be. It is religious for some, but not for others. Just because it BEGAN as a Christian day of gratitude does not mean that it is a Christian holiday for all. The common denominator seems to be gluttony and familial fellowship. Gluttony is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but we get a respite on Thanksgiving, apparently.

We should be thankful that the Pilgrims made it on a Thursday, because that way we get Friday off as well.
 Unless we are in retail, of course.
Greed follows gluttony.

And many states are now NOT giving Black Friday off to their workers. I believe New Jersey recently did this. Bah Humbug!

Should it be mandatory that organizaitons, public and private (except for emergency services entities, etc.) provide paid holidays to all employees on Federal holidays such as Veterans Day, Columbus Day, etc. and, of course, the day after Thanksgiving?

I know my college doesn't provide this on Veteran's Day or Columbus Day but, of course due to PC, they DO provide it for MLK's Birthday. And, of course, then there is the whole issue of why they combined Lincoln's Birthday and George Washington's Birthday into ONE "President's Day", so organizations would only have to give one day off instead of two.

What do YOU think?
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Henny

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2007, 07:35:02 PM »
Pooch and Rich,

Here's what I'm thinking. Colonists came to this country to be free of religious oppression. Now, today, Americans come in many shapes and sizes with many different belief systems. Some believe in nothing at all. But at the very least we all are thankful that we can live in a country where we are free from persecution.

However, I do agree after reading what you had to say, that indeed the first Thanksgiving was to give thanks to God.

Xavier_Onassis

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Re: To Who Am I Thankful?
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2007, 07:46:40 PM »
My university doesn't give Veteran's Day or Columbus Day off, but we do take the Friday after TG off. The students wouldn't show up if we did try to hold class.

Leftover Turkey trumps dead vets, it appears.

We don't take President's Day off, either.

Here's what I'm thinking. Colonists came to this country to be free of religious oppression.

The Pilgrims left England, where they were persecuted somewhaT, and went to Holland, where no one oppressed them, but their kids were turning into little Dutchmen, and they felt that over the years they would lose their language and their religion as well. This was indisputably true.

They came to America, where they would not have any competition with the tolerant Dutch. In several decades, they were drowening and crushing a few of their kind for witchcraft. I suggest that there is no inalienable right to persecute those one feels are guilty of witchcraft.

The witches, mostly young women, got killed.

I bet that there are a number of polygamous jackMormons that would dispute you on the persecution issue. We frequently arrest them for poligamy, although I am sure we could arrest them a lot more often for this.


"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."