The University of Oregon recently
hosted an event titled “Thanks, But No Thanks-giving,”
hoping to “decolonize” Turkey Day. The description of the non-festive
extravaganza read in part: “Thanksgiving is, foundationally speaking, a
celebration of the ongoing genocide against native peoples and cultures across
the globe.”
Yes,
that’s exactly it. Name me a family that doesn’t
gather ‘round the dining room table while bowing heads and saying: “We thank
Thee for the ongoing genocide against native peoples and cultures across the globe. Let us
celebrate!” Unbelievable.
The
coddled and entitled, such as many on college campuses, are usually the least
grateful. Often those who have everything are less thankful. Rich, spoiled
Hollywood types foam at the mouth (when they’re not stuffing it with caviar and
expensive champagne), railing against Trump or their own country or wealthy
Wall Street fat cats, etc., etc., while people in “flyover country” with
comparatively little are often deeply thankful for what they do have.
Progressives in entertainment and media tend to angrily rant, while more
conservative folks tend to devoutly appreciate. Many tenured professors at
elite universities smugly denigrate the very society that made possible their
success, while many World War II veterans—and veterans, period— were/are
thankful for the freedoms they fought for and most everything else, despite the
sacrifices they’ve made.
The
better off we’ve gotten, the less religious and appreciative we’ve become. This
is not sophistication, but ennui. A sad and ironic sickness of the soul.
I’m
lucky enough to know how lucky I am. And to know how little we know. I am
thankful for many things, among them a sense of humor.
This
Thanksgiving let’s take a break from celebrating ongoing genocide around the
world. Perhaps we should look around, bow our heads, and give thanks that we
have anything at all.
Happy
Thanksgiving and thank you for
reading.
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