Today is, in America at least, Thanksgiving Day. Being American, I take part in it, even if I don’t buy into all of the reworked history that is spouted about. (More on that down below.)
Considering the day, I figured I’d put together a little list of things I’m thankful for:
- My family, of course. Really no explanation is needed, but if you want one: they’re wonderful, and they allow me to indulge in silly hobbies, like blogging.
- Buddhism. After much poking around and shaking my head, I believe I’ve found a religion / life philosophy that works for me.
- Books. To use Jefferson’s quote: “I cannot live without books.” To be fair, however, perhaps I should share the whole quote: “I cannot live without books; but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object.” I should probably take that to heart and stop buying / mooching books until I’ve finished reading my (extremely) large backlog.
- The coming presidential elections. That’s not quite right, I suppose; I am more thankful for the fact that the elections will mark the coming end of Bush’s reign. He can’t (legally) run anymore, and that’s something to be thankful for.
- Freedom of speech! Why, without that, I could end up in prison for what I wrote above.
- Coffee. I could certainly function throughout the day without it, but it would be much more difficult.
- Last – but certainly not least! – 9rules and the members I get to hang out with there. Truly a top notch group of folks.
So, what are you folks thankful for? I demand responses! 
For those of you who are American (or those of you who are just interested in history), do read up on the real deal about Thanksgiving. Here’s a good article; if that doesn’t fill you up, here’s another article (in 3 parts) by the same fellow.
There should be another post about Thanksgiving in a few days. We’re having our big family get-together on Saturday, and I’m sure at least a few things will happen that day that will be “bloggable.” Just don’t expect it Saturday evening; Battlestar Galactica: Razor is on.
Comments 5
Hope you had a good one, Josh.
I suppose TG is, like many holidays we have here, whether we share them or not, an incentive to think about things – Remembrance Day, Christmas, whatever – even if you don’t subscribe to some, or most, of the sentiments expressed, or the traditions that come with them.
Hell, even the French revolutionaries realized the need for annual “markers” that bring people together – for which see: my excellent post I did on the subject once, being a top notch 9ruler and all
So, for me it’s hard to “get” the concept of being thankful for things around me that weren’t specifically “given” to me. I can be thankful for a beer or a hug, but for the world I live in…
Mm, let me try and rephrase…
I’m happy I don’t live in a shit country where there’s floods or bombings or dictators. I thank the people in generations before me who fought and died for that. And I’m happy “to be in a job and in a bed” (Les Miz, not mine).
Still not sure this is convincing enough… I waver. I’ll try again.
It’s just that I have a hard time being thankful for things that have a lot to do with myself: the job, I worked hard for to convince my boss and to keep at it, the bed I nearly lost at times but I fought hard against adversity and inner demons to keep it (and when I mean bed, I mean the home and the fact that I’m not on the streets – not the actual mattress)…
Oh, I don’t know. Crazy, existentialist European I guess
I get what you mean, though, and I think you’re cool for realizing what you have. Let’s conclude by simply repeating how I started: hope you had a good one! I mean that.
Posted 24 Nov 2007 at 5:15 pm ¶Hey Nils. Sorry for the delay in responding; the end of the semester is approaching, and I am duly being pounded by catch-up work.
I did indeed have a good one. Our family gathering on Saturday was a ton of fun; lots of laughs, lots of good food. There was one negative to it, if you can call it a negative, but I’m going to be quiet about that, because it’s going to be a post.
I understand what you’re saying, and I pretty much agree. I’m glad I have a job; that I’m in school. But thankful? That’s iffy. I have a job and I’m in school because I busted my butt to get both. I am, however, generally thankful for things that I like but didn’t have any influence over: I don’t write books, so I’m thankful that other folks do so I can read them, etc. etc.
At least for my family, that’s pretty much what Thanksgiving is anymore. We don’t sit around and talk about all of the things we’re thankful for; we get together, eat good food, and talk / laugh a lot. While I’m sure the generalization wouldn’t hold for all American families, I’d say that’s what Thanksgiving is to many of them anymore.
Posted 27 Nov 2007 at 9:35 am ¶That web site was quite a find. I wanted the true story and suspected there would be propa-ganda on either side, which was especially true by the latter day historical revisionists. Thanks.
Posted 27 Nov 2007 at 7:23 pm ¶Not a problem Josh. Glad you enjoyed yourself. You take care with all that work okay? Cheers.
Posted 28 Nov 2007 at 3:08 pm ¶@Daniel: Welcome to the site. I’m glad you found the site helpful.
@Nils: Finals are killing me.
Posted 28 Nov 2007 at 8:32 pm ¶Post a Comment