elder999
11-30-2004, 03:08 PM
I kind of got thrown for a loop this Thanksgiving; I meant to post this then, and I’m just getting around to it, so a belated Happy Thanksgiving to you all..
There are some who refuse to celebrate Thanksgiving. I’m familiar with their reasons, namely genocide of Indians, destruction of their cultures, and theft of their land. All that really happened, and far worse than we could ever imagine. It is a shameful period in the history of humankind, and certainly nothing to celebrate. The popular celebration today is basically New England mythology concerning Puritans/Pilgrims seeking freedom. The myth is a long way from the facts, however. In truth, they were Protestant fundamentalists who believed that the deity of the Old Testament had made them the new Chosen People and given them a new Promised Land. They began to kill and pillage, using the Old Testament as their blueprint. It was all laid out for them very nicely, right there in the Bible. Personally, I’m not interested in celebrating that heritage, but we don’t have to surrender the idea of giving thanks, do we?
Every agricultural society, all across the earth, has always had an autumn festival, celebrating bounty, blessings, and giving thanks for a successful harvest. Instead of giving up the celebration of Thanksgiving because of its bloody connection to religious fundamentalism and cultural imperialism, why don’t we redefine it? Why can’t we start over? After all, it is a good idea to give thanks for all our blessings. In addition, it’s not healthy to live in the past, nurturing resentments. Thanksgiving could become a time of healing and forgiveness. This assumes, of course, that we would become willing to tell the truth, and to release religious fundamentalism, militarism, and cultural imperialism in the present. Even if the majority of our fellow citizens aren’t ready to join us on this journey of forgiveness, healing and thanksgiving, it could start here with us, couldn’t it?
You can feel free to keep your turkey, tofu, dressing, cranberry sauce, or whatever your particular traditions might be. The difference would be that we’d spend the day consciously aware of all our blessings, living in gratitude. That would be the central focus, rather than parades, or sports, or gluttony, or irrelevant mythology. We don’t have to be dour or somber. We can use the acknowledgement of past transgressions to serve as the foundation for a new resolve to avoid those mistakes in the present. We need a new mythology, one in which we can all take part; one to which we can all contribute.
Recently, I greeted a grocery store clerk with. “Good morning”. Her head jerked up, and with eyes blazing, she retorted, “What’s so good about it?” Actually, I was a bit taken aback. Normally, I would’ve just nodded slightly, and looked away. That day, I didn’t. I replied, “Well, it’s beautiful outside, you’re not sick or bedridden, you’ve got a job, plenty to eat and drink, and you don’t live in a place like Iraq, where foreigners are bombing the hell out of you”. She simply grunted, and continued scanning my purchases. As I was driving home, I felt very angry toward her and her negative attitude. Usually, I don’t sit with that too long before I begin to realize that it’s not really someone else’s behavior that rankles me. It’s often a reminder of something I’m uncomfortable with inside myself. I realized that I wasn’t so much angry with her as I was embarrassed at my own frequent lack of gratitude. This is something I work on continuously. Our culture encourages us to accumulate things, to always be on the lookout for new possessions. In and of themselves, there’s nothing wrong with material possessions. The disharmony comes about as a result of our culture defining success and happiness according to one’s bank balance, salary, neighborhood, clothes, car, etc. As a friend recently said, “Matter is dead, and cannot bring happiness or fulfillment. Only spirit is alive, therefore only spirit can fill that longing we all have.” Truer words have never been spoken. Let’s try to keep that in mind as we head into the “Holiday Season” with all its exhortations to shop until we drop. In our home, we’ve decided to have one special gift each, and have a quiet, spiritually oriented Christmas.
Believe me, I am well aware that there are many things we need to change and make better. I am quite concerned about the unholy alliance of the federal government, the military, big business, fundamentalist religion and the media. I am saddened that the country of my birth, the land I love, is an international bully. I’m confused about how the Americans go all about the world, bombing and killing, and then seem surprised when someone strikes back at them. Yes, I’m quite aware of all this. There are appropriate times to discuss these issues, and make plans for the future. There are also times when it is appropriate to reflect upon everything that is right and good in our lives. We had the opportunity to do that this Thanksgiving day. I certainly have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. I’ve shared life with the woman of my dreams. She is my partner, my best friend, and the grounding force in my life. Our relationship is entirely independent of the approval of religious fundamentalists or the government (these days, the same thing). We in a beautiful, comfortable home. I’ve got two wonderful children, who have become wonderful responsible adults. We live in northern New Mexico, one of the most beautiful places on the planet. We’re healthy, and aging in a reasonably attractive manner. My life brings me great joy, especially posting here on e-Budo. I am grateful to John Lindsey for providing the opportunity and fellowship, and pray every day for his safety. I am extremely grateful for the people who read my posts. I’m grateful for those who take time to let me know they find something of value in them As for those who complain about my writing, well, I’m still working on finding something about you to be grateful for! ;)
I hope you all spent some quiet time this Thanksgiving, and took some time to reflect upon your blessings. Rather than concentrate on what you don’t have, thank God for all the blessings in your life. I’m going to suggest that you all write down three things you’re thankful for on a piece of paper and keep it. Put it someplace where you can see it and remind yourself of the spiritual power of gratitude. God bless us all this Thanksgiving.
There are some who refuse to celebrate Thanksgiving. I’m familiar with their reasons, namely genocide of Indians, destruction of their cultures, and theft of their land. All that really happened, and far worse than we could ever imagine. It is a shameful period in the history of humankind, and certainly nothing to celebrate. The popular celebration today is basically New England mythology concerning Puritans/Pilgrims seeking freedom. The myth is a long way from the facts, however. In truth, they were Protestant fundamentalists who believed that the deity of the Old Testament had made them the new Chosen People and given them a new Promised Land. They began to kill and pillage, using the Old Testament as their blueprint. It was all laid out for them very nicely, right there in the Bible. Personally, I’m not interested in celebrating that heritage, but we don’t have to surrender the idea of giving thanks, do we?
Every agricultural society, all across the earth, has always had an autumn festival, celebrating bounty, blessings, and giving thanks for a successful harvest. Instead of giving up the celebration of Thanksgiving because of its bloody connection to religious fundamentalism and cultural imperialism, why don’t we redefine it? Why can’t we start over? After all, it is a good idea to give thanks for all our blessings. In addition, it’s not healthy to live in the past, nurturing resentments. Thanksgiving could become a time of healing and forgiveness. This assumes, of course, that we would become willing to tell the truth, and to release religious fundamentalism, militarism, and cultural imperialism in the present. Even if the majority of our fellow citizens aren’t ready to join us on this journey of forgiveness, healing and thanksgiving, it could start here with us, couldn’t it?
You can feel free to keep your turkey, tofu, dressing, cranberry sauce, or whatever your particular traditions might be. The difference would be that we’d spend the day consciously aware of all our blessings, living in gratitude. That would be the central focus, rather than parades, or sports, or gluttony, or irrelevant mythology. We don’t have to be dour or somber. We can use the acknowledgement of past transgressions to serve as the foundation for a new resolve to avoid those mistakes in the present. We need a new mythology, one in which we can all take part; one to which we can all contribute.
Recently, I greeted a grocery store clerk with. “Good morning”. Her head jerked up, and with eyes blazing, she retorted, “What’s so good about it?” Actually, I was a bit taken aback. Normally, I would’ve just nodded slightly, and looked away. That day, I didn’t. I replied, “Well, it’s beautiful outside, you’re not sick or bedridden, you’ve got a job, plenty to eat and drink, and you don’t live in a place like Iraq, where foreigners are bombing the hell out of you”. She simply grunted, and continued scanning my purchases. As I was driving home, I felt very angry toward her and her negative attitude. Usually, I don’t sit with that too long before I begin to realize that it’s not really someone else’s behavior that rankles me. It’s often a reminder of something I’m uncomfortable with inside myself. I realized that I wasn’t so much angry with her as I was embarrassed at my own frequent lack of gratitude. This is something I work on continuously. Our culture encourages us to accumulate things, to always be on the lookout for new possessions. In and of themselves, there’s nothing wrong with material possessions. The disharmony comes about as a result of our culture defining success and happiness according to one’s bank balance, salary, neighborhood, clothes, car, etc. As a friend recently said, “Matter is dead, and cannot bring happiness or fulfillment. Only spirit is alive, therefore only spirit can fill that longing we all have.” Truer words have never been spoken. Let’s try to keep that in mind as we head into the “Holiday Season” with all its exhortations to shop until we drop. In our home, we’ve decided to have one special gift each, and have a quiet, spiritually oriented Christmas.
Believe me, I am well aware that there are many things we need to change and make better. I am quite concerned about the unholy alliance of the federal government, the military, big business, fundamentalist religion and the media. I am saddened that the country of my birth, the land I love, is an international bully. I’m confused about how the Americans go all about the world, bombing and killing, and then seem surprised when someone strikes back at them. Yes, I’m quite aware of all this. There are appropriate times to discuss these issues, and make plans for the future. There are also times when it is appropriate to reflect upon everything that is right and good in our lives. We had the opportunity to do that this Thanksgiving day. I certainly have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. I’ve shared life with the woman of my dreams. She is my partner, my best friend, and the grounding force in my life. Our relationship is entirely independent of the approval of religious fundamentalists or the government (these days, the same thing). We in a beautiful, comfortable home. I’ve got two wonderful children, who have become wonderful responsible adults. We live in northern New Mexico, one of the most beautiful places on the planet. We’re healthy, and aging in a reasonably attractive manner. My life brings me great joy, especially posting here on e-Budo. I am grateful to John Lindsey for providing the opportunity and fellowship, and pray every day for his safety. I am extremely grateful for the people who read my posts. I’m grateful for those who take time to let me know they find something of value in them As for those who complain about my writing, well, I’m still working on finding something about you to be grateful for! ;)
I hope you all spent some quiet time this Thanksgiving, and took some time to reflect upon your blessings. Rather than concentrate on what you don’t have, thank God for all the blessings in your life. I’m going to suggest that you all write down three things you’re thankful for on a piece of paper and keep it. Put it someplace where you can see it and remind yourself of the spiritual power of gratitude. God bless us all this Thanksgiving.