When searching for Thanksgiving holiday themed images I came upon the image above. Although I instantly knew it was not appropriate, even offensive, I found it fascinating as it no more connects to Thanksgiving, than Santa to Christmas. Santa Clause is a fantasy and about as real as the notion that there were feasts and celebrations between Pilgrim's and the Indians. Thanksgiving is bitter sweet for many native Americans, and so it should be. I find it incredible that the myth of a sweet transition of land, not the bloody massacre it truly is still maintained by some and that some company's (below) still try to profit off this myth.
America has managed to bastardize all of it's holidays but none more so than Thanksgiving. At it's heart, the holiday is about being thankful. Thankful that no matter what your economical status, there are still little things, family, friends and blessings we can be grateful for.
With each year that passes, the holiday has become less about thanking, and more about buying and getting. Even though there are no actual gift giving rituals associated with the day, Thanksgiving and black Friday have taken on a grotesque commercialism in direct contrast to what the day was indented for. This year it seems more and more stores are not waiting until Midnight to open, but inching closer and closer into the day. Stores are literally begging us to shove down our turkey, get in the car and head to the malls. Those malls, like the early battles between Pilgrim and Indian are a crazed frenzy of people grabbing any and everything and declaring it to be 'MINE!'.
I would like to tell everyone to stay at home and ignore the pressures of the non stop television ads to buy but I know a great deal on a great product can be just too much for some to pass up. I am thankful the stores where I live will not open on Thanksgiving, not even at midnight, they will open the next day, at 9a.m on Friday morning. I would like to think even if they open early I would resist going, and I am thankful I don't have the pressure to decide.