Comments on: Thanksgiving vs. Anti-Thanksgiving: A Political Analysis

By: scott

scott — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:42:07 +0000

I always thought the pilgrims got the idea of Thanksgiving from Sukhot or the Feast of the Tabernacles. It’s not horribly far off meaning wise and they were pretty darn familiar with their old testament.

My family on my moms side has been here since the very early 1600′s. We really don’t have any old family Thanksgiving traditions like we do for Christmas. Still, it wasn’t until really Norman Rockwell came up with that image of a “traditional” Thanksgiving that we started observing what we do today. So what if the specifics change. It’s just a holiday. People make what they want of it. I’ve heard the holiday being used a both a brilliant defense of capitalism as well as socialism. It’s a Roarshach test of sorts.

By: eric

eric — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:36:21 +0000

My favorite part of the book is the blank page that says “Goodnight Nobody.” Really. It makes me smile.

By: eric

eric — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:35:33 +0000

I am quite into history, so I love finding out the real origins of holidays. However, I’m also smart enough to know that the origins of thing won’t always be the reality of things. Christmas started as a pagan holiday co-opted to celebrate the birth of Christ. Now it’s really neither (though still kind of both).

I’ve also got a feeling that this “anarchist” would give me a lecture for not voting for Obama. hehehe.

Incidentally, what *is* the “real” meaning of Thanksgiving? I mean, historically, it was meant to give thanks (way back in the 1500′s). I don’t think it’s really changed all that much. It’s still widely celebrated as just that. Now, the accepted historical origins are a bit on the side of fantasy and that is something that should be taught (in a nonpolitical way). But still …

By: scott

scott — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:45:55 +0000

After all, I took your friends advice. I fucked off and read a book. Very satisfying. I’m reading Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right by Ann Coulter. Odd that an Anarchist would recommend such a thing.

Just kidding, I’d never read Ann Coulter but I really do hate smug people on both sides of the political spectrum. One of my family members is way on the right and decided to give us a lecture on why the left is hiding the “real” meaning of Thanksgiving. Jeez, I hate it when people bring politics into holidays.

Plus it bugs me the whole thing about people calling themselves anarchists when they really aren’t. Way to often they are statists that think if only a benevolent state apparatus was in place we’d all be free. Argh.

By: Ryan Beggar

Ryan Beggar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:28:47 +0000

I’m heading out to the library with the kids. “Seattle Public Library: FUCK YOU, Read a book!”

By: Ryan Beggar

Ryan Beggar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:36:35 +0000

There is that part of goodnight moon with the pilgrims. “Goodnight religious fanatics fleeing your homeland! Goodnight native peoples who are totally fucked!”

I usually skip that part when I read it to the kids.

By: eric

eric — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:28:31 +0000

All well said. This whole thing made no sense at all.

By: eric

eric — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:27:52 +0000

I think we definitely should. “FUCK YOU! MERRY CHRISTMAS!” is a good one too.

I don’t really get it either. Maybe she got confused and thought it was Columbus Day? It’s really hard to figure out.

By: eric

eric — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:26:48 +0000

HA! YES! Me too! So what did I do? I hung out at a really cool downtown place (Ballard) and it was weirdly not busy. Just like a normal Friday. I even bought another XTC album (Beeswax). It was a fun day. Hit Archie McPhees too!