There's nothing wrong with Thanksgiving just being a ritual event for getting together with family and watching the Detroit Lions or Dallas Cowboys and getting out the ads for Black Friday to see what one is going to go buy tomorrow morning because they have to get gifts for Christmas (or gifts for themselves). There's nothing wrong, really, with just looking forward to some Thanksgiving turkey and a holiday weekend away from the office or work (Americans are a hard-working people; the lower and middle classes are largely underpaid). But, well, actually, there is a problem if what you are doing to enjoy yourself is so unconscious that you aren't even aware of how your celebration with family fits in to the world around you.
For example, remember this video? This is from two years ago. Sarah Palin did a press conference in Wasilla, Alaska, when she was pardoning a turkey. All would have been well except Palin stood in front of the very machine that was slaughtering another turkey while doing a press interview on the pardon. Those who tuned in were treated to a woman oblivious to the fact that what was being piped into American living rooms all over the country was in many respects quite gruesome.
Palin's obliviousness could be considered a metaphor. Let's face it America: all too often the majority of us are talking or moonlighting. There's a focus on me, me, me and a tacit ignorance of what is happening in our surroundings. Proverbial turkeys are being slaughtered and those slaughtered turkeys really infuriate some in our country but mostly people all over the world that wonder why many can't see what is happening.
Granted, slaughtering turkeys is no injustice. But, an American political leader who is incapable of properly creating a piece of Thanksgiving propaganda to boost an approval rating: that's unjust.
If Americans could just give off the appearance that they
were a people who were half a bubble off, things would be a lot better. But,
Americans get angry when terror suspects get their day in court and "boo"
proceedings that don't allow evidence obtained by torture to factor into the
verdict. Americans fling poop at Barack Obama for supposedly hurting the free
market economy with an economic stimulus and auto bailouts that appear to have
had little impact on the ability of corporations to make record profits.
Americans cry out against "socialism" and entitlement programs but use
unemployment benefits, Social Security and Medicare (of course, now that
jobless benefits haven't been extended they get to see what it's like to really
pull one's self up by his or her own boot straps). A number of Americans seriously think they have a right to not believe in science, like the idea that climate change is seriously threatening the Earth; some of those cite the Bible as reason why they are certain humanity is not under a threat from global warming.
It's Thanksgiving and I'm sure there are a number of people who are repulsed by the idea that I am so cynical and pessimistic about Americans. Some might even ask why I can't be positive and thankful for what I got like other Americans and relax on this holiday. Positive thinking --- in the face of all the evidence that lies before us as a people, I should just suspend my doubts and eat some turkey and mashed potatoes happily. I know friends and family would like that.
So, allow me to share with you two pieces of art that make me smile this holiday. I've always enjoyed them. First, I was driving home listening to my SIRIUS radio when I came into the middle of "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie. But, this version wasn't the original version. It was a 30th Anniversary version with a special segment of the song touching on Guthrie's invitation to President Jimmy Carter's Inauguration.
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