Thursday IS Thanksgiving Day
Nov 19th, 2006 by Don Ray
Today I received this nice card via email that used a photo from my friend Jerry’s Cerro Punta website. I think it came out pretty nice, but more than that, I appreciate the reader that sent it taking the time to remind me of this special day.
It is sometimes easy for me to forget this US holiday and I think it is important to reflect on the many things that we have to be thankful for. This post will give you a few days before Thursday to count the items on your list. My list grows longer each year with every day that I get out of bed.
Here is hoping that you and yours have your best blessings yet to come.
>I’m kind of looking forward to forgetting American Holidays tell you the truth, when I move to Central America, I tell people hey look: I don’t need, one single day out of the year to remind me to be THANKFUL, when I’m thankful each EVERY single day of the YEAR. I think Thanksgiving is hilarious when the TV news people every year do news clips from the Salvation Army and other Soup kitchens showing there respect for the poor. What that are actually showing are poor “FAT” people who are grotesquely overweight “Sponging” a FREE meal when they ought to be on a Diet! Sorry if the truth makes people mad. I have seen REAL poor people in Central America and I’m sick of the American cry babies complaining about how bad they have it!
You will see some overweight folks her, but not as many as in the US.A lot folks here would like to see a salvation soup kitchen.
Snake Eyes, for the most part, I agree with what you are saying. But I don’t view Thanksgiving as a uniquely U.S. holiday. People can and should be thankful every moment and share their resources with those less fortunate. If for no other reason than the fact that karma can be an unforgiving b¡tch.
Don Ray, rather than seeing soup kitchens there, I’d much rather see an end to the exploitation of folks in third world countries so that they would not need the charity of others. I’d like to see them eat better than the garbage disposals do in some places.
Guess I am caught in the horns of a dilemma here. Thanksgiving is probably the only US holiday I enjoy. It is a holiday of family reunion with no religious overtones. It is a time to reflect on good things and surviving yet another year.
I also agree with Lynda that it would be nice to see the end to exploitation by the US, but it will never happen. The US is an imperialist nation in it’s adolescence with too much power; the impact of that is visible around the world.
As to acts of charity, whether as bribes from one nation to another or one person to another they never seem to work long term. Better to provide opportunity, fair wages and methods for people to feed themselves. I think I read that in a very old book with religious overtones.
I was not advocating soup kitchens. There are just a lot of hungry people here and it has nothing to do with them being exploited. It has to do with their accidental birth being to poor people in Panama.
I want NOTHING from any Government…but to be left ALONE! I have done just fine on my own without the Governments micro managing of my personal life, from how I raise my children to what I choose to put in my body. Government screws up more stuff than it pretends to fix. I disagree with “Lee” what we are seeing in the USA are the first stages of the Fall of the Modern Roman Empire! This country has got all its priorities screwed up and thats why I getting out. I agree definitely on providing “opportunities” and NOT hand outs! If hand outs are absolutely necessary then they must have “strings” attached and measured for success!
Well since I have never had anything to say I’ll add give my Thoughts on Thanksgiving.
It is interesting how much we relate Thanksgiving with food and eating. Have you ever thought what a bonanza holiday this is for producers and grocers?
But why the emphasis on eating? Have you ever considered that this eating event acts as a modern offering up or sacrifice ceremony? Interesting idea are we still offering up to the Gods our gratitude? Just like our primitive ancestors did? Food often has served as an offering and still does in India and other places.
So if the food aspect is stripped away we could simply express gratitude for the simple fact of the earth or food or getting up each morning as Don Ray says. Or having friends and loved ones to share the day with. Or being able to share our bounty with others at a soup kitchen
I want to remind Snake Eyes that hunger does exist in our society as well. Our U.S. government just changed the designation to a more politically correct term. We are so civilized that we hide it better. .
I hope all of you have grand day of thanks and gratitude for something.
Don Ray….it looks like this has been taken over by the far left . Are these folks representative of the North Americans residing in your area? If so when I move I will certainly be spending more time with the Panamanians. As the song goes “Im proud to be an American” I can’t stomach anyone denigrating my country. I was proud to serve in the Navy for 4 yrs and still get choked up when I see our flag and sing the Star Spangled Banner. America is still the only continuous force for good in the world. And those immigrants you mentioned (not you Don) 99.9% are trying to get INTO the United States. I am thankful that I was born and raised in America where I and most of you were afforded all the freedoms we enjoy and the opportunity to be what ever you desire. Including Socialist malcontents and folks who want to leave because of the way our kids dress in the mall. Wow.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.
Norma - FOL
Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment. I think that most people can find something to feel thankful for. If I were in the US, I am sure I would be with family and it would be a time of family fellowship. Not being there I will celebrate mentally the past Thanksgivings that I have shared with them.
Rick,
As you, I have always been proud to be an American. I see problems through out the world and most problems have many underlying issues to blame. While many countries like to bash the US for this or that, I have never seen any country that didn’t want to get to the front of the line for US assistance.
The world has become a much more complex world than it was in the past. News is immediate and it is easy for the media to sway opinions by what it is willing to broadcast.
The friends I have in the US are all good people and would give you the shirt off their back. The friends I have made in Panama are the same. Many of these people are the reason that I feel thankful each day.
Actually “Rick” I appreciate your take and thank you for your service…if you really knew me you would probably call me a “Ultra Conservative” actually I’m disenfranchised republican turned Libertarian (less Gov.). But where we part is here: I choose not to blindly follow a country that has sold my liberties out to illegal immigrants and those on welfare, and punish me (a 4′th gen. citizen) just because I have tried to follow the rules in this country while watching other get a FREE ride at my tax player and litigation expense! I can’t be a proud American when there is a target on my back (as a white male)for every single minority group to take pot shots and reverse discrimination with my Beloved Country’s full participation! If my Beloved Country has its heart set on being a “Dumping Ground” for the entire worlds poor and expect me to pick up the Tab (Taxes)then I will take my taxpayer $ to a country like Panama who REALLY needs it! Something else about America, America is turning more Communist every day…now hear me out here: What effect does a LAW have? It takes away somebodies, freedom. Well in America they pass thousands of New Laws every year (city, county, state, federal) . When was the last time they repealed a Law? Answer : once in a blue moon! Oh… but like allot of American its OK because its the other guys freedom thats being “STOLEN” (NO its not!). Face it America is Going Communist, while other parts of the world are going the other way! Again I don’t have a blind loyalty, but thank all veterans for there service, most of them would be turning in there graves knowing what direction this country has gone!
Hi Don,
I just want to say that I’m very thankful for the opportunities that I have had, I’m thankful that I have never been hungry for long periods of time. That I could afford Insurance and medical treatments to keep my family alive and mostly healthy, that I have always had shoes and clothes, and that I have always had a place to live. I’m thankful for people who care about me. Realizing it could all be taken in the blink of an eye and that there are many people throughout the world who may never have these things. Also I’m thankful for an atonement made on my behalf a long time ago so that this life could have a purpose.
Hi Allan,
Thanks for chipping in. I think many of us, that have lived in th US, don’t realize how good we have had it. My name could just as easily have been Juan Escobedo and I might have been born in Cuba and only know the outside world from the eyes of one living under Castro’s rule.
>I’m Thankful I can get out of the US with a nickel still in my pocket! OK Enough, I’m through.
Snake eyes… sorry I was only seeing the negative on a quick read of one of your statements. I just lumpped you in with the leftist BLAME AMERICA FIRST crowd. I do see that you and I have much in common. I have not as yet given up on Conservative values.
No problemo…again Thank You for your Service… for what Little Freedom we have left!
Greetings from Finland, near Russian border!
It was interesting to read these comments!
Thanks for stopping in again. Wish I could offer you a drumstick from the turkey.