Thanksgiving

[EmeraldHope]

I wrote a short article on Thanksgiving that I am going to Facebook. Thought I would share.

As an American citizen, I have been giving much thought to the fast approaching Thanksgiving holiday. For the majority of my fellow Americans, this will be a day of feasting and watching football. Overstuffed on turkey, dressing, and an array of gluten and sugar laden delights, they will fall into a stupor and spend their long four day weekend in a state of opiate induced bliss.

If they happen to question what it is that they are indeed thankful for, most responses will fall into the same tired categories of family, job, friends, food, and drink. I ask that my fellow Americans go a little bit deeper. While the prior are indeed worthy of thankfulness, as a citizen of Empire, perhaps what one should be asking is, “Am I thankful that my bounty and standard of living comes at the price of much human suffering”?

This American holiday is loosely based on a feast held by the Pilgrims in 1621. They had fallen on hardships but survived with the help of Sqanto, a Wampanoag Indian. He taught them how to farm,fish the waters, and hunt the lands. There was a three day feast of Thanksgiving which followed a plentiful harvest that year. The Indians and the Pilgrims feasted together. American children are taught this story in elementary school. What they are not taught, however, is to see the irony that we as a culture then committed genocide on the Indians, which we still do to this day. We also failed to hold up any of our agreements or treaties with them in an honest manner. I wonder how the Indians view “Thanksgiving” here in America?

Perhaps what we should really be giving thanks for is that we were on the side of the aggressor and took the land from another people, after being shown kindness by same. We could be just as thankful that we are not Palestinians this season, being targeted by Israel for our land in a similar manner. Perhaps we can also be thankful that we are the aggressors into the other countries that we invade, so that our custom of “Thanksgiving” is not disturbed by war, death, strife, and assimilation by a foreign tyrant. We can also be thankful that we are the recipients of cheap goods gained from mass human rights violations, as we head into our Black Friday shopping frenzy. We can be thankful that we are not part of the world majority that lives on an average of two dollars per day. We must be really “special” to be able to be so thankful.

I cannot help but wonder how thankful the rest of the world will be when the same forces that raped, pillaged, and bombed them, turn their focus on us. One only has to open their eyes just a little to see that this has already happened, and the clock is ticking. Happy Thanksgiving.

edit: Mod corrected font size

 

[Horseofadifferentcolor]

I agree Daenerys. What a horrid nature of things that the American Thanksgiving is. Gluttony filled denial of realness.

I'm thankful for truth this thanksgiving and I am thankful for all who are here on the journey for truth. Big hug to all and happy holidays with out the plastic!

 

[Carl]

There is so much truth in this that the average American does not want to hear, thank you Daenerys. Perhaps it could go on SOTT?

 

[Scottie]

I think it's kind of a shame that more people like us do NOT really celebrate Thanksgiving.

Yeah, the whole holiday is a big joke, but the idea behind it is not - even if the story of the Pilgrims and Sqanto is total BS (which it may very well be).

After all, I am thankful for all of you. I am thankful that I'm not the only person on this planet that sees all the BS and lies and hypocrisy, and that I am not the only one working to speak out against it and to take a stand... for whatever that is worth in the grand scheme of things.

I am also thankful that I do NOT have to sit around any more belching and watching stupid parades and American football games on TV, because at last I have better things to do with my time. But I still really would enjoy sitting down with my extended family here for a tasty meal and good conversation!

So, yeah, our "holidays" are pale, twisted, psychopathic variations of what they should be - that is by design.

Take Christmas, for example. For all the mass materialism and commercialization, there is also the contrasting idea of peace on earth and good will towards each other. This is, of course, the whole idea: psychos know that "normies" love the peace on earth stuff, but they also know that if the holiday becomes corrupted, the cognitive dissonance works wonders to keep the normies in line. And if we just throw the normie ideas about Christmas out the door along with the commercialism and materialism, the psychos win. Well, and the psychos can keep the religious aspect as well, as far as I'm concerned...

Obviously, it would be better if more people would wake up to these facts, but that won't happen without people like us.

Thus, I reckon we should at least try to take back our holidays and make them "normal". Don't just tell people why the holiday is BS and that they shouldn't celebrate, but teach them how and what they SHOULD celebrate.

 

[knowledge_of_self]

Thus, I reckon we should at least try to take back our holidays and make them "normal". Don't just tell people why the holiday is BS and that they shouldn't celebrate, but teach them how and what they SHOULD celebrate.

Fwiw I agree with you Mr. Scott!

That has been my attitude towards most holidays, especially Christmas. I don't celebrate it anymore as "Christ's birth-day" or "corporate X-mas". But I celebrate the winter solstice and I love all the good ideas behind it. I like giving gifts, so I try to give a small thing to my loved ones, and if I can, I try to make it. I think making a gift is much more personal than buying one. So I say we should take back the holidays and make them "normal" too! It's the least we can do in this dark world.

 

[whitecoast]

I think it's kind of a shame that more people like us do NOT really celebrate Thanksgiving.

Yeah, the whole holiday is a big joke, but the idea behind it is not - even if the story of the Pilgrims and Sqanto is total BS (which it may very well be).

After all, I am thankful for all of you. I am thankful that I'm not the only person on this planet that sees all the BS and lies and hypocrisy, and that I am not the only one working to speak out against it and to take a stand... for whatever that is worth in the grand scheme of things.

I am also thankful that I do NOT have to sit around any more belching and watching stupid parades and American football games on TV, because at last I have better things to do with my time. But I still really would enjoy sitting down with my extended family here for a tasty meal and good conversation!

Amen to that! Truly, I love Holidays because they're when I get to see all my family. The consumerism I could really do without.

 

[Andromeda]

So, yeah, our "holidays" are pale, twisted, psychopathic variations of what they should be - that is by design.

Take Christmas, for example. For all the mass materialism and commercialization, there is also the contrasting idea of peace on earth and good will towards each other. This is, of course, the whole idea: psychos know that "normies" love the peace on earth stuff, but they also know that if the holiday becomes corrupted, the cognitive dissonance works wonders to keep the normies in line. And if we just throw the normie ideas about Christmas out the door along with the commercialism and materialism, the psychos win. Well, and the psychos can keep the religious aspect as well, as far as I'm concerned...

Obviously, it would be better if more people would wake up to these facts, but that won't happen without people like us.

Thus, I reckon we should at least try to take back our holidays and make them "normal". Don't just tell people why the holiday is BS and that they shouldn't celebrate, but teach them how and what they SHOULD celebrate.

I agree. Celebrating and commemorating together should and can be great way to show good will, gratitude, and thoughtfulness - and it's is up to us to make it so by basing our celebrations and commemorations on truth, understanding and higher ideals. I suppose the first step would naturally be bringing awareness to the lies and twists that have corrupted them, though, so I don't blame anyone for feeling sick about all the commercialism, false history and mindless following of 'tradition' when that's pretty much all we see these days.

That being said, I am ready for the next step - take back the holidays!

 

[Cyre2067]

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. I'm thankful for this forum, the Work people do here and the fact that Laura made her original findings available on the internet and made all this possible. Trying to make that evident by contributing here on the forum on the daily, working on SOTT and contributing to the on-going thought-war in the name of sanity in reason that's playing out right now on social media.

I'm happy to be here and to have met everyone and just wanted to wish y'all a healthy, happy thanksgiving.

 

[domi]

Happy Thanksgiving wishes to all of you.

 

[3DStudent]

I'm thankful for the forum too, and all of the knowledge and relationships that have come out of it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :)

 

[forest_light]

I'm thankful I'm not a Vegan ​

​

Oatly’s Emotional Support Hotline Helps Vegans Get Through Thanksgiving​

Have you ever wanted to scream into a void about all the annoying things your meat-eating uncle says to you during Thanksgiving? Is a locker room motivational speech the best way you can think of getting hyped up before facing your family during the holidays? You’re in luck because vegan company Oatly is here to help you navigate traditional Thanksgiving like a pro.

This Thanksgiving, The Oatly Emotional Support Hotline for Plant-based Eaters will offer unique resources for vegans looking for support during the challenging holiday. What happens when you call in? Well, you’ve got options.

The hotline can be accessed starting today and until November 24 by calling 1-866-OAT-LINE.

First, you can listen to the main menu in different formats, including in English or Swedish, accompanied by smooth jazz or elevator music, (Niall and Joe, they are ripping off your format!!!) or reading by a fifth grader from Kansas who won a Thanksgiving essay contest.

Pressing one will get you to personal affirmations to help emotionally navigate a traditional meat- and dairy-heavy Thanksgiving dinner. Pressing two will get you to useful stats and talking points to defend your reasons for going vegan from a climate perspective.

Want to scream into a void about your frustrations about explaining your plant-based diet to people? Oatly gives you 30 seconds to do just that by pressing three.

Pressing four will get you to a locker room-style motivational speech inspired by—but not completely plagiarized from—the 1993 sports film Rudy.

Other tools on the hotline include tips about weaving the benefits of plant-based eating into conversation and deflection tactics (such asking if there is smoke coming from the oven) when the conversation gets too daunting.

“We know that every Thanksgiving, millions of plant-based eaters endure a heavily meat and dairy-based holiday meal with family and friends who don’t necessarily understand or accept their dietary choices,” an Oatly spokesperson tells VegNews.

(and vice versa! where is the support Hotline for meat eaters who have to be seated next to VEGANS??!!)

“Oatly of course feels for our likeminded plant-based friends and wants to arm them with all the help they could need to not only get through these holiday meals but even positively influence dinner conversations, so that’s why we’ve decided to introduce The Oatly Emotional Support Hotline for Plant-based Eaters,” the spokesperson says.

Awwww.... so thoughtful.


Full Disclosure: I used to be vegetarian / borderline vegan. My brain and body are still in gradual recovery and it is likely I will be paying for those appalling choices for the rest of my life.

Relatives I have not seen in 17 years nearly collapsed in shock when they saw me hoover down some pork belly at a family gathering recently. Seriously, their mouths were hanging open... forks mid air... just STARING, like they thought they were dreaming, or they had possibly lost their minds. (ummm... also, I might have been pretty much inhaling the food.) I was a little concerned somebody might have a heart attack, particularly given they've all been jabbed up to the eyeballs. Rather uncomfortable feeling when you look up and see people STARING at you, like you just ate a half a gazelle, hooves and all.

I give thanks every day for all I have learned from this forum... and for all of you

 

[piliangie]

Fwiw I agree with you Mr. Scott!

That has been my attitude towards most holidays, especially Christmas. I don't celebrate it anymore as "Christ's birth-day" or "corporate X-mas". But I celebrate the winter solstice and I love all the good ideas behind it. I like giving gifts, so I try to give a small thing to my loved ones, and if I can, I try to make it. I think making a gift is much more personal than buying one. So I say we should take back the holidays and make them "normal" too! It's the least we can do in this dark world.

Exactly

 

[Alix]

I'm thankful I'm not a Vegan ​

​

Oatly’s Emotional Support Hotline Helps Vegans Get Through Thanksgiving​

Have you ever wanted to scream into a void about all the annoying things your meat-eating uncle says to you during Thanksgiving? Is a locker room motivational speech the best way you can think of getting hyped up before facing your family during the holidays? You’re in luck because vegan company Oatly is here to help you navigate traditional Thanksgiving like a pro.

This Thanksgiving, The Oatly Emotional Support Hotline for Plant-based Eaters will offer unique resources for vegans looking for support during the challenging holiday. What happens when you call in? Well, you’ve got options.

The hotline can be accessed starting today and until November 24 by calling 1-866-OAT-LINE.

First, you can listen to the main menu in different formats, including in English or Swedish, accompanied by smooth jazz or elevator music, (Niall and Joe, they are ripping off your format!!!) or reading by a fifth grader from Kansas who won a Thanksgiving essay contest.

Pressing one will get you to personal affirmations to help emotionally navigate a traditional meat- and dairy-heavy Thanksgiving dinner. Pressing two will get you to useful stats and talking points to defend your reasons for going vegan from a climate perspective.

Want to scream into a void about your frustrations about explaining your plant-based diet to people? Oatly gives you 30 seconds to do just that by pressing three.

Pressing four will get you to a locker room-style motivational speech inspired by—but not completely plagiarized from—the 1993 sports film Rudy.

Other tools on the hotline include tips about weaving the benefits of plant-based eating into conversation and deflection tactics (such asking if there is smoke coming from the oven) when the conversation gets too daunting.


(and vice versa! where is the support Hotline for meat eaters who have to be seated next to VEGANS??!!)

“Oatly of course feels for our likeminded plant-based friends and wants to arm them with all the help they could need to not only get through these holiday meals but even positively influence dinner conversations, so that’s why we’ve decided to introduce The Oatly Emotional Support Hotline for Plant-based Eaters,” the spokesperson says.

Awwww.... so thoughtful.


Full Disclosure: I used to be vegetarian / borderline vegan. My brain and body are still in gradual recovery and it is likely I will be paying for those appalling choices for the rest of my life.

Relatives I have not seen in 17 years nearly collapsed in shock when they saw me hoover down some pork belly at a family gathering recently. Seriously, their mouths were hanging open... forks mid air... just STARING, like they thought they were dreaming, or they had possibly lost their minds. (ummm... also, I might have been pretty much inhaling the food.) I was a little concerned somebody might have a heart attack, particularly given they've all been jabbed up to the eyeballs. Rather uncomfortable feeling when you look up and see people STARING at you, like you just ate a half a gazelle, hooves and all.

I give thanks every day for all I have learned from this forum... and for all of you

@forest_light , you made me laugh so hard reading this! There are two members of my family who are vegan, so I can relate; if I saw them fighting with their forks as to who is getting the last piece of pork pie, I would fall over! We don't celebrate 'traditional' Thanksgiving or Christmas here (the rest of the family live on the other side of the Continental Divide) and I think it would be grand for those of us here on the Forum to take back the holidays and celebrate them in the knowledge that we have each other and the opportunity to gain truth and knowledge each new day.

I echo you, @forest_light , I am so very grateful for everyone of you here.

 

[forest_light]

you made me laugh so hard reading this! There are two members of my family who are vegan, so I can relate; if I saw them fighting with their forks as to who is getting the last piece of pork pie, I would fall over!

Glad I could provide you with a laugh! We can all do with more of that.

I realised that my post might possibly offend some on the forum who are veggo/vegan, but in all truth, I was simply 'poking fun' at my past veggo self (hence my 'disclosure') and I thought some recovering veg heads out there might see themselves and have a giggle on some level.
"Blessed are we that can laugh at ourselves, for we shalll never cease to be amused"

Not being from the US, I don't celebrate the date of Thanksgiving as such, but do feel that every day is a day to give thanks and consciously acknowledge the abundance of all we receive, and the myriad of ways we are supported to grow as souls.
After stumbling in the dark, the 'lighthouse' that is this forum has truly been a saving grace for me... and clearly many others here.

If I could repay that on some level financially to accurately reflect what I have received, the Fellowship would be 'rolling in it'.
Because seriously, what price can you put on your life, your health and your consciousness?

Time to go cook some bacon.