holidays mean different things to different people. i think thanksgiving, for most people, has transcended beyond anything related to the first european settlers and their “interactions” with the native people of this country. thanksgiving, just like christmas, for a lot of people is more about family and their family’s traditions than the holiday itself, and i for one, dont think their is anything wrong with that. we dont need thanksgiving to recognize the atrocities associated with the colonizing of this continent, just like christians shouldnt need christmas to remind them to be good christians. i for one am not a christian yet christmas is a very important holiday for my family. i certainly dont need people telling me to remember what the “true” meaning of christmas is. maybe its my american bred cynicism, but why cant a holiday just be a holiday?
not that it matters, but i happen to be very sensitive to the genocide(s), yes plural, that took place during the time of colonization. i happen to own a t-shirt that expresses my views on the matter quite succintly. It goes a little something like “F! Columbus and the ship he sailed in on!” Unfortunately, it doesnt get much wear since my son was born ;D Oh the days of provocative liberal tshirts! >LOL< Ill have to make it a point to wear my more “appropriate” shirt reflecting my views on the subject at the next meeting! I spent my hard earn money so that someone could cash in on the tragedies and my associated white guilt so i might as well get my money’s worth!
My point was that the original poster was simply expressing his feelings of thankfulness and I don’t think he was expecting his thread to be bombarded with talk of how we americans slaughtered the native indians. I don’t think any of us are celebrating this fact and I am betting we are all aware of the history. Why couldn’t we just wish each other a happy holiday and be thankful??? If you have a reef tank in your home then you are way better off financially many people. If you wanted to go into the negative aspects of things start another thread and change the title. JMHO. End of discussion for me.
i hope that wasnt directed at me Saint:) if so, i really, really have to work on making my points more clear! >LOL<I agree with you Ellen. Thats what i meant be letting a holiday be a holiday. Its not about the history of the holiday for most of us, and we dont need a history lesson every thanksgiving. However, i really dont think Tim met anything bad by it and my post certainly wasnt meant to pile on.
[quote=“logans_daddy, post:23, topic:2421”]
i hope that wasnt directed at me Saint:) if so, i really, really have to work on making my points more clear! >LOL<I agree with you Ellen. Thats what i meant be letting a holiday be a holiday. Its not about the history of the holiday for most of us, and we dont need a history lesson every thanksgiving. However, i really dont think Tim met anything bad by it and my post certainly wasnt meant to pile on.[/quote]
Nope wasn’t directed at you. I agree with your post and that was kind of what I was saying. I am sorry that I just didn’t let it go and decided to post. I guess it just kind of got to me and I couldn’t help my self. Why did someone have to bring up the history and then make a joke of it?
Anyway I realize it was just a joke and I am sorry that I didn’t let it pass.
[quote=“Ento_Reefer, post:22, topic:2421”]
Why couldn’t we just wish each other a happy holiday and be thankful???[/quote]
There’s a very simple reason, Ellen. I don’t understand the reason for it, but in my observations this hobby seems to draw the most opinionated (and not bashful about it one bit) set of people there seem to be.
[quote=“Ento_Reefer, post:22, topic:2421”]
Why couldn’t we just wish each other a happy holiday and be thankful???[/quote]
There’s a very simple reason, Ellen. I don’t understand the reason for it, but in my observations this hobby seems to draw the most opinionated (and not bashful about it one bit) set of people there seem to be.
Ok guys, let’s not turn this into a bashfest like it usually does. I think we all mean well on here, even if we all end up spouting tasteless jokes from time to time.
I had a great thanksgiving and am all Turkey’ed up! Enjoy the black Friday shopping, I sure as heck ain’t going out! GL to those that are.