Thanksgiving

The usual suspects will point out various problems with Thanksgiving, including its roots regarding Native Americans. It's fine to talk about such things, each holiday having some issues.

A basic moron concept, down to having cutesy names for the two turkeys involved and putting them up in a nice hotel (if one actually cared about their well being, figure a more open-air species specific locale would make more sense), is the whole pardon a turkey bit. This actually is rather new (Bush Sr.) and deserves to be gone.  "Pardoning" one bird among the mass we raise inhumanely to eat (they aren't even that tasty; back when I ate bird, felt chickens were tastier)  especially when TRUMP of all people involved is asinine (if not just play disgusting).  I figure the tradition is not really so beloved that doing away with it would be that much of a big deal.

[A footnote here regarding "feel good" moments is the passage of a (as I have seen it phrased) federal animal cruelty law, which is really quite limited and tied to "animal crush" videos, a sort of niche animal harming pornography.  There was a long effort here against this sort of thing as seen by the broader law struck down in U.S. v. Stevens, regarding animal cruelty videos.  The law makes exceptions for a range of common use of animals such as raising them for food and hunting. I guess the law is fine as far as it goes though do not know really how much more it actually will do.]

The concept of thanksgiving is wider than the events sometimes honored (on Brady Bunch reruns or whatnot) in our specific holiday. [I say "sometimes," since talk of the Pilgrims etc. often is not raised at all.] For instance, there is some evidence that there was a day of thanksgiving years earlier in St. Augustine, Florida. Fall/harvest feast days have ancient origins. There was also various days of fasting and prayer over the years in the United States. The basic concept is really benign though like other days, such as honoring parents, one might argue a single day is not enough and the result is some overdone affair.  OTOH, some excuse for feasts, games (football or otherwise), Friends holiday episodes etc. is also basically a human thing. If not for this, for whatever suits your fancy.  The basic concept of thanks can also be low key.

[This includes the size and content of the meal. As a vegetarian -- ideally a vegan -- some of the the traditional foods does not appeal to me. I do not think it is necessarily wasteful -- especially if the food used is saved and had as leftovers by various people who enjoy it -- to have a large meal. But, whatever suits. The basic idea of family coming together and so forth is a honorable holiday.   And, for those who take time to donate their time at a soup kitchen or such, that would also be a very good way to honor things.  Native Americans likely to have their own days, as noted, the basic concept is rather universal. ]

Thanksgiving also has been used over the years in sectarian ways, the "thanks" often to specific gods. As a matter of private faith, this is fine; people should honor holidays to their fancy. It is more problematic when official acts are performed.  Over the years, various justices cited both sides of this question. Justice Blackmun's separate opinion [he announced the opinion but the majority broke up in many parts] in one holiday display case cited an antebellum governor appealing to "our citizens of all denominations to assemble at their respective places of worship, to offer up their devotions to God their Creator, and his Son Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world."  Justice Souter for the Court later noted how Jefferson deemed official presidential thanksgiving proclamations as a violation of the First Amendment.*

Other justices cite official and personal statements (an official statement and one made in a speech is not the same thing), including in opinions that received court approval, to support other endorsements.  There was some controversy here, including back to the days of John Adams (at one point, he said a controversial day of prayer related proclamations cost him re-election; at the very least, the sectarian nature was not seen as simply benign), and we should not just handwave the general natter. I have covered this in the past when talking about national days of prayer and so forth.  When dealing with holidays with a religious component, we should be careful to honor a religion for everyone.  Or, any other special needs such as those depressed or whatever.

Thanksgiving, therefore, has many components that can be drawn out and examined. There is history, various traditional practices, religious and moral aspects, of course a lot of food and some football etc.  And, some amusing television episodes. OTOH, we have had Christmas movies on multiple channels already.  I have even saw Christmas lights.  Have a nice holiday.

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* I will talk more about holiday display cases separately later, but will note that the rules might be in flux, longstanding holiday displays perhaps even more protected now.  It again should be remembered that there is a difference between what is some "floor" held as law, at times wrongly, by the relevant court and good policy. [Yeah. Lot of material for this project.]