Thanksgiving in 2015 America, Essay Example

Introduction

Thanksgiving has been celebrated by Americans for hundreds of years, and it is a holiday of togetherness as a nation, family, and community. Thanksgiving is a part of the American culture and traditions, and is related to overcoming difficulties, on an individual and community level. Therefore, Thanksgiving has a personal and national meaning, as well. The first “Thanksgiving”, according to Ground  (2011) was held by the Pilgrims in 1921, after a feast organized following a long drought and famine. In 1975, President George Washington declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. Therefore, for many Americans, Thanksgiving is a representation of faith and belief. Not particularly a religious holiday, more like a national one, it has slowly transformed into celebrations of love, togetherness, family, friendship, and community. On that level, some Americans have more to celebrate than others. Marking the beginning of the “holiday season”. Thanksgiving is also known as a day when people would start spending their money saved up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Some authors claim that Thanksgiving today is a commercialized holiday (Grondelski, 2014), and as such, – according to several authors –  has lost connection with its original meaning and values. As the author (Grondelski, 2014) states, Thanksgiving is competing with Christmas, as a candidate holiday. Just like Christmas, it is losing its philosophical significance, and meaning, and is more about traditions, rituals, and spending money than family and community values. The question the author of the current essay is looking to answer is whether or not Thanksgiving is still a holiday for people to come together and be grateful for good things that happened to them in the past year, and whether or not – as a nation -, Americans have a reason to be thankful.

The Idea of Being Thankful

There is certainly a religious aspect of Thanksgiving, due to the history of the holiday. According to many authors, that is the reason why many Americans have lost connection with the idea of giving thanks. According to statistics, over 70 percent of Americans consider themselves Christian (Pew Forum), however, the proportion of people who attend church regularly is declining. Just like religion, Thanksgiving is also losing its ties with the society. According to Cold-Case Christianity (2013), Thanksgiving is a distinctively Christian holiday. Would that mean that it cannot be celebrated by people who have a different faith? Should one religion simply make one holiday their own, or should they democratize the meaning of it, in order to engage in building communities, instead of building walls and excluding people? In my opinion, Thanksgiving is what its name states: a celebration of things that one is grateful for. It should not be restricted to groups of people, and it should also be a holiday that helps all people focus on positive things. In the midst of a commercialized world, the buzz and stress of the world, every person needs to reconnect with their lives, loved ones, and communities. Indeed, Buddhists, Jewish people, and even Muslims have religious texts that refer to being thankful for the gifts of life. Even a yoga teacher would tell their students to be thankful for the air they breathe in, their body that helps them, and the health they enjoy. Should Thanksgiving be simply about saying thanks to whatever superior being we believe in, and being grateful for our lives? On an individual level, I believe that every person has something they are grateful for. Even that person who lives alone on the streets, with no family to look after them, there is something to be grateful for: their life, and the dollar bill they just received from a stranger. Therefore, when looking at the general meaning of Thanksgiving, instead of treating it as a religious holiday, we can all reconnect with not only the American history, but also our communities and family.

What Americans Can Be Grateful for

According to Somosot (2014), Americans take Thanksgiving more personally than the original tradition would suggest. In 2014, the list of things people showed gratitude for during Thanksgiving were life, people, family, everything, friends, and their partner. While this shows that people of America are embracing the holiday on a personal level, it also means that they might not think about gratitude deep enough. The list provided by the author is too general and not deep enough. Being grateful for friends is great, but if we do not think beyond their existence, it is just a meaningless phrase thrown in during Thanksgiving dinner. Hopefully, many families today expand on their gratitude, and speak about the things that helped them survive crisis, just like the Pilgrims, overcome difficulties, poverty, unemployment, grief.

Boaz (2011) states that the rule of law is something every American should be grateful for. The subordination of power to the legal system is the solid foundation of American society and democracy, and it is one of the greatest achievement of the Founding Fathers. While several movements had to occur until complete equality in the legal system was achieved, it is important that Americans say thanks to the forefathers on not giving up this dream. In particular, the Declaration of Independence and self-government of the country is an achievement that formed the society and political system of today’s America. The freedom of speech and freedom of religion are also important achievements that Americans should be grateful for. Without these achievements, people would still be living in fear, just like in some parts of the world, where Christians are still prosecuted, and journalists mysteriously disappear after revealing political conspiracies.

Minorities should – on the other hand – be grateful for having a non-White president, only a few hundred years after the abolition of slave trade. Considering how far America got since Colonial times, it is clear that there are many things to be grateful for and proud of. As a nation, everyone can be thankful, as the democratic achievements greatly depended on the free-spirited people of America.

Americans indeed have several things to be grateful for. The first thing they should say thanks for on Thanksgiving 2015 is that they live in a democratic country. Looking at some countries’ devastating wars, such as the Syrian one, they should be happy that their homeland is not a place of military action, and they do not have to face death every tome they go out on the street. They should be grateful for the relative peace that their country enjoys. The decisions of politicians that led to the country’s strong position in the international community, its military power that deters war, and the alliances that were forged to create safety for millions of Americans.

Democracy

Americans should also be grateful for their self-earned democracy. Unlike other countries in the world, there is a freedom of speech, and the American government is focusing on creating equal rights for all citizens. Instead of being told what to think and how to behave, Americans enjoy a great level of freedom, free from convictions and prejudice. Democracy is one of the greatest achievements of humanity, and – while some authors believe that it has just as many negative aspects as positive – it allows people to make plans for their future, learn, get a job, and be free from prejudice and social restrictions. While there is no such thing as complete democracy, Americans enjoy freedom on a level that is not common in each country.

Free Education

Americans should also say gratitude for free education that is constantly improving. This is not present in every country, and it is also inaccessible for some groups and social classes in some countries. Girls, in particular, should be grateful for being able to learn in school, instead of being restricted to stay at home and getting married early to become a homemaker. Education empowers people, and helps them achieve their goals through self-development. Funded by the government, schools focus on helping children realize their true potential and pursue their dreams. This, itself, is something that all Americans should be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We have all met one exceptional teacher who realized that we had a particular interest in a topic or talent for one subject. Without their inspiration and encouragement, many children would not have made it all the way to college, and landed in a high paid job. The lack of social class restrictions and the fact that education is provided for each American citizen make it possible to become more educated, and better paid than our parents. Free education is certainly something that every American can be grateful for.

 Equal Opportunities

America is a country where the principles of equality in the legal system and within education, employment are taken extremely seriously. While no policies are perfect, and systems fail, the fact that there are rules and legislation in place to provide equal treatment for all American citizens means that the country does everything possible to provide equal opportunities for people from all backgrounds. Today, thanks to the democratic movements of the 20^th Century, in the legal system minorities and women have the same right as white males. While some argue that there is still a wage gap, we are on the right track, therefore, as Americans, we should all be thankful for.

Tolerance

 One of the main characteristics of the American nation is that it is a blend of ethnicities, and indeed – apart from Native Americans – all citizens are considered to be non-native. The ethnic diversity of the nation provides the country with great advantages. By welcoming people from all over the world, the country managed to embrace a culture of tolerance and community-building, and Americans should be thankful for this achievement, as well. The fact that European immigrants’ number one destination was America suggests that it is a country where diversity is accepted, and people can achieve their full potential, provided they are willing to work hard. This is an achievement that Americans should not forget to say thanks for on Thanksgiving Day, 2015.

You Can Still Celebrate Thanksgiving on an Individual or Community Level

Gratitude is a positive feeling. It helps people focus on the good things, instead of the imperfections of their lives. Roberts (2014) states that gratitude is a personality trait. That stated, it leads to more positive relations with the environment, country, and the self. Gratitude is also considered to be a virtue, therefore, being able to say thanks is a behavior that should be encouraged. Thanksgiving encouraging this positive behavior pattern on a personal level, therefore, it is a celebration that should be kept alive, and its values, roots, and philosophical foundations should be communicated by the media and government officials.

Gratitude on the individual level also helps people realize the positive conditions provided by the environment that allowed them to achieve something. Going back to the first Thanksgiving, it is clear that the rain was not the only thing that made it possible for the Pilgrims to hold a feast. They also had to have a community spirit, and they had to organize their groups to successfully complete the harvest, share the crops, and plan the celebrations. There had to be a leader who came up with the idea of the celebration, in order to improve group cohesion, and revive the community spirit after the misfortunes all people suffered in the preceding year.

On a community level, there are plenty of things Americans can celebrate, such as the building of a new community center in the neighborhood, a new pastor who supports the less fortunate, or a teacher who takes time to sit down with under-achieving students to help them learn. Likewise, communities can also celebrate the achievements of democracy, such as their influence on the local government for building a supermarket nearby, or not allowing a company build a polluting plant nearby. When one looks at their life, and their community, they can certainly list dozens of things they never thought about being grateful for.

One of the main issues with American society is that people tend to take many things for granted, without considering the sacrifices that led to achieving them. Larkin (2012) highlighted this issue in a recent article, stating that“there are countries where people are not likely to have access to the things we take for granted every day: toothpaste and toothbrushes, makeup, curling irons, soap, not to mention food and clothing”. As the author lists the statistics: Americans simply throw away 140 million cell phones a year. Cell phones that people in other countries would treasure. The author states that Thanksgiving should not be the only day when we are showing gratitude, just like Christmas should not be the only time when we show love and give people gifts. She asks us all, as a part of the nation, a community, as well as individuals to establish a daily practice of gratitude. Being a great approach, it is easier said than done. Americans today are too busy with working, making a living, and looking after their family that they hardly have any time to take a step back and reflect on what they have. Even those who are living in poverty in America can say that they have more than a slum-dweller in India. And they certainly get more help from social services, government organizations, and charities than those people left to fend for themselves.

On an individual level, we all need to dig deep to discover what we should be grateful for. Students should certainly be grateful for the opportunity that is denied from millions of kids worldwide.  Those who have a job should be grateful for the opportunity they were given by the employer. Those who have friends that support them should not only say that they show gratitude for them, but also state the reasons. We value things, but individual actions and events define our world more than abstract phrases. Friends who help out when we are in crisis are worth a million dollars. Kids who make us proud are also things to be grateful for. Not simply because they exist, but because of their ambition.

Every person who can celebrate Thanksgiving surrounded by their family should show gratitude for being close to their loved ones. It might be useful for many Americans to reflect on the Syrian refugee crisis, considering how it would feel like being separated from family members in camps around Europe. Those with a home should be grateful for the shelter; something that many Americans again take for granted.

Reflection on Personal and National Gratitude

An interesting review of the feeling “gratitude” has been created by Roberts (2014), which highlights some important aspects of thanksgiving. According to the author, thanksgiving is an active expression of gratitude. This means that it is an action on an emotional level, based on reflecting on one’s life. As such, Thanksgiving should give Americans a chance to take a step back and see their lives’ gifts as they are. Also, gratitude and thanksgiving can often be described by other phrases, such as appreciation of people, or valuing achievements. However, the main argument of the author is that thanksgiving is a state of mind and an attitude. And attitudes can be strengthened by practice, which means that the more seriously Americans take thanksgiving the more benefits they can get from the celebration of Thanksgiving.

Conclusion

The above review of American traditions related to Thanksgiving, as well as the historical achievement of the nation has revealed that people of the country have plenty of things to be grateful for. Saying thanks for the democracy, tolerance, and freedom should be the first thing every American does this Thanksgiving. One does not necessarily need to know every detail of the American history to appreciate the great democratic achievements. One doesn’t even need to be religious and pray during Thanksgiving dinner. Indeed, as Roberts (2014) confirms, expressing gratitude has a positive impact on one’s state of mind. The holiday of Thanksgiving 2015 should not be about endless shopping in the closest mall, but the appreciation of the gifts provided on a community, national, and personal level. It should be based on people’s willingness to take a step back from their lives, reflect upon their achievements, and show their appreciation for the security, opportunity and order provided by their government, the support of their community, and the love of their family members. Americans certainly need to stop taking things for granted and appreciate them. Reflecting on lives of less fortunate people, living in poverty-struck or war-hit countries would be a good start of Thanksgiving 2015.

References

Boaz, D. (2011) Things to be thankful for. Cato. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/blog/things-be-thankful-0

Cold-Case Christianity (2013) Enjoy this distinctly Christian holiday we call Thanksgiving. Retrieved from http://coldcasechristianity.com/2013/enjoy-this-distinctly-christian-holiday-we-call-thanksgiving/

Grondelski, J. (2014) The Commercialization of Thanksgiving—and so much else. Crisis Magazine.

Ground, P. (2011) The “First Thanksgiving”…or was it? Retrieved from http://www.nynpa.com/docs/nie/ReThinkThanksgiving.pdf

Larkin, M. (2012) do we take for granted the American lifestyle? If so, here are 10 things to help us mend our ways. Blog. Retrieved from http://www.mollylarkin.com/do-we-take-for-granted-the-american-lifestyle-if-so-here-are-10-things-to-help-us-mend-our-ways/

Roberts, R. C. (2014). The normative and the empirical in the study of gratitude. meeting of The University of Birmingham’s Jubilee Centre for Character and Values, Oxford.

Somosot, J. (2014) Thanksgiving 2014: Top 10 things Americans are most thankful for. International Business Times.