There seem to be a lot of "Hating on Thanksgiving" threads this year.

[pscot]

I don't remember anything like this in past years, and I've been around here for a while. Is this a new phenom, or has it been out there all along and I just missed it? I know the holiday is about eating a lot, but look at what the meal consists of. The turkey is the closest thing to a schmoo (look it up) that nature ever created. Mashed potatos? Stuffing made of stale bread? Pumpkin pie? I mean, c'mon. It's not like we're gorging on endangered species here. Critics seem to conflate the holiday with the Native American genocide, mainly becaue it's gotten all mixed up with the Pilgrims. But I think what Lincoln had in mind was hey, the nation has a million men under arms, living in tents. Be greatful you have a hot meal and a roof over your head, and a family to share with. You want to do something nice for a native American, go to a casino this weekend and drop 500 bucks. Better yet, give back Connecticut. Happy thanksgiving.

[sandnsea]

1. hating on holidays, generally

Pretty common around here. This is nothing compared to what hating on Christmas looks like. Get your hide thread button ready.

[pscot]

2. I understand the war on Xmas

It's marketed intrusively. Combine that with the battle over church and state separation and the cloying political correctness that pisses everyone off. Toss in the eagerness with which religious and political leaders use Xmas as a wedge issue, and it's a wonder we aren't killing one another over our differences.

[sandnsea]

9. It's all the same

Thanksgiving is traditionally a religious occasion, why has it been made a state holiday? Shoving people to gorge themselves which carries over to other holidays and a sense that gluttony is evidence of American success, which creates an unhealthy population for the health industry. Piles of food that used an enormous amount of energy to produce, thrown out, like the cans and cans of cranberry muck that nobody eats. There's as many reasons to hate on Thanksgiving as there is to hate on Christmas. If that's what somebody wants to do.

[H2O Man]

3. Agricultural societies

north of the equator have had harvest festivals for a long, long time. It's a good thing.

[xchrom]

4. hating on stuff is a national du past time.

but it does get bad around this time of year.

everybody gets their grumpy on.

[alarimer]

5. Well it is basically celebrating conquest and genocide when you think about it

Not to mention having to spend the day with relatives you might not like.

Not to mention the consumerism culture. "Spend, spend, spend".

[BobRossi]

6. Screw the haters.

I love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday, a time to enjoy family without any strings attached, reflect on our good fortune, and watch the Lions lose again!

[pscot]

7. Be glad they got it out of the way early this week

this sunday you can relax and root for da bears.

[emilyg]

15. And I love Christmas.

And I shop at Wal-Mart. Now I'm going to hide.

[backscatter712]

8. It's the crass overcommercialization that gets me.

We're seeing Christmas shopping commercials starting before Halloween now. Now we're getting extreme hype for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with nonstop messages of "BUY! BUY! BUY!!!!" screaming from our TVs, computers, radios and newspapers.

It seems like the original intent of the holidays - celebrating the harvest, or more recently being thankful for what we have, etc. along with coming up with fun things to do in a dreary, dark winter; has been lost.

The original holidays have been buried under crass commercialism, painted over in a Disneyland-style artificial landscape of fake celebration.

[Perry Logan]

10. Any holiday that asks people--or tells people--to be grateful is asking for trouble.

[Mutineer]

11. Hate is normal at DU

It's what we do best. There's always someone around here willing to hate on something or other.

[shireen]

13. speak for yourself

to say that hate is what we do "best" is ridiculous. Most of the people at DU are the total opposite. We talk about making this country a better place because we care about our fellow citizens and residents. We let off steam from the frustration of watching injustice after injustice go unchecked. We have a right to rant. Occasionally, some people wish others ill but they are generally a minority.

As one of those "we" that you reference, I resent your unkind words about DU.

[Bluebear]

14. A pretty nervy comment from a relative noob. nt

[DS1]

16. still a valid point

It's amusing to see people get in all sorts of Puritan huffs in threads about Puritans.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. The opposite of hate (and love) is indifference.

Which is how we observe Thanksgiving and other holidays.

[Akoto]

17. I'm probably one of the worst Dems in that regard, I guess.

I like Thanksgiving.

I probably like Christmas more, and I'm not Christian!

I like buying and cooking food for my family on said holidays.

I enjoy gift shopping. Sometimes, I even buy them at Wal Mart. Helps me to afford gifts I know my loved ones will enjoy. I must be a corporate-loving, materialistic monster as well, because receiving presents is also pretty sweet.

I have great fun decorating, both the house and the tree.

October thru December is pretty much my favorite stretch of the year. Decorating, great food, family, festivities. Yes, even the gifts. The Native American genocide was a horrific act, no doubt, but it was also committed by people who lived well before my great grandfather's time. I don't see why I should feel guilt for that, nor why it should prevent me from giving thanks for my family, friends and all that we have.