Thanksgiving Eve

I came home from work relatively early this evening to prepare for Thanksgiving. It is almost here, the most American of American holidays. The day when we really and truly flaunt our gluttony even more than our typcial gluttonous day.

By nature, I am not a serious or political person. I have strong opinions and I am not afraid to share them, but I am not an activist. But this year I can't help it. Maybe it is my advancing age, but whatever it is I have this to offer today: Tomorrow when we belly up to the table, let's think about what our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan (yes, we do still have many, many soldiers in Afghanistan) are doing on Thanksgiving. Think about what the Iraqi Johnson family (the average Iraqi family without explosives strapped to their bodies) are having for dinner on this day. Think about the people who remain without homes due to Katrina, etc.

And for once in your fucking life, be truly thankful for what you have. You can pout and whine about it not being as good as what they guy next door has for the rest of the year. But for one day, put it in perspective. The poorest working Americans - even without healthcare - have it so much better than 3/4 of the planet. We need to stop pissing and moaning about what we don't have for one day, and be deeply grateful for what has been handed to each of us solely because we were the product of a lucky sperm that swam upstream into the womb of an American parent. You did nothing to deserve your station on this planet except that. If your beginnings had been an Iraqi sperm, no matter how hard you have worked in your life, tomorrow your day would be shit.

So put it in perspective today and you can run out Friday and hit those great sales at Wal-Mart.