General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: My wife: Should we rethink Thanksgiving as a holiday? [View all]Codeine
(25,586 posts)I gather together with people for whom I have a genuine and abiding love and a heartfelt and honest respect to share food we have all taken part in preparing while enjoying sparkling conversation and camaraderie. There's a long drive involved, but so what? It's worth it. Why let a few crowded hours on highway 101 ruin a day of happiness?
Have I just gotten incredibly lucky with the group of friends I've chosen? Perhaps, and that alone is something for which to be thankful. But we maintain that friendship through shared adversity and loving support in which everyone has at different times both given of themselves and received of others. We've earned our happiness.
Do I have a bit more than the worst off? Sure, but not much, and certainly not anything for which I haven't worked my ass off for the last few decades in a crappy retail sector job.
And as for the shopping thing? Well I don't like it, so I've never gone out for any of the Black Friday bullshit, and that's all I can do. The larger portion of society seems to like it, so there it is. Don't be a part of it.
Too many of us want to suck all the joy, all the happiness, and all of the celebration out of our cultural traditions. That is a very ugly trait that manifests too often on the Left, and one which it would behoove us to avoid.