Thanksgiving and, maybe, Thanks for Giving?

Dear Reader,

Thanksgiving.........Usually.........Sucks.

There, I said, it. That’s all it takes, really, isn’t it?

Everyone has Thanksgiving issues and “traditions,” including a story or two that probably define Thanksgiving for that family. I know that my family certainly does, some of which stories involve me.

Now, here’s a thought: why does “Thanksgiving” have to be on one, singular day, imbued with so much angst, weight, guilt, hope, love, real or hoped-for affection, largess? Why can’t a day of “thanksgiving” be recognized by individuals or families when those occasions present themselves for those folks? Why are we supposed to gather up all of the things we have to be thankful for, and only celebrate them on this day? Why can’t we celebrate whenever there is a time to be thankful?

The reason I think, is because these days, we are almost embarrassed to be happy or thankful. Many of us live great lives, but we look at what we think we lack, not at what we have. And I don’t mean what we have, compared to people in Africa or India, who truly have nothing. I mean, we compare ourselves reflexively to people on TV or in the news, to those morons who have everything and do nothing with it except buy more things for themselves. Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Brittany Spears, Sean Combs, Jay Leno (with a garage full of ultra-luxury cars and motorcycles): these famous people who have multiple, palatial homes, multiple cars, and huge screen HDTV’s in every room that they don’t even watch, live in or drive, are the people used as examples of what the rest of us should aspire to, at least with regard to what they have or do. Then, if they make a guest appearance at a high-end charity fundraiser, or donate a few thousand dollars, they proclaim their great generosity and take on the mantle of sainthood.

Look at the percentages of their incomes that the rest of the fabulously wealthy contribute to charity. Look at what the Waltons and the rest of the top BILLIONAIRES in this country (forget about those in the rest of the world) make in direct charitable donations. Never mind those poor, poverty-stricken MILLIONAIRES! If all of these folks gave even half a tithe, a twentieth of their annual income (NOT a twentieth of their assets) to charity, so many people would be helped we might be looking at a different world. And, if they gave a portion of their assets, the world would be even THAT much better!

Now, I am aware that some of the richer class give tremendous amounts to charity; they give amounts of money that can actually make a difference. But so many of them don’t. The only “charities” they donate to are their progeny, or spouses, keeping the wealth in the family. I also realize these people cannot be forced to share their wealth; they are given tax and other incentives to do so, it’s good marketing and P/R for themselves or their businesses, but to some, these things aren’t important. To them, a new pair of Manolo Blahniks or a new Jag is the priority. Too bad.

Maybe I’m a giddy optimist, and am good at spending other folk’s money. But when we live in an age where some peoples’ private fortunes are in the same league as some nations’ GNP’s, I think we have a problem with too much wealth concentrated in too few hands, even in our capitalist, laissez-faire economy and society.

On this Thanksgiving I was grateful to be with friends, with whom I had some interesting political argument. I realized I’m not alone in hoping the country will get better after this most recent election, but the jury is still out on the “new” Democratic power base.

The larger issues remain, however. There is such a great disparity between the wealthy and the poor in this country; what used to be the “middle-class” has virtually disappeared, and those of us still in the middle are being squeezed terribly. There is so much to be done, and we simply can’t afford to do it; the wealthy upper-class has to take on its “tithe,” and help the rest of our society pull itself up by its bootstraps. Truly, if this were all the wealthy did, they would be doing much more than they are now and the word “Thanksgiving” would have some real meaning to so many others.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Catbird