h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today is Thanksgiving here in America.

It's an interesting holiday. School children are fed ridiculous dogma about pilgrims and indians sitting around a table, sharing a great bounty after the end of a horrible famine. They are told that the indians taught the white man how to raise corn. They are made to create stupid paper versions of the silly outfits supposedly worn on each side of the table.

Only later do they understand that the white man "thanked" the indians by wiping out most of their tribes and driving the rest to the least suitable areas for human survival. Only later do they begin to understand the current state of unemployment, alcoholism, and discrimination most American Indians now face.

I felt guilty when I found out. It wasn't so much guilt about what my ancestors did. I felt ashamed for believing the easy lie, and for being unsensitive to the real social issues. I sometimes wonder if I was the only one who experienced this.

The good part about Thanksgiving is that Americans are encouraged to remember what they have to be thankful about. Even better, there is a tacit discouragement in regards to listing materials goods. You're not supposed to say that you're greatful for your new Ferrari, or that you're ecstatic you could finally afford that boob job last month.

We remember for one day and one day only to be thankful that we're in good health, that we have friends and family that care for us, and that we have found a way to be useful to society. It teaches us humility, and I think Americans could generally use more of that. So I'm very big on Thanksgiving -- dubious historical merits aside.

While going through my thanks today, I realized that I'm greatful I found h2g2. I'm greatful for the friends I have here. You all know who you are, I think. You have helped me forge many interesting discussions. You have been there with a kind word when I was feeling down. You have helped me change my mind when I was wrong, and perhaps allowed me to help you change yours. Best of all, you have respected my individuality without question and without condemnation.

Thanks.

HI Fragilis!

Thanksgiving in America for me will always be connected with the TV-Series "The Waltons". It used to be quite popular in Germany, and "Gute Nacht, John" is just one of the things anyone my age will still remember. (Of course noone will admit that they watched Waltons, but we only had three TV-Chanels in those days, so not a lot of choise on Wednesday eavnings )

Thanksgiving here is more a church-feast. We used to have a thanksgivingcelebration, and the main atraction was a collection of foods and vegetables, if possible produced by members of the church. In the afternoon they heald a church meeting and we had lunch together. That wasn´t bad. But the celebration is not known here as an occasion for familyreunion. We do this at Christmas (and I have luckily escaped that in the last few years, prefering to spend the christmas holiday with my -- oh, heck, there´s this word problem again - GF?)

I like your journalentries best, Fragilis. You get the ideas into good sentances and I have been musing quite a bit about the one or ather entry.

So, thanks offering the posibility to read the stuff here.

Thanks for the reply, Englander. It is nice seeing how other countries celebrate their holidays.

It's interesting. Some churches in the US have a Thanksgiving meal, but more often than not they are feeding the poor for free. They aren't feeding their own congregation. Some churches here also have youth group parties at Thanksgiving, as well as at Christmas. It is thought that this encourages church youth to form their romantic relationships (and possibly future marriages) within the congregation.

In the US, Christmas is reserved by some for the immediate family. The mother, father, and children stay at home all day enjoying their presents. They meet back up with the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins closer to New Year's day, if at all. Thanksgiving is the time in the US that extended families get together and hold reunions. I think it all comes down to the fact that Christmas is extremely commercialized in America.

I have seen 'The Waltons', of course, though I didn't like it very much. It felt a little too preachy to me.

Everyone on 'The Waltons' was so gosh darned nice. And when someone wasn't, everyone else reacted by putting on the holier-than-thou attitude. It reminded me uncomfortably of the people living around me in the Southern US, I suppose. I was always afraid of 'stepping out of line' and drawing attention to myself there. Now I'm glad I left.

But that was exactly what I liked about it. America in my childhood days seemed like close to heaven, because they were all so goddamiddamdiamdam-- nice.

And I tell you one thing: When we came back from our holidays in New England this summer it was not just jetlag to cope with, but a far more unfriendly atmosphere, that you feel coming into Germany. I know that a lot of americans are supperficial concerning their outward friendlyness, but it is somehow better than everybody pulling faces at you, when you stepp onto a train.

Fragilis,

I'm not American, so I may be completely wrong here, but the idea of Thanksgiving as thanking the Indians must be very new. I always assumed that it was God that was being thanked for helping the pilgrims through the hard times. It is only very recently that the white Americans acknowledged that the original pilgrims were a bunch of incompetent religious nuts who couldn't have made it without local help. In former times, the pilgrims were painted as glorious pioneers and the indians completely ignored. This fits in much more with the white attitude of wiping out the Indians.

Incidentally, here's an interesting bit of trivia. How did the pilgrims communicate with the local Indians? Easy, the Indians spoke English. Some of them had even been to England.

Gnomon

Thanks for the new perspective, Gnomon. You're probably right that the given meaning of 'Thanksgiving' has shifted over the centuries. Originally, most Americans views American Indians as an uncivilized scourge. (What a bunch of morons, eh?)

I know that several of the original American natives did travel to Europe. And many tribal leaders learned English, Franch, and Spanish in an attempt to negotiate treaties with the white man. English-speakers almost never learned the local native's tongue, though. That just goes to show you who was more intelligent.

I liked reading this, t shows that there are people who really do have feelings.
i went in for your compatibility test,have you , by any chance, ever seen the labarynth?
I used to be a redhead but i died it black, its nice to know we have something in common that doesnt involve your knockers (beautiful though they were!)
-Zalisander (newbie)

Thanks for dropping by, Zalisander! I have found lots of people herewith genuine feelings, and real opinions to share.

I have seen The Labyrinth, too. And a darned good movie it is!

I know another redhead who died her hair black and likes The Labyrinth. You couldn't be playing pretend with me, could you? Her name is Marysia Kolodziej, and her web site is her first name with .com at the end.

If you're not her, I must say that it's an astoundingly small world!

no im not her, im me but she is me to her just as you are me to you!
and yes it is an astoundingly small world, and getting smaller.
i came to the conclusion that you designed that questionnaire because you like to torment people
see you around,
-Zalisander.
PS Check out my space for my smiley campaign!

I designed the questionnaire as a lark. It became a torment over time, because I made it harder each time someone complained to me about it.