Feast And Famine
My starry-eyed fellow blogger Beth has recently suggested that with November just around the corner, Turkey Day (my favorite holiday!) being part of the Fall-package deal, that perhaps this is the perfect time to focus our attention on those who may not be quite so enthusiastic about the looming day of gluttony. Or is that the day of giving thanks? I never remember. Oh well, either way, it’s hard to be either gluttonous or thankful if you’re one of the 36.5 million in this country living in poverty who is barely able to feed the family on any given day, whatever the month. Or in Bush-speak, one who finds it hard to put food on the family.
Actually, those poor folks would probably be indeed thankful if able to celebrate the holiday with so much as an Oscar Mayer-processed-turkey-lunchmeat sandwich come November 22nd. After all, it’s called Turkey Day for a reason, and what better way to observe a national tradition than the gathering of family around the dinette set for that once-a-year special meal! Truly something to give thanks for.
Even a SPAM sandwich might work. There’s probably some sort of discarded fowl parts in there somewhere. Turkey lips or something. Mystery meat is always questionable, but it could probably do in a pinch.
Meanwhile, the rest of us, oblivious to the plight of those less-fortunate, will be gorging on our respective feasts of Honeysuckle turkey breast (unless you’re a leg man, of course), replete with stuffing, mashed potatoes (lots of gravy, please), and the ever-popular Campbell’s mushroom soup green bean casserole with those tasty French’s French Fried Onions on top. Yum! (One of my personal favorites, hence the recipe link.) But wait, there’s more! Unbutton the britches, because here comes the pumpkin pie!
So while that needy family downtown might be giving thanks for simply having food on themselves, as George would say, we’ll be most thankful for having the day off! No need to even call the boss with that contrived raspy voice and occasional coughing spell, explaining why you won’t be able to make it into the office today because of an overnight flu onset. Save the sick day for another time. I guess we all have our priorities.
I do love Thanksgiving. And I love the big meal, the day off, the tryptophan-induced nap that zonks you out usually just before the winning touchdown in whichever football-marathon-day game you happen to be watching at the time. However, in the true spirit of the day, it would behoove us to remember that everyone is not so fortunate, and that we should be sincerely thankful for the abundance and blessings that we normally take for granted. Even if you think your life sucks, be thankful that, if for nothing else, you probably don’t have to stoop to celebrating the holiday with a SPAM sandwich.
We should also remember that to whom much is given, much is required. (Okay, that’s getting Biblical, but I’m sure that there are similar Koranical, Book of Mormonical or choose-your-religious-bookical lessons as well.) As good as it is to enjoy the opportunity to spend the day with family and friends, it might be a nice change of pace to opt to forego just one indulgent Thanksgiving, and instead volunteer at your community shelter, for example, serving those less fortunate than ourselves a real turkey, stuffing, mashed potato with extra gravy meal. Maybe even a helping of green bean casserole, with no canned luncheon loaf in sight.
Who knows? It might just be the eye-opening experience that will give us the perspective we need to appreciate the things we should be truly thankful for, every day. I’ve already checked with my local Salvation Army to see what opportunities are available this year. There will always be another Thursday in November to hook up with the gang, pig out, take a snooze on the sofa. Thankfully.
poverty, thanksgiving, volunteering, hunger
October 17th, 2007 at 3:41 am
Wait, Doug. Are you actually suggesting we should be concerned about the poor in the midst of all this greed and selfishness that represent the modern American dream?
Haven’t you heard that there really isn’t a huger problem in our nation? No, the people who go to bed hungry every night are just on a diet, as Reagan once said. Neither is there a health care crisis, because, as President Bush said the other day, all anyone has to do is just go to the emergency room. Are you not aware that taxation to provide a social safety net is theft and that the poor are actually just lazy or too stupid to plan ahead, as 451 blogger Jeff O’Bryant is incessantly telling us?
And that quoting the Bible business — where much is given, much is expected — that is just so much communism and you know it. Why don’t you move to Cuba? You can’t fool me for a minute. I know that greed is good and that Jesus would probably be working on Wall Street if he were on earth today, because the Religious Right Republicans have told me so.
You really want to help? Tell the folks to support the oil companies by taking a trip this Thanksgiving. With oil prices at all time highs, Exxon will not be able to continue record profits without our support. The day after Thanksgiving starts the Christmas shopping season. Support your local Wal-Mart. Support these corporations with your dollars, because the average CEO salary is ONLY 262 times that of the common worker. We can do better! And don’t forget to write your congresspersons and tell them to support welfare for the truly needy in America, the corporation. Remember, by doing these things the wealth will trickle down to the rest of us.
And may God bless America!
October 17th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
That, Mr. Doug, was a post in and of itself … and a good one! I may delete your comment, copy and paste it as my own.
Just kidding, great points! Kudos.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:59 pm
[...] On a final note, speaking of the needy, the other day I mentioned that I was hoping to be able to volunteer to help feed the hungry this Thanksgiving. I’m pleased to announce that I have been assigned as a dishwasher at the [...]