Dwain Northey (Gen X)

I suppose I am a big downer at this time of year, but I know I am not the only person that realizes the incongruency of this season.

Family or “friendly” gatherings often aren’t or don’t end up friendly, especially in today’s political climate. There is always one person that when the libations are plentiful wants to give everyone their personal dissertation on whatever is on their mind.

I have my questions about the settled-on date for Thanksgiving. It seems that the last Thursday in November is dubious for a harvest celebration considering that in the upper north-east harvest generally occurs in September and the first snow is in mid to late October. Having a lavish festival of over consumption when keeping the settlement stocked with supplies for the long winter is paramount, especially when replenishing those rations isn’t possible. Not saying that the thankful feast didn’t happen, just don’t think late November is a realistic time frame for such an event in the 1600s.

This season is supposed to be about goodwill but to many it is only about excess. Thanksgiving should want us to show appreciation and help those who have less, although these qualities shouldn’t be sequestered to the last 5 to 6 weeks of the calendar. Christmas has lost the sentiment of the figure that the holiday is named for. The holiday is supposed to celebrate a person that abandoned worldly possessions in the light of humility and grace, yet it is a day of want and greed. Children ask what they are getting for Christmas, parents and grandparents feel obligated to fulfill every craven request. This behavior does not represent the selfless nature of the deity people profess to be celebrating.

Sorry to be a bummer… I just want everyone to truly be thankful and share that gratitude with those they love and those they may not even know. Let’s not make this a season of Hypocrisy.