Meaning of Thanksgiving lost among Black Friday sales pitches
A year ago I was able to go to first grade classrooms and experience children learning about pilgrims and Indians, turkey and pumpkins.
I could stand outside their classrooms and read their reasons for giving thanks – for moms and dads, houses and pets. Their words were not perfectly formed and sometimes I had to ponder their spelling, but their thoughts were sincere and simple.
I did not understand then how much I appreciated the reminders their lessons provided on the reasons we celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
This year I am troubled by a conflict of growing proportions. Instead of having first graders to remind me of the origin of Thanksgiving, I have flyers alerting me of huge sales and price reductions.
I am bombarded with Black Friday reminders and tempting come-ons about “the best prices of the season.”
It seems that the day after Thanksgiving has become something of a moving target. Stores have been changing their opening hours, responding to their competitors, and teasing consumers with emails and ads.
Black Friday is not necessarily an event – it is a growing season. It has invaded Thanksgiving with little care and no boundaries.
It seems rather odd to me that we want our children to know why we stop for a day and offer thanks for our blessings while we plan to camp out in line so we can shove, elbow, and out maneuver other bargain hunters.
We may be after a huge screen television advertised for drastically low prices, but there may only be four available. Surely, being the 71st person in line rules us out of luck, but wait, they are going to open at midnight. Maybe the chances have improved.
So now the strategy is to plot the times the stores open, list the items wanted at each store (including price), plan the route inside each store, have a driver ready to load at the curb, and goose your way to the next store opening. Repeat as necessary.
I understand that the retailers need Black Friday. I know the economy has been too bad for too long. I have heard the reports that this weekend may make or break some stores’ years. I also know that moms and dads everywhere are afraid they won’t be able to get those special Christmas gifts if they don’t execute the Black Friday plan perfectly. I get it.
But, really I think I will take a deep breath, close my eyes, and go back to the writing of those first graders. Why are they thankful for the same things every year?
Mark Lewis is a retired school administrator living in Liberty, Mo.
Suzuki Ishikawa
5 months, 4 weeks agoThe only people thankful for thanksgiving are everybody but Native americans. Worst mistake of their life
Brandon Lewis
5 months, 4 weeks agoI wonder if those little ones were being taught the “truth” about thanksgiving, or some glossed over sugar coated story. Can you imagine the horror of that “thanksgiving”
Suzuki Ishikawa
5 months, 4 weeks agoI think Thanksgiving has its good connotations. This was before the oregon trail, trail of tears, etc
Thanksgiving was really thankful because it was a time where native americans offered a hand to starving pilgrims. It commemorate joint friendship between different culture,languages, beliefs, etc
Of course this was before the whole genocide native americans…
btw why do we eat turkey for thanksgiving? the first thanksgiving was venison and shrimp
Phil Cardarella
5 months, 4 weeks agoFirst, let’s make sure we BOYCOTT any store that opens to have one of these silly sales on Thursday.
Then, let us give thanks for what we have — living in the best of times, in the best of places.
Then, let us both acknowledge the terrible things that were done to our Native American population — and recognize that without some of those terrible things, a great nation could not have arisen.
Brandon Lewis
5 months, 3 weeks agoMaybe a better nation would have arised.
George Hunsucker
Northland
5 months, 3 weeks agoI have tears in my eyes…..
Geez you libs get on a horse and ride it until it’s dead….
What is surprising is the insensitivity in the article calling “native Americans” Indians…. This especially brought a tear LOL……
Anonymous
5 months, 3 weeks agoGeorge-Did you not understand what was written? The comparisons are obvious.
Richard Heckler
5 months, 3 weeks agoHow about those Wal-Mart opening on Thanksgiving evening and others as well..JC Penney etc etc etc.
I know I know if I don’t like it don’t go. That’s easy. Then again we gave up Wal-Mart years ago and have not looked back.
ALways Low Wages = not quite true. Always Low Wages = Always Low Paychecks = still true.
Christmas sales will be on for a long time so one special day is not necessary as I see it. Some families may well be looking forward to a break in their day. Frankly I cannot deal with crowds in department stores.
I’ll be enjoying time with family at some point. To all enjoy it as well.