Blog

Still Thankful

November 23rd, 2021 by Kenneth Abrahams

This was supposed to be easy. Just pen off a quick blog that reflects the time of year and the festivities of Thanksgiving. Could it be anymore simple? All that was needed was to acknowledge some of the people and things that I was thankful for, talk about turkey and some side dishes and boom we are done. Not so fast.

Thanksgiving has become a lot more complicated. Let’s face it, life has become a lot more complicated. Years ago, Thanksgiving was simple, it was a time to celebrate the harvest and the bounties of the land. It was one of the few holidays in this country that really didn’t have religious ties, and was a wonderful family celebration, but all that has changed. At this point, I am uncertain how to feel or celebrate this holiday that was once so special for my family and me.

Should this blog have started with an acknowledgement of the luck, blessings, or privilege that I have been given throughout my life? Let’s be honest, growing up as a member of the white, middle class has had a wealth of advantages; access to good schools, a roof over my head, food on my table, an ability to choose and forge my own path in whatever direction I chose. These are advantages that were not afforded to many whom I have encountered in my journey through life. True, it is not a system that my generation created, but it is one we benefitted from and did little to change.

Some equate Thanksgiving with all that is wrong in this country. It has become a political and social football. Many now view it as a holiday that celebrates the devastation of Native American people. Some go right back to the roots of the holiday and talk about the disease that the pilgrims thrust upon the Native Americans who inhabited the area long before their arrival. Pointing out that it is just the beginning of the hardships that the European settlers hoisted upon those indigenous peoples. While others see it as the epitome of the classiest society that they feel America has always been, but one where the divide between the haves and the have nots is growing wider every day. Pictures of tables overflowing with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, yams, green beans and so much more are juxtaposed with photos of families that can’t afford the bare necessities, let alone a feast like this.

When wishing someone a Happy Thanksgiving now, I feel obligated to insert the phrase if you celebrate. More than once, my holiday cheer has been grounded by someone chastising me for celebrating such an awful holiday. Yet again, we find ourselves walking on eggshells, paralyzed by the fear of offending anyone. Trust me, no matter which path you choose, you will offend somebody. All I want to do is wish them well at this time of year, one that, for me, isn’t steeped in politics, but family and traditions and giving thanks. It should be a joyous time.

Right, wrong, or otherwise I am going to celebrate. We will go down to my in-laws and gather as a family. For the first time in several years, we will all be together. We will be thankful for the bounty set before us and acknowledge the highs and lows of the year. We will cherish this time together because we never know what life will throw at us and if we will all be around this table next year. Like many families we will laugh and joke, we will have some uncomfortable silences and depending on how long the day goes, we may get on one another’s nerves. Football will be on in the background and my Mother in law will ask that it be shut off while we eat. Since the Giants aren’t playing on Turkey Day, there is a better than a 50/50 shot that will happen. Of course, it will be a day of too much food.

Is there a myriad of problems in this country and across the planet? Of course, there are. We are starting to address them, slowly but surely. These are issues that have been ignored for too long and the changes are still too slow, but they are finally happening. Individuals, as well as groups, which have been denied a seat at the table or a voice are finally being heard. People are at least now cognoscente of the great divide between the haves and the have nots. Now we must all work to bridge that gap. I am trying to do a better job supporting small, minority owned businesses and giving to food pantries, but there is still more I can do.

This holiday season be thankful for what you have, be kind to others, and see where you can make a positive impact. If you celebrate, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

About the author

Ken Abrahams was born and raised in South Bend Indiana home of Studebaker cars and Notre Dame. He is one of the few people you will meet that saw OJ Simpson play football in college. He is number 3 of four kids who from about age 12 was raised by his mother. He is the proud father of 2 great boys and is a lifelong dog lover.