Happy TG
Gotham Chopra - November 22, 2005
Growing up just outside of Boston, Thanksgiving always felt like a special sort of remembrance for the people in our community. In school we did re-enactments of pilgrims sailing in on their ships, Indians throwing ritualistic feathers over them and everyone eventually settling into a good old turkey dinner while watching the Cowboys or Lions game.
In grammar school, I was more than happy to play the role of the Indian, proud that my people had such a critical role in the formation of our nation. My teachers never really bothered to correct us or point out the difference between the folks so offensively called "Redskins" and those of us who just happend to be brown. The pilgrims seemed like fairly nice folks, pretty harmless all in all, and the bringers of all things good - food, technology, comfort etc.
Somewhere in my teen years, Thanksgiving started to change a little bit. There was less bland turkey and more chicken mahkni. Less pumkin pie and more gulab jamun (sp?). In general, there were no real pilgrims and the Indians wore less feathers and more salwar kameez. Whatever was the common sentiment, the sole goal to sneak a little alcohol while none of the grown ups were looking.
By college, there was a movement against Thanksgiving. Turkeys were boycotted and Pilgrims - white folks in general - were considered the bearers of all that was ill with the world.
This year, TG has sort of settled into a quantative indifference. Mallika and her family are off to Phoenix. My mom already left for India. My dad is in South America and my wife and I are pretty much on our own in the 70 degree weather of LA choosing between Harry Potter and Johnny Cash. I'm not sure how to feel about all of this. In general, the last few years Thanksgiving has sort of morphed into this "let's just be happy for being together" sort of event. Screw the Pilgrims, the Indians got screwed, and well at least we have each other and the world is relatively peaceful has been the sentiment.
This year we're not together and the world is far from peaceful. Still there's something about the ritual itself that is endearing. Even if you're not sure what it's for, what you are really grateful for, or what the point of all of it is, it's still nice to observe it. I know it sounds silly, but I think this year I am going to kind of miss it.
Anyway - that's all I have to really say. I am grateful for all that I have. I am sure in the next 48 hours or so, I'll figure out someway to articulate it before digging into....whatever it is we will dig into. God rest the soul of the pilgrims and all the Indians that got suckered by them. History is a strange force, indeed.
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Posted by Gotham Chopra at November 22, 2005 08:41 PM
Comments
Kaveeta
Thanks for the compliment and the spelling help. Revised!
gc
Kaveetaa, how is Thanksgiving associated with Christianity?
It appears even my Thanksgiving is going to be with Harry Potter. To avoid watching it last weekend, I told my wife that I will take her during Thanksgiving Holidays. Just a few hours back she reminded me and asked me to get tickets. Happy Thanks Giving. I just hope I would somehow cruise through harry Potter.
Dear Gotham,
You and your family are very welcome to come to my home and spend Thanksgiving with my family. They will love you like I do!
Thank you for sharing with us on Intentblog. Your posts are always wonderfully authentic. I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving Day. I am sure you will, whether it be in a movie theater or in front of a big screen TV rooting for your favorite team.
Eat well, and remember to feast your eyes on the ones you love.
Love, Bo
Krish,
As a rule i refrain from locking horns over a 'sticky' post, since what ensues is hardly worthy and futile. I have read your comments on the issue and you must have read mine on rahuls post. We both seem to be on opposite end of the spectrum. So let us agree to disagree..:)
Also, have to rush since the gardener has brought the saplings I was longing for.
Sitaaron ke aage jahaan aur bhi hain
abhi zindagi ke imtihaan aur bhi hain
btw,krish you asked what is the connection between thanksgiving and christianity? None at all..Do you realise this is exactly the point I am making in Rahuls thread.There is no connection between tradition and religion.Traditions are peculiar to the region, as distinct as the cuisine perhaps. Why begrudge exclusivity?
Happy Thanksgiving..though I have never celebrated it.Let us expand our consciouness to include all that is new and enriching.It is a beautiful concept.
Father we thank thee for the night
and for the pleasant morning light,
In all we do in all we say
To grow more loving everyday.
Know ye all and Gotham in particular - I visited the blog and added a comment. May they increase as a TG gift to Gotham! :)
A happy TG Gotham and family and all of you.
Gotham
Man....did this post trigger a memory regarding the first Thanksgiving without the family. 18 years old and celebrated in a military mess hall in, Berlin. Yuck!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.
Art
Kaveetaa,
Your post of
"Father we thank thee for the night
and for the pleasant morning light,
In all we do in all we say
To grow more loving everyday."
gave me the goosebumps. By the oddest coincidence, I had been reading Rahul Bose's blog on secularism and it reminded of my school days, leading to some vague memory of the songs the nuns had taught me and a google search for the precise lyrics that you quoted!
Sujatha,
This was a hymn we sang as prayer every morning.. Were you in St.Teresa,s at Santa cruz in mumbai??
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
For me, Thanksgiving is getting together with my family and close friends but foremost, giving thanks to God and I do love gulab jamun.
Harvest celebrations have gone on for thousands of years. Different names, different traditions, basically the same thing. Thanks be to whatever is 'up there' for plentiful food to keep us and our alive during the cold dead winter. A time of rest after working so hard since spring came. A time to celebrate what you have.
The details about one specific harvest festival that happened to be the first non-Native one on the continent, isn't particularly relevent anymore. We probably aren't currently pilgrims or the Algonquin (not sure of the spellng) and not all of us live in Plymouth, Massachusettes; but its one of the only 'old holidays' that ended up in America, and while we are being thankful for our family, friends & food, its not so surprising that we think back to the first thansgiving here - at the very beggining of this country.
But then, of course, that would mean your opinion of the country flavors your opinion of history, as well.
But anyway, not being farmers, its the time of harvest on different levels. Its a time to look at the now and see the abundance around us. I hope you all have a fantastic thanksgiving :)
Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday. What I specially love about American holidays is that they are always around weekends. How very, very thoughtful of them. Four glorious days!!!
I'd say go for the gulab jamuns. In fact, you may want to widen your horizons a bit and try some Rasgullas. My personal favorite is Kalakand.
How about a Thanksgiving Fast? http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=10447
Interesting read, Dana.
Happy Thanksgiving to all and wishing you were here, G.
MIL
How do we kill so many turkeys? Can't we change the tradition?
Happy TG ! ! !
Correction:
*WHY* do we kill so many turkeys? Can't we change the tradition?
Happy TG ! ! !
Thinker, I support your idea on this. Why can't we bake a bread in the size of a typical turkey and stuff veggies into it and then use it instead of killing a turkey.
Kaveetaa,
No, not in Mumbai. I was in a Carmelite run convent school in Kerala, though. The main mission was located in Mumbai ( Bombay at the time), I believe. So that might account for similar songs being taught. "Father we thank thee" was the morning prayer, " Guardian angel from heaven so bright" was the afternoon song, and " Jesus, tender shepherd hear me" the evening song.
Thanks for the memories!
Thinker, I wholeheartedly agree.
I stick to corn casserol and boca burgers, myself.
;)
Gotham,
You really have a way to make me laugh and i really enjoyed reading your message this time.
the question i ask why not celebrate
thanksgiving everyday and besides with Asian Flu
the media keeps reporting.. hey Indian food sound
pretty yummy
Love your sense of humour
peace
Ashie
Well at least your parents are in different places/countries that is why you are not having TG with them. It sucks even more when they are blocks away and you don't have these special times together. It sucks but it's all good...
Anywho if you need help deciding which movie go with Johnny Cash and have a happy TG!
Hi Thinker and Krish,
You may be on to something!
I myself am nearly vegan, and I agree about saving the Turkeys. Eat veggies and bread instead.
I like the tradition of giving thanks for all blessings, and I wish everyone Here a warm and good Day, wherever you may be, with whomever you may spend the holiday.
Blessings,
~~ Kate
Gotham,
I was *just* talking about this with my roommate "This year, TG has sort of settled into a quantative indifference."
There aren't even any holiday films on that specifically address Thanksgiving. It's not that "huge" holiday anymore. And at first, I understood why, I mean, the whole issue with Native Americans is one that I really relate and empathize with, but I don't think Thanksgiving should be marginalized or ignored. We should all get together and just redefine Thanksgiving in the States - keep the festivities, and add a prayer of loving kindness to all those we've knowingly or unknowingly wronged.
Happy TG to you and your wife, Gotham.
Hope you are able to chill and spend time together.
BTW, went and saw Walk The Line last night. Thought it was great. (If you go you'll be downloading Johnny Cash the rest of the weekend!)
Peace,
M
Gotham,
I check out the www.ndn.org
really need a huge favour... if you could please
pass this article to Al Gore or someone you
may know
I also posted it on Deepak's blog
Crimes Against Nature
by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1120-01.htm
Hope to see you in PR
peace
Ashie
Hello Gotham, and All;
Wishing you all, in the USA; a splendid Thanksgiving celebration!
Being inspired of the season; I have created three size: 600 wallpapers; of anyone really wants one; help yourself; and if you need it smaller; let me know here; if that's OK with Gotham; and i'll make the adjustment for you; as 600 is pretty big!
But, they are gorgeous; if I may say so myself; without sounding arrogant or some nasty thing like that? I am just an ol' lady, crippled up with debilitating things; limited; bored, so I design to pass time; and inflict self-harmony. lol
So, here is my renditions of "the bridge of memory" of christmas seasons past, and yet, to come...
Here they are: hope they are well received, and in good Spirit of the Season!
http://xs56.xs.to/pics/05476/xmas2.ds.jpg
http://xs56.xs.to/pics/05476/seasons.ds.JPG
http://xs56.xs.to/pics/05476/bridge.ds.JPG
North
Very beautifu North!
Hello Laurence, thank you! I have the navy blue-bridge one, on my desktop. Happy Thanksgiving once again, to all celebrating!
And for a bit of menu info; I didn't cook a traditional turkey for thanksgiving, I did a salmon-loaf.(has shredded carrot/potato/cheddar/onion/milk/salmon) My oven died thanksgiving day(early October) and it's also the day I injured my arm, moving a trunk! NO oven to use, since; and NO pain relief for my arm.
MY thanksgiving started out with a big, bad, bang! I hope the rest of the year will be a lot more exciting, peaceful, and safe? (smiles) I hope I get another oven/stove soon; I'm going a little batty, with NO oven to use; and this arm keeps me sleepless. Sorry for complaining; but, I've reached my acceptable limit on life-sucking events; and i'd give just about anything, for a good night-sleep; and an oven to make, cake!
North
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Recent Comments
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North commented on Happy TG
Hello Laurence, thank you! I have the navy blu
-
Laurence Peter Brown commented on Happy TG
Very beautifu North!
-
North commented on Happy TG
Hello Gotham, and All;
Wishing you all,
-
ashie commented on Happy TG
Gotham,
I check out the www.ndn.org
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Martin commented on Happy TG
Happy TG to you and your wife, Gotham.
Gotham,
You truly have the gift of the gab. It was so honest n cool. Wonder what Rahul bose would have to say about this though.
Btw it is gulab jamun n salwar kameez.