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'America's Domestic Thanksgiving'

26/11/2015

7 Comments

 
Since 1863 - a time of bloody internal conversation - the United States has celebrated annually Thanksgiving -  a day to recognise the benefits of peace,  a day to remember the fortunes of this nation, and as Congress proclaimed, 'a day of SOLEMN THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies'. For in many senses this is a day where the majority within the nation's 'secular' society, sits with their religious understanding; a way of translating their own particular 'manifest destiny' with their country's material success. Or is it visa versa?  
 
What is instructive about Thanksgiving is it ranks alongside Christmas and New Year as one the United States few principle federal holidays. This after all is a key domestic affair as it acknowledges implicitly and explicitly the exceptional nature of this 'united nation' and its separation not its congregation from the rest of the World. It is there to remind us all that its closely guarded unified independence is the real recipe of their success. In other words, the notion of self reliance is not just applicable to the individual but also to the nation as a whole.
 
But like much of the 'American Dream' this idea that the US became and remains pre-eminent because of its divine and divorced condition is largely nonsense. The United States on going political and military power is the product of a particular of form of economic and political literacy that continually demands expression, originated by the 'unchallenged' access to raw materials, the industrial revolution, and its imagination and innovation in turning these natural gifts of ideas and ingredients into products that would be sold, resold and retold world wide. The post civil war domestic markets that expanded due to increasing immigration was never going to be able to consume sufficient to satisfy the growing rapacious incorporation of the United States and therefore, it is not coincidental that the 'internationalisation' of the United States political and economic religion found real traction after this declaration of 'Thanksgiving', and the end of their destructive internal argument about the 'meaning of life'.
 
The subsequent 'real success' of the United States has been its unrivalled ability to sell one story and live another without real fear of any further divisive, destructive contradictions: The American Dream providing liberty and opportunity for all due to the unique 'genius of the people': American power that allows the nation to insulate itself from other nation's woes whilst benefiting from its continued participation and intervention in our capitalised world - One of those stories is largely fictional one is not. In other words, due to the mystic of 'unrivalled freedom' that cloaked the reality of geographical determination, political construction and commercial power, whilst other nations fought often self destructively on their own territory for their own understanding of liberty the US has remained largely untouched. The Founder's 'original' interpretation of freedom had long been dismantled on the battlefields of Sumter, Shiloh and Gettysburg and replaced by a Republican Washington into the self serving image of Wall Street and eventually a self service Wall Mart.
 
As growing technological advancements suggested that the natural separation that the New World long enjoyed was under threat the US maintained its insulated condition throughout the The First and Second World War, and the Cold War by protecting its natural borders on other nation's real estate. This is not to suggest that this approach was cost free, however, although US human capital was spent maintaining their domestic integrity the nation remained intact while other nations less fortunate bore a terrible cost. As we are witnessing at present the United States continuing default position to conflict is stark: unless we can clearly identify that 'we have a dog in this fight' stay clear.  
 
Moreover, this approach has allowed the US to benefit hugely financially from 'other nation's conflicts'. The First World War offering the US a material glimpse of the American Dream during the 1920's, the Second World War providing the environment for a decade of unrivalled growth as 1950's America experienced a step change in standards of living that have never been bettered. However, the Cold War abruptly reminded the US that no matter how powerful you are you cannot expect to control and order all international society without there being a domestic price. Vietnam, Afghanistan and then the Middle East continue to demonstrate that. Yet, as the United States sits down to their Turkey dinner with Pumpkin pie their celebratory thoughts will be towards their domestic fortune and future and not to their 'adventures' elsewhere.
 
The President will take time away from the matters of State to enjoy these peaceful celebrations; a far cry from the condition that now envelops parts of Europe, and has engulfed the Middle East for many a year. There will be the obligatory sound/film bite as Obama utters: God Bless America, but of course there will be no reference to the United States complicity in the conflicting story overseas since it just would not fit into their prevailing unflinching narrative. However, that should not stop us reminding the President that instead of concentrating on national self praise and meaningless rhetoric he should actual recognise that the United States continuing 'good fortune' has been due to others huge efforts and sacrifices outside of their nation's borders as well as to their own 'genius of the people'. That after all is truly worth saying thank you for.
 
KK
 
   
 
KK 
 

 
  
 
                           
7 Comments
Julie Stokx
26/11/2015 05:47:38 am

President Obama’s rhetoric starts to get tiring indeed. He said yesterday (after the meeting with his national security team, link to the video is down below) that Americans can safely travel to their families and feast on turkey, because “there is no specific or credible intelligence indicating a plot on the homeland”. This is an understandable and comforting message, of course, with the heightened fear in mind after what happened in Paris.

However, what is a little frightening to me is his version of safety and security: “counterterrorism intelligence, homeland security and law enforcement professionals are continually monitoring threats at home and abroad”. After everything we learned in class about this kind of monitoring and the consequences of it, that statement feels a little uncomfortable. What I also find striking is Obama’s tip for how you can prevent terrorism as an average American. He is basically encouraging people to spy on each other: “We do think it is useful to be vigilant: if you see something suspicious, say something. That’s always helpful.” Well, I feel safer already!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/26/us/politics/obama-terrorism-response-paris-attacks-thanksgiving-america-safety.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur

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Stéphanie Verbrugghe
29/11/2015 05:25:29 am

It seems indeed that the Paris attacks have some impact on internal politics (or at least, the parties are using the attacks). This is apparent in what you said about the increased internal monitoring. It is also apparent in the anti-muslim rhetoric that is rising again, especially in the Republican forums. Most states are now opposed to receiving refugees from the Middle East. It is striking too that there is even a strong anti-muslim stance in areas where almost no muslims live.

It is ironic that while American citizens are thanking God for their 'liberty and prosperity', thousands of refugees are turned away - but it is not uniquely american. To a certain degree, the same irony can be seen in Europe, especially now that Christmas is approaching. It would be interesting to see what the king will have to say on this topic in his annual speech.

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Laura
28/11/2015 02:56:43 am

Thanksgiving-a holiday often fraught with things like paper pilgrim hats and butter in the shape of a turkey--is more importantly a national exercise of revisiting, restating and reminding each other of our American values.

In broad strokes and among other things, the family aspect of this holiday is related to the grace many Americans enjoy in having safe and secure families with the necessities of life and then some. (I say broad strokes because there are so many outside those lines.)
For as much as one might complain because their mother in law is only a marginal cook or if one's family is a bit broken or crazy as the same aunt goes on her annual rant after her 4th glass of wine,
it is a day reflective of what we all want and that is freedom.

Norman Rockwell's painting called "Freedom from Want" painted in 1942 was accompanied with an essay of the same name by writer Carlos Bulosan. http://www.oovrag.com/essays/essay2008c-4.shtml

The painting was a response to FDR's 1941 state of the union address outlining freedoms he wanted not only for America to enjoy but that all human beings should be able to enjoy:

"The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world." (http://bigthink.com/Picture-This/the-roots-of-the-norman-rockwell-thanksgiving)

The image he painted of an extended family gathered around the holiday table with what most would describe as an overabundance of food, is a very 'American' image and to me interesting because, as it has been noted, there's no reverential reference of blessing or grace suggested-no heads bowed, no hands clasped --
normally that idea of 'Thanks be to God' is hand in glove with Thanksgiving-grateful to God for blessings-but none of that suggested in this painting and I wonder why.
Perhaps Mr. Rockwell saw Americans gathering only with their corner of the world-removed from the other corners, except for whom and what they choose to "let in"...? It had nothing to do with 'God'.

That ability to "shut the door" but not keep out light or air is one of America's blessings. It seems to suggest then that many Americans operate more on their feelings around issues, rather than on their understandings of the world and how it works.
No door stays shut forever though and sooner or later Americans will elevate their understandings of the (political) world and how it affects them at the table. People will come in uninvited, bringing danger with them.
That's their fear of course, that danger will touch them "again" --
so Freedom from fear is what we (and the world) could sure use a healthy plate of right about now.
If there's a turkey out there that we could eat and be relieved not only from danger but from fear as well then pass the plate....I think there are a few million people who are pretty damn hungry.

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laura link
28/11/2015 03:01:56 am

I tried to copy and paste the Norman Rockwell painting for you here to enjoy but I was unsuccessful so here is a link if you'd like to take a look. It's a wonderful painting I think.

https://www.denverlibrary.org/files/Rockwell-freedom%20from%20want.jpg

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