Thanksgiving: A universal holiday
Fresh Meadows: Of all major holidays, Thanksgiving Day has the least potential for being irksome, guilty of identity protectionism or driven by balkanized loyalties and passions. It’s the most inclusive of holidays. It’s not ideology-based and harbors no invidious implied comparisons with other nations, faiths or ways of life. It has no agenda. It is universal in appeal and relevancy. It is, in the broadest and deepest way, a “one-size fits all” dignified celebration. A sense of gratitude has at least fleetingly passed though every person’s heart, and so the holiday has status and credibility with all spiritual traditions and for those independent of any. Thanksgiving Day is unique. And it is for everyone. New Years Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day Labor Day are all worthy but not for all. Nor are the numerous religious holidays that are dear to adherents and convenient to motorists when alternate side of the street parking is suspended for their observance, but all theologies lend themselves to divisiveness. The same for holidays that innocently glorify different ethnicities and national origins.
The only holiday that ranks with Thanksgiving as an inspiration, were we had better be immersed in the lessons derived from it, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
That’s one end of the spectrum. What’s at the opposite? What is the most dreadful and rueful of holidays? We can all come together on that question: Election Day! Ron Isaac
War on Thanksgiving
Douglaston: People are not saying “Happy Thanksgiving” as much as in years past. More and more the catchphrase is: “Enjoy your holiday.” “Happy Thanksgiving,” has it gone the way of “Merry Christmas” — a mouthful, too quaint, too humbling?
Ellen Prunella
Happy to be thankful
Nanuet, N.Y.: As Thanksgiving arrives I have the following thoughts about material things and how an abundance of things doesn’t make me truly or all that happy. When I was a young man, I thought that I wouldn’t be happy without having many material possessions. Now that I am an old man of 66, I realize that having many material things is not what produces human happiness. Though no one is happy or sad all of the time, I feel that I lead a happy life. I’d say that the key to my happiness is that I have accepted my disability (which is a psychiatric condition), and that I have no desire to possess many material things. I’m happiest when I am hanging out with friends, and when I’m playing with balloons. My only expensive luxury is my computer. I use my computer mainly to keep in touch with friends and to advocate for the rights of my fellow people who are living with disabilities.
Edward Branca
Peace and universal health
Manhattan: With Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up, I hope that we can have peace in the world I hope that we can as a country and world. Learn to put our differences aside, and get along. I pray that we can all get along. I also hope that we can have health and that our rights will not be taken away. Finally I pray that one day, there will be universal health insurance for all.
Amy Rosenfeld
Avoid the rat race
Whitestone: The race to the shops advertising deep discounts on just about everything that consumers desire can be chaotic and truly harmful to many people. When some individuals attempt to grab items from other people’s carts because they cannot find the articles they are seeking otherwise, tempers rise and arguments ensue. Perhaps I am saying this in vain, but, folks, honestly, you will find similar discounts throughout the year at the same stores. Resist Black Friday! Leonore Brooks
Feed a ‘silent guest’
Cincinnati: This Thanksgiving, let’s everyone remember that four nations (Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia) are on the brink of famine. Many others, including Syria, Iraq, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali and Haiti, are also suffering from food shortages. Seventy years ago, Americans took in a “silent guest,” one of the world’s hungry, at their Thanksgiving meals. These families donated to feed their imaginary guest, and this led to CARE packages for hungry families in Europe, which was still in ruins from World War II. Let’s revive the “silent guest” Thanksgiving tradition, as Mount St. Joseph University has done the last three years with their student Impact club. The University of Alabama at Birmingham hungerfighting club has joined them this year. So, too, has the World Food Program USA and Kindworks who have made the “silent guest” a national campaign to help South Sudan, a country ravaged by war and hunger. You can donate at the World Food Program USA “silent guest” page and hungry families in South Sudan will be fed. What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to “give thanks by giving” and save a life. William Lambers
Turkey is killing us
Larchmont, N.Y.: The turkey industry estimates that this Thursday, Americans will eat over 40 million turkeys. If that number sounds high, it is — over the last quarter century, turkey consumption has nearly doubled in the U.S. If you’re among the 88% of Americans who will eat turkey this Thanksgiving, there may be a surprise ingredient on the menu: antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing threats to global health. The CDC recently estimated that in the U.S. alone, antibiotic resistance results in at least 23,000 deaths annually. A 2015 survey found 10 out of 12 of the largest U.S. turkey producers responded that they allow the use of medically important antibiotics for disease prevention, a practice that can fuel drug-resistant bacteria. However, both the USDA and the FDA have found that bacteria present in retail samples of turkey meat are more resistant than bacteria found in other meats. Luckily, consumers have an opportunity this holiday season to help protect public health. This Thanksgiving, to protect yourself and your loved ones from antibiotic resistance, look for a turkey raised without antibiotic misuse.Veronica Berger
Sad holiday
Little Ferry, N.J.: As a kid, I remember not one store being open on Thanksgiving. Today, I’m trying to figure out what’s more pathetic — retail stores opening on Thanksgiving to advance their greed and to keep employees away from their families or the people who will actually go to these stores to buy more unneeded garbage at a low cost. Truly disgusting that all American holidays are nothing more than one big red tag sale. Jeff Gross
No repeating pie
Brooklyn: This one literally takes the cake! After 120 years, Entenmann’s has decided they will no longer make their traditional holiday pies. Why? Now that they are owned by Mexico-based Bimbo Bakeries, it seems pies are not profitable enough. That’s right, all you apple pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie and coconut custard pie lovers. After all the years of your continued support of Entenmann’s products, it seems they’ve kicked their loyal customers to the curb. Perhaps Bimbo, with its roots in Mexico, doesn’t understand the tradition of Thanksgiving. After all, it is an American holiday. While they’ve pursued and achieved the American Dream, amassing a family net worth of $3.5 billion, they’ve forgotten to take into account who got them there, the American consumer.
Rosemarie Papandrea
Go vegetarian
Manhattan: On this Thanksgiving, I’m beyond grateful that about 10 years ago, I realized that all animals, from my dog, to pigs, cats, cows, and, yes, turkeys, all feel pain and want to live. I decided to forever leave animals off my plate. During this holiday season, I ask that people, especially those who love their dogs and cats, to make the same connection that I did. The animals, environment, and your body will be most Thankful. Mickey Kramer
Money over people
GETTY IMAGES Forest Hills: I am shocked and surprised at Macy’s, Modell’s and others forcing their employees to leave their families on Thanksgiving at dinner time to go to work. Is it really so urgent that they can’t even enjoy having dinner with their families and children? If they have to open, how about 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.? I commend P.C. Richards for closing every year and respecting their employees. Must the stores open? They can’t wait and open earlier on Black Friday? Seems no one cares about anyone, just money.
Lillian Zimmerman