Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving - Get Rid Of Black Friday

Last Thursday was Thanksgiving. Last Friday was Black Friday. It’s been this way for as long as I can remember. But really? Come on, America. This just makes us look silly to anyone with common sense. One day, people put on this charade of gratitude for all that they have, centering on the values of community and family. The next day, people ravenously (not exaggerating) attack each other for commodities that they don’t need. I’m embarrassed. In the first place, I don’t think humans should be fighting over big screen televisions in the same way that hyenas and lions fight over food. Secondly, if people want to let out their inner Hunger Games, can it please not be the day we’ve set aside to devote focus and attention to the notion that we are not only content with life, but also grateful? And can it please have nothing to do with Christmas?

Honestly, I’m not opposed to people fighting over commodities. I mean, it’s not something I see myself doing. It seems the risk is greater than the reward. But if people want to do that, then I say sure! Why not? Just separate those people away from Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is not about the food and Christmas is not about the presents. On Thanksgiving, the food acts as a representation of abundance. We are celebrating the fact that we have more than we need. We are celebrating the triumph over the life and death struggle for food, water, and shelter. It doesn’t make any sense to follow this celebration with a life and death struggle for commodities. On Christmas, the presents act as representations of generosity and compassion. If obtaining your presents involved a physical or verbal assault on another human being, then your presents no longer represent generosity and compassion, but rather selfishness and greed. I know it’s not everyone who acts this way, but I feel that the people who do are ruining the spirit of these holidays. Why do these warm and beautiful holidays that glorify family and charity need to compete with the media frenzy that glorifies violent materialism?

I refuse to believe that I’m in the minority on this topic. I have to think that there are more people who celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in the spirit of their purest intentions. It must be the media focus that makes Black Friday seem so magnanimous. It’s not so much Black Friday that’s running Thanksgiving and Christmas but rather the focus the media gives to this day and the way we are distracted by the primal displays. That’s how they get us. They appeal to our subconscious caveman nature. They understand that no one can turn his head away from a car crash or train wreck any easier than he can turn his head from gladiatorial combat in the middle of a Wal-Mart. We get pulled into the drama no matter how grateful, compassion, and celebratory we may be. I can’t deny it. I love to see a good fight. Ideologically, I am opposed to humans fighting against one another. I believe that we should all be helping each other regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, etc. But if people are going to throw all of that out the window and fight anyway, then I absolutely want to watch. It’s thrilling to see.

So here’s an idea. Why don’t we just move Black Friday and make it its own event? And let’s stop hiding the brutality in the warmth of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Let’s just be blatant about it. Let’s have modern gladiatorial combat with willing participants who compete to the death for flat screen televisions. Is it unethical? I don’t believe so. If there are people who are willing to do this, and they’re going to do it anyway, why not set up a safe place for them to do it where we can sell tickets and watch. Is that not the Capitalistic mindset that fuels America? In ancient gladiatorial combat, slaves and prisoners of war would often be forced to fight for the amusement of the people. Obviously slavery and forced combat are unethical. But people are just doing this for free and there’s money to be made if we can get them on camera in an arena with souvenir and concession stands. Maybe we can make it a day in August. I don’t think there are any conflicting holidays in August. Or maybe it could just be a running Friday night show that airs every week. But my point is - if this primal brutality still exists within our culture, then let’s own it and capitalize it and stop hiding it under Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you’re sitting there thinking this is a despicable idea then good. Go all the way with that and advocate for Peace. But let’s stop half-assing and pretending. Either we enjoy seeing violent materialism or we don’t. If we don’t, then end Black Friday completely. If we do, then shed a spotlight on it. Enough of the phoniness.

Anyway, enough of the negativity. In the true spirit of the season, I’ll tell you about all that I am grateful for. I am grateful that I was able to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner in the warmth and comfort of my girlfriend and her family. I am grateful to have a girlfriend who I am passionately in Love with. I am grateful that they invited me into their home and treated me as one of their own children. I am grateful for the car that I drove over there. I am grateful for the fact that my brain is in well enough working condition not only to drive a car, but also to write and sing and dance.  I am grateful that I have a warm bed to sleep in at night. I am grateful that I have comfortable socks and warm sweaters. I am grateful to own clothes I think are stylish. I am grateful to have friends and family. I am grateful to have two living supportive and loving parents. I am grateful to still have grandparents. I am grateful that I live such a lifestyle that allows me to play video games in my free time. I am grateful that I can afford delicious food, not only on Thanksgiving, but on most days. I am grateful that my house is heated and that I am warm. I am grateful for my laptop and my smartphone. I am grateful that I can afford to buy canvases and paint – and that I have enough time to create beautiful artwork. I am grateful that I have the ability to create art with my hands. I am grateful for all these that first come to my mind and I am sure there is so much more. This Thanksgiving, I am proud to announce that I am especially grateful for finding a job as a server at Chili’s on Hempstead Turnpike in Bethpage. In the spirit of the season, I acknowledge all of the blessings that surround me, and I express my deepest gratitude.

This week, let’s meditate on gratitude. Be grateful. Be thankful. Look for what you can appreciate around you. Stop focusing on what you don’t have and what you think you might need. You’re alive. Stop to be grateful right there. You’re reading this. Stop to be grateful again. And keep going with it. Everywhere you can, look for places that you can say that you are grateful. If for no other reason, do it because it will make you happier. Believe it or not, focusing on all that you are grateful for in life as opposed to all that you don’t have or think you need actually does make you happier over time. It’s not what we have that creates our happiness. It is how we feel. If we feel that we don’t have enough, we’ll feel sad. If we feel that we’re grateful for all that we have, we’ll feel happy. It’s that simple. So focus on all of the beautiful blessing in your life and be happy.

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