If you have to say it...

       In life there are many things that need to be said.  "Excuse me", to someone with no situational awareness, "I love you" to your family, "I'm not going to tell you again" has a host of uses.  The point is there are things that need saying, and things you need to say, and there is a difference.  

       "I'm mature"  is never true if you have to say it.  Likewise, if you have to tell someone how tough you are; you aren't.  If you need to remind someone of how respected you are; sorry, you aren't.  If you mention to someone how "enlightened" you are, you clearly don't understand what the word means.  

       The same holds true for spreading your personal beliefs (manure), and yes, I am fully aware that I am doing exactly that, right now.  I am referring more to folks like the evangelical atheist.  The preachy vegan, telling you how wrong it is to eat meat, or use animal products; is completely unaware that they are not convincing anyone, and that the loudest voice is least convincing.  "Christians", you know the ones, they can't pray inside, where only God can see them; are the same as the preachy vegans.  

       One of my favorite points where speech is in direct contradiction to reality has to be "You deserve happiness".  (or a new car, home loan, etc.)  No one deserves anything, unless they have committed a crime.  Almost any encouraging words we have for each other stand with one foot in "lie", and the other in "truth".  Kid Rock had the right of it:  "You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve.

       I will end by letting you know the ugliest of truths you will have to face.  When you need to post, each day, how you are thankful for something just because its November; you are not thankful.  By your need to say you are, you are screaming that you are not.

Thanksgiving

       Not this time.  No politics.  No shopping advice.  Today is a history lesson.  We will discuss the first Thanksgiving.  Something they should have taught in history class instead of revising what happened to fit our current sensibilities.  But that is another post.
       We know from historic records that the first Thanksgiving featured deer.  Five to be exact, provided by the Wampanoag  We know that it lasted three days.  We know that the same records indicate that four men went on a "fowling" expedition.  We know it was in 1621.
       We do not know what the "fowl" in question were.  We do not know what else was served.  We do not know much else actually.
       We can assume, infer, and suppose many things.  Since the colony was celebrating its first successful corn harvest, it is safe to infer it was on the menu.  Since they were in New England, it is safe to assume that there were clams, oysters, crabs, lobsters, and anything else that could be obtained from the sea.  It is safe to suppose that since sugar would have run out the year before, and the maple syrup that the Wampanoag taught the colonists to make is a springtime thing that there wasn't much sweet presented.  Unless it was provided by the already established Wampanoag.
       So remember when you are giving thanks this Thursday; that the turkey you are eating likely was not a part of the meal.  If it was, it was a small part.  Remember also that the leftovers that last two more days were a part of the first Thanksgiving.  Above all remember that this is the one holiday that unites us all as one people.  All of us American.  All of us feasting, and toasting our good fortunes.  All of us one Nation.  Not half blue and half red, but all Americans, all family.  For a while anyway.

God Bless.


P.S.  Here's a link if you want to do some extra curricular learning.

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving