Making Peace With Thanksgiving
Dear Leading Ladies,
Thanksgiving Day is nearly upon us, a day we greet with mixed emotions. We are, indeed, grateful for the presence and love of family and friends; for the breathtaking physical beauty that can be found in every state of our country; and for the freedoms and fulfilled needs so many of us enjoy.
And yet…
As we give thanks, we recognize our country was built on land taken from those who already lived here and by those taken from their own lands and enslaved to provide unpaid labor. Moreover, today indigenous and Black people are still over represented among the lower socio-economic strata of our society. That remains a hard truth to ignore.
Likewise, some of us who are first generation or even second generation Americans may feel especially thankful on Thanksgiving Day, but these days perhaps only if our families came from European countries where our status is not now under siege. That leaves out a lot of our neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family members.
Tricky business, this Thanksgiving Day celebration. Tricky business.
Maybe the best approach is to allow ourselves some joy, some time to “chillax”, as the kids say, and appreciate what we have, while we restore our strength to fight for more to celebrate for everyone next year.
A few more thoughts.
We’re thinking of boycotting Black Friday and Cyber Monday as our small way to avoid putting more money in the pockets of Jeff Bezos and his fellow one percenters. In fact, how about making a deal with friends and family to pivot to homemade gifts this year? Things like cookies, cakes, and jellies are great, but think also of coupons for special experiences like a back rub, a picnic at the beach, “vacation in a day” to a museum or a gorgeous park for a hike. You get the drift. Or a love letter to children, parents, and grandparents is always a keepsake worth more than diamonds or pearls! After all, what the world needs now is love, sweet love…
If you feel compelled to shop at bricks and mortar stores, choose small independently owned shops, like the Bookshop of Beverly Farms, that do a lot to pull our communities together.
Another option is to donate to a favorite cause of your recipient, such as a health rights or social justice group or maybe an animal rights organization. We can’t help but suggest giving a copy of the delightful new book, Otto Made Me Say That, written and illustrated by our talented graphic designer, Brenda Riddell. You can order directly from Otto’s website. All profits support animal rescue groups and shelters.
So, happy Thanksgiving. We at Leading Ladies are thankful for your support and your commitment to the rights of others.
Therese (she/her/hers)
Judy (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
Leading Ladies Executive Team
Leadingladiesvote.org
ladies@leadingladiesvote.org