Since I was a small child I have been taught that Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks for what you have. I am sure that in many ways that is what the Pilgrims felt having survived to see their first harvest in 1621. Their invited guests, the Wampanoag came to this celebration not so much for thanks as for giving permission to these “illegal aliens” to share the bounty of their land.
This is the perspective that I think has been left out of this holiday, the sharing and giving. Especially at this time when our governing bodies are arguing about who will share in the burden to keep this country going, it is suffice to say that it is all ours to share and share in equally. The old adage “It is better to give that to receive” comes to mind and Thanksgiving to me should be all about giving not getting.
