The Commercialization of Thanksgiving

I remember "back in the day", when nearly every business was closed on Thanksgiving Day. There were a few convenience stores that were open for a half day...and maybe a whole day for the people travelling by car. And there were a few restaurants, mostly fast-food that was open for the same reason. Or they may have been open for those people that don't observe Thanksgiving for whatever reason. Shopping malls were closed. The holiday was set aside as a day to observe the things you were thankful for...and to give homage to our forefathers, Native Americans and Pilgrims from way back. Families cooked and ate together.....maybe watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and a few football games on TV. It was the "kick-off" to the holiday season...and a time of togetherness. 

My, how times have changed! It seems as though we have forgotten about togetherness and being thankful. Now it's all about the mighty dollar. It's true what they are saying...Only in American can you have a holiday to show that you are thankful for what you already have. Only to shop and trample all over complete strangers the next day to buy shit that you and your kids don't need. But, wait!!! You don't have to wait until the following day, known as Black Friday anymore! There's a list of nearly 20 retailers that gives a big "F*ck You" to it's employees and forces them to work on a holiday dealing with mobs of people that have seemingly gone mad...instead of having dinner with their own families. Some of these stores will even be open at 6am...on Thanksgiving Day. They are telling their employees they HAVE to work and if they ask for the day off or call out, they will be fired. 

What the hell? Why does EVERYTHING have to be about the bottom dollar? I understand that this year there are far less shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But why do retailers get to treat their employees virtually like slaves just to make a few bucks. Keep in mind, these employees are almost always making minimum wage, which at the time of this post is $7.25 an hour. Often times, these employees feel like they HAVE to work holidays just to help make ends meet. 
When can we get back to the basics....back to what is important during the holidays...family togetherness and teaching our kids what is TRULY important???

Now, I will admit, for the first time EVER, I am going out to eat at a restaurant tomorrow. But you can bet that if my waiter/waitress is good he/she will be getting one hell of a tip...just for putting up with us instead eating their own Thanksgiving Dinner in their own home...with their own families. It's the least I can do to say, "Thanks" for making our holiday a good one.