Cal Thomas: Thankful to whom and for what?
In a thought-provoking reflection on the evolving language of gratitude and the commercialization of Thanksgiving, Cal Thomas highlights a growing disconnect between the essence of the holiday and contemporary societal attitudes. Traditionally, a simple “thank you” would elicit a “you’re welcome,” but Thomas notes that many young people now respond with “no problem,” raising the question: why should gratitude be framed as a problem? This shift in language reflects a deeper cultural trend where the significance of Thanksgiving is overshadowed by the rampant consumerism that precedes Christmas. Thomas argues that Thanksgiving, which once held a unique status as a day of reflection and gratitude, has been reduced to a mere prelude to the holiday shopping frenzy, with Black Friday promotions starting as early as October.
Historically, Thanksgiving was established as a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War, a time when the nation was grappling with profound strife. In his proclamation, Lincoln emphasized the importance of recognizing the blessings bestowed upon the nation, suggesting that gratitude should be coupled with humility and penitence for national transgressions. Thomas contrasts Lincoln’s call for reflection and repentance with the modern attitude of entitlement and consumption, questioning whether contemporary Americans still acknowledge God as the source of their blessings. He suggests that the spirit of Thanksgiving should include a moment of introspection and a recognition of the need for forgiveness, urging readers to consider adding “humble pie” to their Thanksgiving menu. This call to remember the true meaning of the holiday serves as a reminder that gratitude should not only be expressed in words but also through a deeper understanding of our responsibilities as individuals and as a society.
As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, Thomas encourages us to reflect on the historical significance of the holiday and to embrace a mindset of gratitude that transcends mere consumption. By doing so, we can honor the legacy of Thanksgiving and reconnect with its original purpose—acknowledging the blessings in our lives while recognizing the importance of humility and repentance in our collective journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewmefM76XfU
Among my growing list of improper uses of the English language is the response I get when telling a restaurant server or anyone else “thank you.” The usual response has been for as long as I remember, “you’re welcome.” For the young, especially, it has become “no problem.”
Why would thanking someone for a service or kindness performed be considered a problem? What does that even mean?
Thanksgiving, which mythically began when the Pilgrims and early settlers thanked God for His “many blessings,” despite their difficult circumstances, is now a small bump in the road on the way to the annual conspicuous consumption called Christmas. The airlines are thankful because of heavy travel that leads to large profits. Thanksgiving, as well as approaching Christmas, have lost their unique status – at least among secularist marketers – and have now been blended into “the holidays.” That’s a problem.
There once was a time – and I still remember it – when most of the Christmas rush began after Thanksgiving. Now we have Black Friday beginning in some TV ads before Halloween. Thanksgiving has taken a back seat to Christmas commercialism. It is now a one-day stuffing, not just of the turkey, but of ourselves, plus a couple of football games.
While the early settlers and Pilgrims were known for thanking God for His blessings, it wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday. In his
proclamation
declaring the last Thursday in November a day of thanksgiving, Lincoln said this about the blessings Americans had received:
“To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and even soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.”
The proclamation was issued after the Battle of Gettysburg, a bloody conflict in the Civil War, a war which was still not over. If a nation in the midst of such a great internal struggle could find things to be thankful for, what about us? In our rush to consume, do we any longer regard God as the source of our undeserved blessings?
Something even more profound came later in the proclamation. Speaking to his fellow citizens, Lincoln wrote:
“I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience.”
When was the last time you heard a national leader recommend penitence? The scriptures are clear … nothing gets God’s attention quite like repentance. It is then His mercy flows. When he first ran for president in 2016, I asked Donald Trump if he had ever felt the need to ask for forgiveness, or repent. He said “No. Perhaps someday I will.”
God once said for the sake of 10 righteous people He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Like the people in those ancient cities, we have many sins for which we should repent. I’m not exactly sure how God will respond as His people pray – seeking His forgiveness for our national sins. But I do know that it is an appropriate attitude as we gather, and a long-standing tradition to reintroduce around our table.
Perhaps a heaping serving of humble pie should also be on today’s Thanksgiving menu.
Readers may email Cal Thomas at
tcaeditors@tribpub.com
. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
