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Not “Turkey Day”!

I rarely write a Letter to the Editor but the Nov. 24 front page headline, “Thinking of a Last Minute Covid Test For Turkey Day?” inflamed a pet peeve of mine that needs response.

“Turkey Day” - I hate that moniker! Not only is it flippant and trite; but more irritatingly it symbolizes everything that is NOT Thanksgiving. The saying reinforces popular culture’s idea that Thanksgiving is just an excuse for bacchanalian gluttony, self-indulgence and frenzied football. Totally lost is the value of expressing thanks to God (or to whatever deity or non-deity you choose) for one’s material gifts, good health, family, happiness and prosperity.

What have we become when gobbling a butterball for tryptophanic pleasure is more important than humbly bending a knee in gratitude?

The other part of “Thanksgiving” is “giving.” How presumptuous and shallow “Happy Turkey Day” is to those who can’t afford a bowl of soap let alone a turkey. Thanksgiving is a time to consider those less fortunate and to “give” to them a bit of what we have received. Sharing is the highest form of thanks, something to remember when we’re tempted to fight over that last sweet potato.

So take “Turkey Day” and dump it into the burn barrel with other annoying American slang like “Have a Nice Day,” “Ya Know” and “Happy Holidays.”

Mac McCandless

Spokane

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