Thanksgiving.... here????

I got a bit of a scare tonight, when I heard on the TV that in May (17th I think) its going to be "Thanksgiving Day".

Now I don't mean to offend any USA members here, and will appoligise now if I do offend you.

I don't want to become a miny america. They have it all wrong!

Has anyone watched 'Bowling for Columbine' with that Moore guy?

In that doco, he goes on about the govt making parents on welfare go back to work. Guess what Howard is doing now? Yes its fine to go back to work, when your child is at school or being looked after by relatives AND that you get to spend quality time with them. I can't just go and get any job. I can't do shift work, but in America, they are made to do so, or they don't eat or stay warm!
*watch the film and you will get what I'm trying to say*

So many things that are USA all over, are becoming more and more of a reality down under and that scares me.

American's commercialised Easter!
We now celebrate Valentines Day just like them!
And now Thanksgiving?

The worse thing about it, it was JUST announced on TV, we didn't have a choice, we didn't have a say, they say WE are celebrating it.

:(:mad:

What are you worried about? It's not like we would go to war for oil........

Arrrr, them seppos are just jealous coz we got Camilla and they don't :D

Cheers
Richard

Hi,

I lived in the US for a few years. I am not a supporter of a lot of their foreign policy but my impression of Thanksgiving in the modern context (i.e. I don't want to get into the debate of the historical aspects) was that it was a non religous based family and friends related holiday. It was a time for families to get together and just celebrate being a family. IMHO, I think that we'd all be better off with a bit more of this.

Regards,
Mike.

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Originally Posted by MikeK

It was a time for families to get together and just celebrate being a family. IMHO, I think that we'd all be better off with a bit more of this.

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We have special occasions celebrated every year in our family.

We call them BIRTHDAYS.

Then of course there are PICNICS.

And BARBIES in the park on public holidays.

I don't need a government or a shop or anyone else to tell me to be thankful.

... and I certainly don't need Halloween!

Cheers,

P :D

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Originally Posted by gemi_babe

Has anyone watched 'Bowling for Columbine' with that Moore guy?

In that doco, he goes on about the govt making parents on welfare go back to work. Guess what Howard is doing now?
:(:mad:

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1. Michael Moore is an idiot.

2. I fail to see why my taxes have to support parents who separate. (Where one parent has died, I see it differently but that's not the normal situation)

Wasn't Thanksgiving all tied up with the pilgrims and all that crap? What the hell has that got to do with us? Sounds like Mr Hallmark wants to add a new wing to his mansion to me.

Oh yes and while I'm at it...

I want to celebrate CHRISTMAS, not a happy holiday.

Life wouldn't be the same without the boxing day test, or backyard cricket (and croquet for my mum) on Christmas day.

Don't you just love the thought of turning on the tele to watch the first day of the first day of the Melbourne Holiday test, or helping your mum put the threepences in the holiday pudding......

Cheers,

P

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Originally Posted by Gumby

1. Michael Moore is an idiot.

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NO.. Howard is the idiot, as well as George dubbya

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Originally Posted by Gumby

2. I fail to see why my taxes have to support parents who separate.

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Yours AREN'T.. MINE are :mad:

(appologies..point 2 is a touchy subject with me at the moment!)

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Originally Posted by Brudda

Yours AREN'T.. MINE are :mad:

(appologies..point 2 is a touchy subject with me at the moment!)

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I'm pretty sure I know where you are coming from and let me tell you, I've been ther myself :mad:

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Originally Posted by gemi_babe

American's commercialised Easter!
We now celebrate Valentines Day just like them!
And now Thanksgiving?

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Dont forget:
Mothersday OR Fathersday

Bonsi Johnnie (little Bush) Is bending over backwards to ensure that the usa gets 6 more states and two more territories

I am tired of australians picking up (mainly) americian "festivals" when all they know about them is:

a) we can get presents :mad:
b) kids can get lollies :eek: (mostly from strangers)
c) we can get a day off! :o :confused:

Thanksgiving and Halloween have NO significance in our society, most of our forefathers were convicts NOT pilgrims.

Damn.. I swore I was not going to get involved in any more political debates here.. :mad: :mad: :mad:

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Originally Posted by bitingmidge

(and croquet for my mum)

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Mom, Midge,MOM :p :rolleyes: :D

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So many things that are USA all over, are becoming more and more of a reality down under and that scares me.

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I lived in Oz for a few years in the early 70's and all my family and friends would always ask me what Australia was like.
I always used to sum it up very easily by telling them it was very Americanised but the people were much nicer.
My observations at the time were based on things like:

• Radio shows like the chat shows and the DJ's who chaired some of them
• TV advertising which tended to be very outward
• Marketing concepts and styles.
• Everyday things that were available there at the time
• Hypermarkets and shopping malls
• Stores offering lay by
• Openair cinemas
• Ice cream /milkshake parlours
• Car salerooms ( paramatta in my time)
• Passion for V8s and utes
• A life style, where I lived in Sydney, that seemed very Californian
• Drive in Liqour stores and ice vending machines
• Transit /restricted lanes
• Highways

All these things and more made Oz to me very Americanised indeed and the only major difference to me was as i said that the people were more tolerant and much nicer.
Please dont take offence by this. These were my observations at the time and how I would describe living in Oz to my friends and family back home.Even now when i think of the place and look at the old piccies, most of the above spring to mind.
beejay1

http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos/9

Sorry I should of explained myself more clearly with the 'wanting parents to work bit'.

In the doco a mother was forced back to work. She had to board a bus at some silly hour of the morning (3am) to go to work an hour and a half away with a young child (6yrs old) staying with an uncle. The uncle had a gun, the kid took the gun to school and shot dead some kids. And all this while, she was working for the company that produced these guns!

This wouldn't of happened if the mother was allowed to stay at home, on welfare, have food on the table and be warm. but the govt wants all parents back at work.

This would have a major impact on society as we know it today adding to the already problem family's out there. It would add those responsible parents to that problem.

I'm a single mum.

I didn't ask my 'ex' to leave, to shag someone else, to realise that having a child means responsibility. NOW>... if the govt got off thier **** and made him pay up every week, then being on welfare for me, would probably be a non issue. I am working now, only part time, but I can't go full time with where I live. As it is, I am already working out of the 9-3 school hours and am relying on a babysitter to show up on time, plus I have to pay her too. I don't have child maintenance coming in regularly. Last time I recieved money from the dick was back in Dec.

And now back to the americanising thing...

We don't need thanksgiving, halloween, valentines day. You guys struggle on valentines day as it is.. I wonder how you would go, fitting in another day where the media fill our heads with unnessecary rubbish, that we have to spend time with family/friends to say, hey I love you, thanks for everything.

pfft!

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I fail to see why my taxes have to support parents who separate.

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I suppose like any social security system, there are those who use it and those who abuse it. Possibly a larger percentage abuse it, I don't know. The thing is, for the people who really need it, it's there and it's accessible. If you take it away, the abusers will either find another scheme to abuse or go out and get a job. The ones who really need it will end up on the street. So which is better?