Thanksgiving For None of Our Doing, 2017

In advance of the holiday, my St. John’s lawprof pal John Q. Barrett sent out his wonderful Jackson Letter* which included this bit of wisdom.

Dr. Hurwitz closed his November 1953 note to Justice Jackson, written on Thanksgiving Day, with a modest, I think admirable, nod to the role of fortune, and perhaps the role of higher power, in every life:

On this day anyone should be thankful for all the good he has, which are none of his doing.

“None” might be a bit of an overstatement, but it’s delusional to believe that fortune doesn’t play a significant role in the good we enjoy. And as Dr. Hurwitz notes, that’s why we are thankful. If the wonderful things in our lives were merely the product of our efforts, there would be no reason to be thankful. We earned them. But they aren’t, even if our efforts enabled us to take advantage of kismet.

Thanksgiving plays two roles, the first of which is to provide us with a day to reflect on those things for which we are thankful. The second is to enjoy a tradition that grounds us, reminds us of our being part of a larger society, a continuum that existed before us and will continue after us.

Like all traditions, Thanksgiving has come under attack. Is our mythology true? Why celebrate a day when the Pilgrims committed genocide against the Wampanoag who helped them survive? Maybe the desire to undermine the tradition came about because some academics had nothing left to write about. More likely, this is just another effort at historical revision to see the world through the eyes of today’s socially just, where the Europeans are evil and the indigenous people oppressed.

I have much to be thankful for. I enjoy and appreciate traditions, and this is one of my favorites. And much as I can appreciate the very real concerns for people, I will continue to enjoy and appreciate our traditions. You don’t have to if that’s what makes you feel better, but I prefer to do so, and so I will.

Thank you, all of you, for reading SJ. Thank all of you who contribute to SJ. Thank all of you who suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune to persist in principled, rational thought while all around you emote and demand that you wipe away their tears. Our traditions will survive.**

One of my Thanksgiving traditions is to listen to Arlo. I hope you enjoy.

*If you aren’t signed up to get it, you should stop reading now. You’re not worthy.

**Let’s dispense with the “Happy Thanksgiving” greetings. Much as it’s appreciated, it’s assumed.

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11 thoughts on “Thanksgiving For None of Our Doing, 2017”

  1. Sgt. Schultz

    Thank you, all of you, for reading SJ.

    Bullshit. Your ambivalence is legend, and your most endearing feature.

  2. Patrick Maupin

    Thank you for all you write. Our traditions will survive, indeed, and I, personally, have a lot to be thankful for, including the knowledge that only a minimal cognitive dissonance is required in order for principled, rational thought to be able to safely coexist with tears that require wiping.

    Happy thanksgiving to you, Dr. SJ, and your entire family.

    1. SHG Post author

      I’m personally withholding gratitude from Dr. SJ until I learn whether she’ll let me eat the pies she’s baked for Thanksgiving. There have been hints over the past few days that I may be deemed unworthy because of my toxic masculinity waistline.

      Thanks, Pat. If you were anywhere near me, I would demand you come for the myriad pie offerings. It’s the least I could do. Happy Thanksgiving.

      1. Kathleen Casey

        This is not Happy Thanksgiving, this is “ignoring comments about your waistline is a way of life at The Quaker Bonnet.” In the mood for more of The Bonnet’s famous specialty this holiday season?

        1. SHG Post author

          It was thoroughly enjoyed. But if you do (and you’ve already been more than generous to me, so…), let me know first, so it comes to the better location.

      2. Fubar

        There have been hints over the past few days that I may be deemed unworthy because of my toxic masculinity waistline.

        Just suggest with the thanks that you bring,
        That a waist is a terrible thing
        To mind when a feast
        Might proceed unpoliced,
        Since your gratitude’s sweetened with bling!

  3. B. McLeod

    I am thankful for a holiday whereupon I am allowed to gently smile in appreciation of my white, ageist, classist, cis-male privilege. And my wine. Cheers all!

  4. REvers

    I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I had turkey, ham, mashed taters, dressing, GRAVY, rolls, and cranberry sauce. Some other family members had some sort of broccoli and cheese casserole that has always looked and smelled exactly like baby puke to me.

    And pie. PIE. Pecan pie. Pumpkin pie. Chocolate cream pie. Coconut cream pie. They were all delicious. Even the second pieces were delicious.

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