Stop Being Chicken Shit of Intolerance!

Tags

Book of Mormon, bullying, films, intolerance, islam, protest, racism, religion

Protest outside of cinema in Birmingham

This week, the UK cinema company, Cineworld, pulled all showings of a new film called. “The Lady of Heaven,” from all cinemas around the country because of protests from the Muslim community. The film is about Lady Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. I know nothing more but Muslims have called the film ‘blasphemous’ and ‘divisive.’

I have said many times that I respect all religions and I will not downplay anyone Muslim or not, who finds the film offensive to the Islamic faith. Any such person is totally free to explain their views to me, either to me in person or here on Peaceful Rampage. I will listen and take note. What I am up in arms about is that people think that they have the right to prevent other people from seeing the film and it was cowardly of Cineworld to pull the film nationwide on account of a minority of outraged people. I understand Cineworld were concerned about the safety of their staff but that’s the point. Threatening violence is not the way to get your point across and all it does is make the people you want to convince even angrier. In fact, this whole affair makes me want to watch the film!

FFI: Click the link- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61729392

Before I get called ‘racist’ or ‘Islamaphobic,’ let me make it perfectly clear that I would be of the same mind frame if it was a Christian movie. Being a Monty Python fan, in spite of the fact that churches throughout the Western world called for the 1979 movie, “Life of Brian,” to be banned, I went and saw it. The protests made me want to see it even more and afterwards, I couldn’t see what everyone was so up in arms about.

While I didn’t see “The Last Temptation of Christ” in the cinema, I thought all the protests about it and threats of violence against movie houses was totally over the top. This too was an example of a minority of bullies using threats of violence to get their way. I did watch the film on TV and I turned it off 45 minutes in. Not because of any blasphemous content, I turned it off because I thought it was a complete pile of crap.

Maybe religious groups should follow the Mormons example. When the play, “The Book of Mormon” hit theaters throughout the world, the Mormons didn’t whine nor were there any pronouncements of death threats coming out of Salt Lake City. The Mormons bought advertising space at theatres the play appeared at saying, “If you want to know more about the faith, contact us.” This way is a lot more affective than bullying violence.

Everyone has a right to practice their faith and I totally believe in freedom of religion. However, whenever someone wants to push their religious views on others through violence, threats, intimidation, playing the race card or even monkeying with the law, then I fight back like a rat in the corner. If a book, film, piece of music or anything else, bothers you, then you have the right not to watch or listen to it. What you don’t have the right to do is intimidate others from doing so.

Note; According to some Christians, I committed a vile sin in 1978 when I went to see “National Lampoon’s Animal House” at the cinema.

Dissent is Welcome on Peaceful Rampage

Tags

Americans, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, books, bullying, dissent, Facebook, Great Britain, Politics, religion, school shootings, social media

Second Amendment  Bearing and Keeping Arms

• A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Last week, after watching a presentation on Facebook on how in the US, you have to be 21 to drink alcohol and 25 to rent a car, but you can buy a gun at 18, I stated that I found this aspect about America rather embarrassing. Note: I am NOT embarrassed to be American and I love the country I was born in. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have jumped through flaming hoops at the US Embassy in London to keep my American citizenship when I naturalized as a British citizen back in 1990. I’m digressing as usual but I pointed this out on that Facebook presentation and I got a lot of stick from right and left about it.

Naturally, I got the predictable redneck responses telling me that I was embarrassing and to move to Canada. It’s a bit late for me to do that. The main theme of responses was that owning a gun is a constitutional right while drinking a beer isn’t. One person pointed out that children have been using guns since guns were invented. My response is: Does that make it okay? As I told people on that meme, I am not for repealing the Second Amendment, which gives Americans to right to keep and bear arms. However, because it’s a constitutional right doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. Look at the fact that there have been ten mass shootings across the US over the past weekend. That is why I stick by my belief that the age of gun ownership should be 21 unless you serve or have served in the armed forces. Then it should be 18. After all, the US military is a well regulated militia and in my view, my belief does not conflict the the Second Amendment.

Of all the insults hurled at me, the biggest one came from the left where one stated “Brilliant Einstein.” This person wrongly thought that I wanted to lower the drinking age to 18 so young adults ages 18-20 could get drunk and go out and buy a gun. I pointed out that I wanted the opposite, the gun age raised to 21 but he didn’t come back on that one.

It’s very tempting for me to go off on a tangent about the gun debate and I could easily do so. The point I want to make is that even with a hot potato topic such as guns, where there are many differing opinions, we should be able to state our case without any patronizing, name calling or just plain abuse. The problem with social media is that there is a cloak of anonymity about it. Chicken shits can be as abusive as they want and say things to people they wouldn’t dare say in public and get away with it. I think that is wrong. Here on Peaceful Rampage and on my other blog, 80smetalman, I welcome everyone to voice their opinion, even if it’s unpopular or even illogical. You can start here if you like.

Shameless link to my book: There are instances in “He Was Weird” where Mark does offer an unpopular opinion or a point of knowledge and the bullies come down on him for it. Since the book is linked to my own experiences, it is one reason why I feel so strongly about it. No one should be attacked for putting forth an opinion or point of knowledge.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/He-Was-Weird-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1909740942/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1654633662&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

Or you can email me direct at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

You Have Nothing to Be Sorry About: A Poem by Cherie White

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books, bullying, Cherie White, christianity, islam, Jewish, poetry, quotes, racism, religion, sexism

Last week, Cherie White wrote and posted this poem on her blog, Chateau Cherie. I was so moved by it that I asked her permission and am sharing it with you now.

Don’t apologize for being who you are. You’re just the way God made you.

Don’t be sorry for being a woman, a man, your race, nor having brown hair, blonde hair, blue or brown eyes. For those are the things that make you you. Be happy and secure with it.

Don’t apologize for being a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, nor for holding certain values- for valuing your god and family. For those are the things you hold dear.

Refuse to be sorry for wrongdoings committed by others. You cannot control others’ actions, nor should you be expected to pay for their sins. That is between them and God, and they’ll be judged for it one day.

You’re not responsible for any sins other than your own.

Cherie White

This Is Hurting My Brain

Tags

abortion, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, bullying, children, christianity, islam, Mothers, parents, Politics, religion

Thanks to my Asperger’s riddle brain, the events of the past week have it swirling at 400 miles an hour. I’m talking about the leaked document announcing that the US Supreme Court plans to overturn the landmark Wade vs. Roe decision from half a century ago. The fear is that in some states, women will no longer have the automatic right to get an abortion. Already both sides are gearing up for the fight ahead.

My personal take and that is only what it is, is that I have been morally against abortion but I don’t think it should be outlawed. I mean, who am I, a man, to tell a woman what she can or can’t do with her own body. Therefore, I don’t think the law should either. Now before all the religious zealots start getting on my case, I believe that if your religious beliefs won’t allow a woman to get an abortion, then it’s down to your faith. Everybody is free to practice their religious beliefs according to the dictates of their conscience. However, I don’t approve of ANY religious group who wants to force their beliefs on others by monkeying with the law.

Now, I am going to divulge something which I have kept secret for over thirty years. My then wife did get pregnant but after a couple of weeks had to go to hospital because she was bleeding. The doctor told her that if she was to carry it, she would have had to remain in bed which wasn’t possible in our circumstances. She didn’t feel she could carry it and a few weeks later, had a termination. However, on account of the above circumstances, we said she had a miscarriage. People accepted it no problem and our parents seemed relieved as we already had a six month old. They thought we couldn’t cope with two small children. Maybe we could have but we’ll never know. I am only talking about this now because as a counter to the “What if it was your child?” question.

Now before anyone starts calling me a chicken shit for this, I simply stood by my wife’s decision. After all, she would have had to carry the baby and go through the pain of childbirth. What was worse is that if the baby was dead, she would have had endured all of that for nought. My big worry was if I had supported her enough during that time.

Fortunately, I live in Great Britain. Sure there are many pro life people in the country but a woman’s right to abortion isn’t debated here. It is accepted that it’s the woman’s right over her body and the law doesn’t touch that. At the same time, it respects the views of religious groups. I worry if what had happened thirty plus years ago was happening now and I was living in the US, I think that would have brought further unneeded stress on my then wife’s mental state.

Here’s another problem with ultra right wingers in both countries. If an Islamic nation openly banned abortion, these hypocrites would be the first ones to denounce it and site it as proof that Islam is a barbaric religion which oppresses women. Yes, there are a lot of Muslims who do oppress women and I abhor it, but at least they’re honest about it. Not like these fundamentalists who speak out against Islamic oppression of women but at the same time, believe women should be birthing and cooking machines.

I sincerely hope that the Supreme Court does not overturn Wade vs. Roe. Especially as some states will even outlaw abortion in cases of rape or incest. In that case, it’s not the fault of the female if she has been impregnated against her will and making her carry and give birth after such a trauma is barbaric in itself. Anyway, I digress again but I do hope certain people see sense.

Another Thing the Mormons May Have Got Right

Tags

BBC, christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, clothing, feminism, Mormons, religion, sexism, television

One extreme

To the other

As usual, when I write a post, I realize a few days later that there was another point I missed out. Last week, when writing about many of the things I think the Mormon faith has got right, I left out their view on how women should dress. Using the above pictures as a guide where we have a woman in a mini-skirt and the other in a full burka, Mormon guidelines, and they are only guidelines, are somewhere in the middle. Without going into details, Mormon women should dress modestly but at the same time, they can still be fashionable. Skirts should touch the floor when they kneel is one guideline and makeup and hair accessories should be moderate.

Before I go any further, before people start shouting sexism, there are dress guidelines for men as well. When I first joined the faith, I still had enough hair to tie back in a ponytail. While, no one in the church gave me gip over my hair length, I was cautioned that when I went to the temple, some people might give me funny looks. That didn’t happen. However, when I did cut my hair on account of my ever reseeding hairline, many members did complement me and say that shorter hair suited me more.

It all came together many years ago when I watched a BBC series called “World’s Strictest Parents” where wayward British teens are sent to live in another country where the parents are known for being strict. In one episode, a girl who was known for going around in skimpy tops and skirts which just about covered her bottom was sent to live with a Mormon family. As her two week stay was coming to an end, she went to a church function where the women wore long ball gowns. After the function, the girl stated that she felt really beautiful in her gown and realized that being beautiful didn’t mean having to expose her flesh.

Again, this is the rambling of an old man with a stranger Asperger’s mind which often contemplates things like this. But I think the Mormons do have a point. Women don’t have to hide their beauty but they can still be beautiful without having to expose all. I wonder what women actually think about it.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1644359168&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

Or email me direct at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Things That Prove My Insanity: The Mormons

Tags

Bible, Book of Mormon, books, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, films, Mormons, religion, South Park, television

For those who have been following me recently, it’s time to reveal that back in the 1990s, I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, known more as The Mormons. While I am no longer a member of the faith, there is still much of their doctrine which makes sense to me. Furthermore, I have full respect to the followers of the faith. While, I won’t go into my full history into my time with The Mormons, I will post the first of several links to archives I have written about that in the past.

I Found the Right Faith For Me

One reason I have so much respect for this faith is that unlike so many others, they don’t immediately cry foul at the first perceived grievance against them. When the play, “The Book of Mormon” came out, there were no shouts of protest from members of the church nor were there any death threats made against creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone coming out of Salt Lake City. In fact, I really liked the Church’s response. They bought advertising space at venues where the play was at. Their message was simple, if you want to learn about the faith, ask one of them. Again, I include a link to a past post.

Maybe All Religions Should Follow the Mormons Example

“The Book of Mormon” play wasn’t the first time the creators of “South Park” used the Mormons as a source of comedy. There was an episode where a Mormon family moves into the town and the son tries to make friends with Stan. However, Stan is all caught up in the debate of whether or not the actual Book of Mormon was inspired by God or made all up by founder Joseph Smith. Now, here’s where Matt and Trey get my total respect. While the most of the episode is on the side of Joseph Smith making the whole thing up, the ending is quite enlightening. At the end, the Mormon boy says to Stan, “So what if Joseph Smith made it all up. It has given me a standard to live by which I am happy with. All I wanted to do is be your friend but you couldn’t see past my religion.” My take from this is that you shouldn’t make fun of any faith no matter how ridiculous it might seem to you. I’ve read the Book of Mormon and I have never found anything blasphemous about it and if Joseph Smith did make it all up, he’s got one hell of an imagination!

One point I have found about the faith is that it does plug some of the loopholes in the Bible. Take the story of Cain and Abel. Atheists and religious sceptics ask how Cain, when he fled after murdering his brother was able to meet a woman to marry. The Mormon’s answer for me is quite simple. The passage in Genesis has made people throughout many generations assume that Cain was Adam and Eve’s first born. The Bible never actually says that! It just says that Adam knew Eve and Cain was born. Adam more than likely knew Eve many times before that and had many other children before Cain and Abel. It’s just that putting it the way it did makes sense to the story. There is another point which for me explains the Creation vs Evolution argument but as I had written it in an ancient post, I leave the link for you to read at your leisure.

Things That Prove My Insanity- Creation v Evolution

Now you may be asking why I am not in the Mormons anymore. In 2000, I went off the rails brought on by the end of my first marriage and I was excommunicated as a result. I don’t wear my excommunication as a badge of honour and I could go back if I wanted to. The thing is that I don’t. While I agree and deeply respect the teachings of the faith, there are things I am not ready to give up. What the Mormons call “The Word of Wisdom,” which bans members from smoking and drinking alcohol, coffee and tea is a main one. I like my dash of caffeine in the morning and some evenings, I like to cool off with a can of beer or glass of wine and when I am feeling like it or can’t get to sleep very late at night, a couple of puffs on the magic dragon does the trick. Another thing which is true with all faiths, while that faith might have been started on moral principles, they have all been corrupted by humans. This includes the Mormons as well. This is why I don’t wish to bother with them or any religion and am happy being a Spiritual Anarchist.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1643750025&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

Or email me direct at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Don’t Make Excuses, Get Help!

Tags

Americans, anxiety, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, bullying, christianity, Great Britain, mental health, parents, religion, stereotypes

All throughout my childhood, I was told that I was crazy, nuts, labelled a freak, told I need to see a psychiatrist and all sorts of things. The main purpose behind all of this was to bully me but as I grew in years, I sometimes wondered if I could have done with some help. That brings me to the first obstacle as to why I didn’t. Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, mental health was seen as a taboo subject and anyone who was undergoing any sort of therapy was looked upon almost as if they were a mass murderer. I’m not making this up!

Unfortunately, this attitude was reflected on my mother. When I finally had a huge meltdown right before my 16th birthday, I yelled that “I needed to see a shrink!” My mother didn’t send me to one, instead I went to a minister who had some training in psychology. I came from a religious background which I’ll get to in a minute. Anyway, when I first reflected back on this a few years later, I assumed it was my white middle class American upbringing which made my mother shun the psychiatrist idea on account of she worried about what the neighbours were going to think. That thought may still have had something to do with it but I think it was more down to her seeing it as a negative reflection on her parenting. So that’s my first shout to parents who have children who might have difficulty. Getting your child the help he or she might need is in no way any indication you are a bad parent! In fact, it is very much the opposite because you care enough about your child to get them the help they need.

Onto the subject of religion. I was a Born Again Christian throughout my teenage years. I don’t know about other religions but in the case of Christianity, there is a negative view of the mental health field. “Bring them to the Lord!” they will shout. Well, I did go to the Lord first and that only messed my head up more. However, I didn’t seek mental health because I believed those in the church who said that once a psychiatrist find out a patient has religious beliefs, they immediately blame all the problems on the patient being a ‘religious freak.’ There are some mental health professionals who have this view about religious followers but most will not brand you a freak and many will work around those beliefs. So, ignore those religious zealots who think mental health problems are the work of Satan.

I served in the US Marine Corps as a young adult. While serving, I had those who branded me crazy among other things. One platoon sergeant said he was going to send me to a psychiatrist. He never did and the reason I think why is that the military looks suspiciously at those who purport to have mental problems. Many in higher ranks would have seen my call for help merely as an attempt to get a discharge from the Corps. It didn’t help that some of my fellow marines did try to get themselves discharged and a tiny few succeeded, like the guy who pretended to ride a motorcycle everywhere he went. I might tell that story another time. Anyhow, if the Marine Corps wasn’t so paranoid of people trying to get out any way they could, they could have possibly provided me with the help I needed.

When I came to Great Britain a few years after leaving the service, my mental problems didn’t go away. When I talked about getting help, my then wife responded that going to a psychiatrist or a counsellor was something ‘Americans did’ and you just didn’t do that in Great Britain. Her view in my mind was aided by a few ignorant British people who went around thinking that Americans are so weak-minded, that they have to talk to their therapist because they can’t cope with their pet hamster dying. Let me tell you, don’t let this stereotype prevent you from getting the help you need. I was wrong for letting that and all the other mentioned excuses prevent me from getting the help I needed much sooner.

Fortunately, I did get help. At the tender age of 42, I put myself into counselling. With the help of the counsellor, I was able to peel back the pages of my life and while it didn’t solve my problems, it gave me insight as to how they came about and how to deal with them. In fact, the counsellor gave me the confidence I needed to write “He Was Weird” and my first book “Rock and Roll Children.” I put the counsellor in my ‘Special Thanks’ page in the first book.

Needless to say but I will say it, if you think you need help, get it. Whether it’s through your doctor or elsewhere, get the help you need. It doesn’t make you weak or a heathen or a shirker and if you are a parent, getting help for your child doesn’t mean you are a failure, quite the opposite!

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1643043778&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

Or email me direct at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Things Which Prove My Insanity: Religious for Convenience

Tags

christianity, Christmas, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, hypocrisy, islam, Jehovah' Witnesses, Mormons, religion

It is my belief that all religions have members of that faith who are only members because they want to use it to justify a certain belief. For example, men of many religions, be it Christian, Muslim, Mormon or whatever, use their religion as an excuse to dominate their wives. They point out that if the wife doesn’t blindly follow the husband’s lead, she will burn in hell. Taken to the extreme, religion is even used as an excuse for abusing their wives. One Christian evangelist even said that any man who lets his wife dominate him is in danger of hellfire. However, this is just one example and it’s a horrific one. There are many others.

However, as it’s Christmas, my insane mind has me thinking about Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have nothing against any faith and I believe that the vast majority of their members are really devout but I wonder how many of them, (it’s probably a tiny minority), only joined the faith as an excuse not to have to celebrate Christmas. Taken to the extreme, some may not show up at the Kingdom Hall for most of the year but come December, they will be there. Again, no offence intended so snowflakes back off.

Throughout my life, I have met religious people who embraced certain teachings of their faith when it was appropriate. I know of a guy who thought sex was evil, not because he actually believed it, it was because he wasn’t getting any. On the other hand, I know of religious followers who use their ‘struggle’ with a certain doctrine of the faith to leave it. When I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormons, there were some members who felt they couldn’t come to church because they were having problems with the Word of Wisdom. That meant they either smoke or drank alcohol, coffee or tea. However, they couldn’t answer when it was proposed that going to church might help them in their struggle. People will always find an excuse to join or leave a religion.

This is one reason why I don’t bother with organized religion. For the most part, the Mormon faith has best answered my questions about spirituality. It’s just that I don’t want to live by their rules or the rules of any faith. I just want to be me and live the best life as I know how. One thing I will never do is use religion to justify anything.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1640633804&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

War on Christmas? I’m Confused

Tags

Autism, christianity, Christmas, Diwali, Hanukah, Hindu, islam, Jehovah' Witnesses, Jewish, political correctness, Politics, Ramadan, religion, schools

For the past few years, I have heard people say that there is a war on Christmas. They cry that political correctness is killing the spirit of the holiday because people apparently can no longer wish others a Merry Christmas. Instead, they have to say “Happy Holidays.” Maybe it’s me with my strange mind but I don’t see what the fuss is all about. Unlike what some on the right say, I don’t think liberals, lefties or non-Christians are attempting to wipe out Christmas.

I grew up in Southern New Jersey in an area which had a large Jewish population. If I knew the person and knew which holiday they celebrated, I would wish them well accordingly. I’d say “Merry Christmas” to Christian friends and at the same time, wishing my Jewish friends “Happy Hanukah.” Growing up, I didn’t know anyone of either the Muslim or Hindu faiths but now since I have met many here in the UK, I wish them a Happy Ramadan or Happy Diwali. I would have done so back then. However, if I didn’t know the person or their religious faith if any, I found it much easier to wish them “Happy Holidays.” Thus no one is offended.

The problem is that a few left of centre types have either assumed that non-Christians will be offended or alienated by a Christian holiday or the fact that these people don’t have any religion and therefore claim that the religious aspects of the holiday amounts to forcing a religion down their throats. One local council in the UK has changed the name Christmas to ‘Winterval’ out of fear that Christmas offends. Personally, I don’t know of anyone who is offended by Christmas but if they want to call it something else, then they’re welcome to do so. It doesn’t bother me unless such a person wants to shove their views down my throat. If anyone does that, I resist like a cornered rat.

Here’s two thoughts:

Let me explode one myth. It seems that, at least here in Britain, people have blamed the Muslims for the so-called war on Christmas. They claim that the only reason the name Christmas gets changed or not celebrated in schools is out of fear of offending them. Not true! I have taught in schools attended by children of the Islamic faith and they are not offended by Christmas. They see it as time off school so they’re not complaining. In fact, the one religious group who has a problem with Christmas are the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Personally, I respect their beliefs and if they don’t want to celebrate Christmas, fine. Furthermore, they don’t seem to be waging a war on Christmas. Let me ask: Has anyone had their door knocked on by any Jehovah’s Witnesses during the holiday period? I never have. As long as their children do not participate in any services or plays with a Christmas theme, they are happy. However, that doesn’t stop some schools I’ve been in seeing JW’s as a nuisance and that is wrong too.

So in conclusion, I think the who ‘War on Christmas’ had been blown totally out of proportion. As for me, if I don’t know someone and have the least bit of doubt as to their beliefs, I will wish them a happy holiday. As for people I do know, I will continue to wish them a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah or whatever. No one should be offended.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1640027393&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

Why England Could Celebrate Thanksgiving: Another Thing Which Proves My Insanity

Tags

Americans, Great Britain, history, religion, television, Thanksgiving

Occurring this week is the one American holiday I consistently celebrate even though I have been living in Great Britain for thirty-five years. I’m talking about Thanksgiving. Recently, I met a British woman who said she’d like to celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK. That got me thinking, a dangerous thing I know. There are plenty of good reasons why it could be a good idea if Great Britain did celebrate this holiday.

First, let’s look at it from a historical perspective. The Pilgrims, who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621, did so because they were grateful for surviving the year in America. Of course, they had lots of help from the Native Americans. Anyway, I once joked that England could celebrate the fact that they had kicked the Pilgrims out of England. Actually, there is some merit to this. If the Plymouth colony had failed, the Pilgrims might have returned to England. In that case, Colonial America wouldn’t have been a dumping ground for religious groups who dissented from the Church of England throughout the 1600s. Thanks to the colonies, England got rid of many of its problems by sending their problems to the New World. England could celebrate that fact.

Next, let me dispel one misconception. Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday. True, the Pilgrims were a devout religious sect and they thanked God for the bounty they had received but it is not celebrated as a religious holiday. Americans of all faiths and none celebrate Thanksgiving. What is special about the holiday is that it is a time for families and friends to get together to give thanks for the year. It’s also why I was sort of bummed that I only got home for one of the four Thanksgivings I had during my four years in the service. Thanksgiving is about families!

Back in 2000, I was in a social club where members have to organize at least two activities a year. Yes, I did a Thanksgiving dinner, with the help of another member who allowed me use of her home, (she got credited for the activity as well). The full capacity of sixteen people showed up for the event and all of them said they enjoyed the dinner and saw why I celebrated it. They weren’t the only ones. People who have been fortunate to have experienced a Thanksgiving dinner from me also see why I celebrate it. So, I can’t see why everyone in Great Britain couldn’t have Thanksgiving.

Black Friday carnage as seen on South Park

One final reason why Britain could celebrate Thanksgiving. Since the beginning of November, the Christmas adverts of started on television. Many Britons agree that it’s far too early for Christmas ads. With Thanksgiving in the calendar, people wouldn’t start thinking about Christmas until after the fourth Thursday in November and we would be spared at least three weeks of early Christmas ads. Furthermore, the people of Great Britain would see the true meaning of Black Friday.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: mazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1637699615&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1