Welcome to the Third Degree: Tough, Brief, Weekly Interrogations on matters public and private that force thinking and response. This Sunday we target: Facets

  • Has Thanksgiving been supplanted by too much early Christmas or are its facets of faith, favor, food, football and more still uniquely special?
  • If Thanksgiving were crystalline, held up to the light, would we marvel as facets reflect captivating brilliance?
  • Does a history of fact and fancy create ritual facets that endure?
  • Given the 1621 Plymouth harvest celebration between the pilgrims and the disease decimated Wampanoag Tribe (People of the Frist Light), does it take 321 years before Federal Holiday Thanksgiving is established as the fourth Thursday in November?
  • While black clad puritanical pilgrims and feathered Indian depictions are disputed, was the Tisquantum (called Squanto) story central to Pilgrim survival?
  • While Washington issued a proclamation in 1789 recommending a day of Thanksgiving, did it take “Mary Had a Little Lamb” author, Sarah Hale’s influence with Lincoln to cause the first nationwide call for Thanksgiving in 1863 thereby establishing precedent?
  • Did Sarah also popularize eating turkeys now to the tune of some 50 million each Thanksgiving?
  • Is Macy’s parade an integral part of the day with The Rockettes and Santa’s arrival most important?
  • Is individual expression of gratitude around the dinner table augmented by admissions like: ” I’m thankful that they didn’t find out?”
  • Does crowded and loud family conviviality cause you to opine: “Of all my relatives, I really like myself the best?”
  • Breaking through the hubbub, is the day redeemed by football?
  • Is gratitude also measured by three games on the day plus a black Friday bonus?
  • What if you could skip all the family stuff this year, with family blessing, and just you and the Mrs. go to a 25-degree (and windy) Lambeau for a Packers game?
  • Is Christmas coming early (we’re in a suite) knowing all will be back and welcome in 26 days?
  • Does it stun that an assumed Bear’s guy is also a Packer’s fan and confirm what some have observed all along….acute schizophrenia?
  • So, does Happy Cheese Head Day also reflect this: Happy Thanksgiving?

Socrates reminds: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” The answers and actions are yours.