We all know the story of Thanksgiving. Or do we? This uniquely American holiday has a rich and little known history beyond the famous feast of 1621. In Thanksgiving; award-winning author Melanie Kirkpatrick journeys through four centuries of history; giving us a vivid portrait of our nation's best-loved holiday. Drawing on newspaper accounts; private correspondence; historical documents; and cookbooks; Thanksgiving brings to life the full history of the holiday and what it has meant to generations of Americans. Many famous figures walk these pages—Washington; who proclaimed our first Thanksgiving as a nation amid controversy about his Constitutional power to do so; Lincoln; who wanted to heal a divided nation sick of war when he called for all Americans—North and South—to mark a Thanksgiving Day; FDR; who set off a debate on state's rights when he changed the traditional date of Thanksgiving. Ordinary Americans also play key roles in the Thanksgiving story—the New England Indians who boycott Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning; Sarah Josepha Hale; the nineteenth-century editor and feminist who successfully campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a national holiday; the 92nd Street Y in New York City; which founded Giving Tuesday; an online charity established in the long tradition of Thanksgiving generosity. Kirkpatrick also examines the history of Thanksgiving football and; of course; Thanksgiving dinner. While the rites and rituals of the holiday have evolved over the centuries; its essence remains the same: family and friends feasting together in a spirit of gratitude to God; neighborliness; and hospitality. Thanksgiving is Americans' oldest tradition. Kirkpatrick's enlightening exploration offers a fascinating look at the meaning of the holiday that we gather together to celebrate on the fourth Thursday of November. With Readings for Thanksgiving Day designed to be read aloud around the table.
#828265 in Books Temple University Press 2003-12-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.00 x .70 x 7.00l; 1.45 #File Name: 1592132332376 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Defining AmerikaBy John NavaDEFINING AMERICA THROUGH IMMIGRATION POLICY by Law Professor Bill Ong Hing; is divided into two parts. The first part is a general history of immigration and legislation concering immigration from the late 1700's through the post-quota era of the 70's and 80's and the September 11th fall-out. The second part deals mostly with clandestine border crossers from Mexico and other parts of Latin America.The first part is a little dry and repetitive with information already covered in part in such books as CIVIL RIGHTS IN IMMIGRATION by Milton Konvitz (Cornell; 1952) and Oscar Card in NATIONALISM RACE IN AMERICA (Anchor Books; 1957). However; Professor Hing does provide some info not included in these other books.The second part is more exciting; covering the 1986 amnesty bill and Operation Gatekeeper with brief detours to former Nazi collaborators; John Lennon's case and Iranian students during the hostage crisis. One excellent argument Professor Hing makes here is how the US spends more and more money on the "War on Drugs" Crusade to little effect while repeating the same mistake on human smuggling and clandestine crossings. (A libertarian irony is how many Americans favor legalized drugs--or at least decriminilization of marihuana; but tighter punitive measures on the border for clandestine crossings. Rand Paul; for instance.) He also; surprisingly; points out the "morality" of certain US border-enforcement policies--namely; the Clinton-initiated "Gatekeeper." True; this point may be subjective to a degree and difficult to argue for; but it is comforting to hear older liberals and progressives still use the word "moral" and "morality." Another example; would be when one of the producers of the documentary film; AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH was making his acceptance speech for an Academy Award; he referred to global warming as a "moral issue" as opposed to a mere environmental one. The reason I point this out is that both conservatives and liberals relegate morals and morality to mere sexual ethics; when in reality it is much more than just that. My own opposition to the Death Penalty; for example; is a moral choice and has ABOSULUTELY NOTHING to do on whether it serves as a deterrant or not or even out of fear of executing the wrong person.A final note is that the book could have used better editing or at least have been more tightly written. However; it still remains a very much recommended book.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Immigration PolicyBy S. LadyProvacative. Lots of information. The author has a definite voice and opinion. Wonderful for building a knowledge base about America's history of immigration.
