Some Like It Scott: Why You Should Be Thankful

November 24, 2006

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When you look at things historically (or at least … as I understand them) it was pretty amazing that the Indians were so gracious as to have dinner with the pilgrims altogether that first Thanksgiving. This just goes to show what every Jew knows, whether there’s going to be good or bad news, great or troubled times, “Eat, bubbeleh, eat.” Breaking bread, as it were, is one of the few civilized customs we have left in America today.

No matter, what your family is like, when you finally get to the table -- all you really have to say is, “Would you pass the gravy, please?” I’m convinced this is why everyone eats so early on Thanksgiving, everyone is thinking, “if we can just make it to the meal it will all be okay.”

The arrivals happen (so far so good), then a little chit chat and catching up on one another’s lives (manageable and you discover what a good liar you are), suddenly a heated conversation starts about politics, religion or Rosie on The View and your mother (seeing her watch says one o’clock and she planned to serve at three but trying to avoid the confrontation) screams, “Dinner is served!” Food is the great equalizer and brings us together (it’s also what makes us the fattest country in recorded history) but there’s no time for thinking about that on this day of Thanksgiving, after all until you put the gravy on it, turkey is very lean.

Whatever your family is (and no matter how much therapy you’ve gone through to avoid becoming them) those people you’re cringing about are part of you and what made you who you are today. The cliché about nothing in life worth having is easy to get holds true. It also goes for you and how you choose to react and relate to other people. That difficult relationship with your family, friends, mate, date or trick may just be the thing that makes you a stronger, more loving and giving person (if only by way of you overcompensating to not become them).

So when your cousin says that Jerry Falwell has it right say to yourself we got Rick Santorum out of office. When your brother says marriage is between a man and a woman, say to yourself, you can get married in Arizona. And when you look around the room on Thanksgiving realize that these are people just like you. You’re a person and ask yourself what Shakespeare’s Shylock asked, “If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?”

We’ve come a long way, babies. When I was eight years old I played Tiny Tim in a college production of A Christmas Carol, “God bless us, everyone.” Other than when I was at the theater, I didn’t feel very blessed. I was one of the “unfortunate ones”, the effeminate toddler that was a “Momma’s Boy” then in grade school, “A Sissy” and finally in high school as I was beaten and slammed into lockers more than once a day I graduated to, “A Faggot”.

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