A Thanksgiving prayer

[Stormwatch]

Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1986
by William S. Burroughs

For John Dillinger
In hope he is still alive

Thanks for the wild turkey and the Passenger Pigeons, destined to be shit out through wholesome American guts —

thanks for a Continent to despoil and poison —

thanks for Indians to provide a modicum of challenge and danger —

thanks for vast herds of bison to kill and skin, leaving the carcass to rot —

thanks for bounties on wolves and coyotes —

thanks for the AMERICAN DREAM to vulgarize and falsify until the bare lies shine through —

thanks for the KKK, for nigger-killing lawmen feeling their notches, for decent church-going women with their mean, pinched, bitter, evil faces —

thanks for “Kill a Queer for Christ” stickers —

thanks for laboratory AIDS —

thanks for Prohibition and the War Against Drugs —

thanks for a country where nobody is allowed to mind his own business —

thanks for a nation of finks —

yes, thanks for all the memories… all right, let’s see your arms… you always were a headache and you always were a bore —

thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.

[Specineff]

Aye, Dios mio.

We're making roasted turkey tacos tomorrow. Anybody want some?

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Dame dos, por favor.

Feliz Día de los Pavos .

[Specineff]

[undamned]

[Stormwatch]

Timely bump.

[Nate]

@ Stormwatch: Take your "bump" down there and enjoy this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDvYdQNEgmw

That should get you in the mood

Happy TG to all the REAL people of N. America!

[Stormwatch]

Okay, let's make it more light-hearted with a funny pic!

[Specineff]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsT2URr1Igc

[drauch]

Oh god, why.

[trap15]

Oh god, why.

[Stormwatch]

Because it is the fool's duty to remind even kings of what they would rather forget.

[drauch]

No one needs to remember Matchbox 20 or Rob Thomas.

[mesh control]

Who?

[Stormwatch]

No idea.

[GaijinPunch]

Because it is the fool's duty to remind even kings of what they would rather forget.

You have my dry sense of humor, with the humor or sense. Nobody (no Americans anyway) celebrate Thanksgiving in memory of the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock. It's a day to be thankful (hence, the name) for what you have. That and pig out and hang out with your family. I'm sure there's plenty "Americans are greedy cunts and caused the world recession" threads here that would be more befitting of your rant.

[Stormwatch]

That's probably not what Burroughs had in mind, taking in account that the poem was first published in 89. I think it was about the American zeitgeist at the time, when the country turned more conservative... it was a time for growth of certain greedy, hypocritical, prejudiced, reactionary, moralist forces - that are not gone yet, by the way. Environmental destruction, gay bashing, racism, bible-thumpers pushing their crap into science textbooks and courtrooms: all that shit is still around. You could now add bailouts, war, security theatre, dwindling civil rights, growing wealth disparity, and the message remains roughly the same: what are you partying for, when the country is a damn mess.

[drauch]

Whoa, I didn't realize America was in such shambles! Guess I should get out more. Then I can at least watch the public lynchings.

[GaijinPunch]

Whoa, I didn't realize America was in such shambles! Guess I should get out more. Then I can at least watch the public lynchings.

Me neither...
... or of course that technology just made the scars of the world that much more visible.

what are you partying for, when the country is a damn mess.

I party for no other reason, than because people who don't live there make such awesome claims about it and it's residents.

[Acid King]

what are you partying for, when the country is a damn mess.

Is there any better reason to party? The ship is sinking and it's a drunken, coked-out fuckfest until that shit hits bottom, son!

[antron]

Children are still dressed up as "indians" and pilgrims in pre-schools all over the country and told a tale of the "First Thanksgiving". Idiots I knew from highschool are actually posting pictures of this shit on facebook.

I think a lot of American's know this isn't politically correct, and do not celebrate this in any way, but many probably don't know that it is factually incorrect. The Wampanoag were already dead from a plague and their corn was left growing for the settlers to take.

[mesh control]

Children are still dressed up as "indians" and pilgrims in pre-schools all over the country and told a tale of the "First Thanksgiving". Idiots I knew from highschool are actually posting pictures of this shit on facebook.

I think a lot of American's know this isn't politically correct, and do not celebrate this in any way, but many probably don't know that it is factually incorrect. The Wampanoag were already dead from a plague and there corn was left growing for the settlers to take.

See my drunk thread post. I went to a party last night and they started dressing up and getting trashed.

Each passing day I feel more and more like an alien.


edit: nothing matters

[Specineff]

edit: nothing matters

Yay, nihilism!

EDIT:

Stormwatch, darling. Let it go. There's nothing that can be done about it anymore, as lamentable as it is. It makes as much sense as asking men to stop having sex with their wives because other women throughout history have suffered rape.

Also, you should know about the money the casinos pull in for the tribes at least here in Arizona, and the reparations made to native americans.

[Necronopticous]

This year I made USDA prime steak instead of turkey to stick it to the man.

[Stormwatch]

Also, you should know about the money the casinos pull in for the tribes at least here in Arizona, and the reparations made to native americans.

Again, I don't think the poem is about injuns, but about the country's turn to christian conservatism at the time.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Tis very true with that particular palindrome.

What do you call such a word (or name) that can be spelled to form an entirely new word if spelled backwards? Example: Lime = Emil

True story:

I was at the local recycling outlet redeeming some soda cans and bottles one day. Upon giving out my name, the guy issuing the payment voucher for the soda cans 'n' bottles redemption value, he wrote my name accurately but all the letters were written completely backwards (but facing in their usual forward readable manner). I thought that was quite odd myself. WTF!? I think it was highly unusual to process information in that particular way, but whatever works best...so be it.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Specineff]

Also, you should know about the money the casinos pull in for the tribes at least here in Arizona, and the reparations made to native americans.

Again, I don't think the poem is about injuns, but about the country's turn to christian conservatism at the time.

And how is that supposed to affect me or you in any way, now?

[Stormwatch]

Because - I just said this - the consequences of that shift are still far from undone.

[Specineff]

And what can be done about it? Or more specifically, what, which is in your power and mine, can be done about it? Please don't think I'm trying to troll you, it's just that doing something to solve a problem is better than simply arguing about it.

[drauch]

Tis very true with that particular palindrome.

What do you call such a word (or name) that can be spelled to form an entirely new word if spelled backwards? Example: Lime = Emil

True story:

I was at the local recycling outlet redeeming some soda cans and bottles one day. Upon giving out my name, the guy issuing the payment voucher for the soda cans 'n' bottles redemption value, he wrote my name accurately but all the letters were written completely backwards (but facing in their usual forward readable manner). I thought that was quite odd myself. WTF!? I think it was highly unusual to process information in that particular way, but whatever works best...so be it.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

If I started a kickstarter for you to write a book, would you do it?