November 22, 2005 -Vol. 34 Issue 5
Editorial: True meaning
of Thanksgiving lost in holiday bustle
By: Jesse Lundine, sr.
for the Editorial Board
As Halloween has already passed, another holiday is in our midst.
Although Christmas is coming, the actual issue is the often forgotten holiday
known as Thanksgiving.
We all know Thanksgiving as when the pilgrims and the Native Americans became
friends and had a big feast to give thanks.
However, does anybody really remember how Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated?
Thanksgiving is a time when the entire family is suppose to gather around
the dinner table for a formal feast and engage in long conversations, while
remembering all the wonderful things they can give thanks for in their lives.
Instead of this traditional family celebration, people are being pulled toward
a more marketable holiday known as Christmas.
Cartoon by Haley Huffman
Most people have already begun to pull out those old Christmas
lights and garland; department stores have already put their Christmas merchandise
on display; the radio stations have already begun playing their annual Christmas
music, and the commercials on television are readily encouraging shoppers
to bundle up for the winter months and spend their hard earned cash on gifts.
With all the hustle and bustle surrounding Christmas memorabilia, no one even
notices the Thanksgiving decorations such as the paper turkeys and fall leaves,
along with young boy and girl pilgrim decorations usually made at school.
While Christmas has its own ‘family togetherness’ opportunities,
such as sitting around the Christmas tree and eating with family, Thanksgiving
is oriented around family as well. However, many people dismiss Thanksgiving
because they do not feel it requires as much family time as Christmas. Instead,
they use it as a excuse to eat and watch football.
It is pretty easy to get lost in the meaning of Thanksgiving; many families
have that problem. More often than not the families do not interact with each
other since the women are in the kitchen and the men are in the living room
glued to the television.
Some people do not see Thanksgiving as a major holiday because it is not a
profitable holiday like Christmas. Hardly anyone receives presents from someone
else on Thanksgiving.
What most people do not realize is that the best present of all is the opportunity
to spend quality time with their family.
For one reason or another, Thanksgiving gets lost in the fall pandemonium,
and somewhere in all the chaos the true meaning gets misinterpreted.
As everyone goes home for the holidays, they should try to remember all the
wonderful people and things in their lives. Family appreciation and unity
is the important factor of Thanksgiving. Enjoy the moments while they last
because these are the memories that will stand the test of time.
Be kind, courteous while
with family (Pro)
By: Erica Greve, sr.
Feature Editor
Let’s face it, the bustle of fast-paced modern American
civilization has rendered many traditional table manners nearly obsolete.
Busy families tend to shovel down quick-fix dinners in front of the television,
and consequently there is little opportunity for family members to practice
dinner-table etiquette.
Without so much as a “Please,” “Thank you,” or “Would
you pass the butter?” mealtimes seem to be little more than an inconvenience;
an occurrence to rush through and move past so that focus can shift to more
important matters.
This is all rather unfortunate. Through the ages, dinnertime has traditionally
been revered as a special family event. Our grandparents and great grandparents
would almost certainly remember dinners as an occasion where all family members
could set aside their tasks and differences to appreciate their love and
respect for one another. Family unity and values were held in high regard
and shown through simple acts like respect and table etiquette.
In modern times, however, the word “dinner” is synonymous with “microwave.” Labels
on boxes proclaim, “Ready in under five minutes!” and, in most
cases, their contents are consumed in an equally minimal amount of time.
Family members, especially children and teenagers, have little to no training
in polite dining and etiquitte. Behavior at sit-down dinners is not necessarily
brash or barbaric, but somewhere amidst the clatter of grabbing, belching,
slurping, gnawing, and rushing through meals, the simpler meaning of the
family dinner is lost.
Table etiquette is not a fussy and strict display of prudish and old-fashioned
behavior, but, rather, an opportunity to show appreciation and respect for
family members.
So, elbows off the table. Remember to be gracious and courteous, and perhaps
even help clear the table this holiday season.
Miss
Manners can skip holiday meals (Con)
By: Katie Hauser, jr.
Opinion Editor
Points of etiquette are important for
everyone to know, but when in the presence of family, one should not
have to worry about being the perfect Miss or Mister Manners. Prim and
proper behavior certainly has its place, but not at family meals. The
point of family meals can be lost quickly when one is worrying about
all the rules of etiquette.
Usually, family accepts its own members, no matter what happens or how
they behave at the table. They do not care if someone puts elbows on the
table or if the salt and pepper shakers do not get passed together. The
most important thing is that everyone is together, eating, talking, and
having a good time in each other’s company.
Family meals, especially holiday meals, should not be about finding the
right fork or taking the proper serving size. They should be about enjoying
time with people that care about each other and maybe do not see each other
that often.
Any mistakes that are made when it comes to table etiquette can often be
laughed about later. They provide memories that can be shared for years
to come. Even if someone does not like being laughed at, they should remember
that next time it will probably be someone else. Everyone makes mistakes
sooner or later.
Family time is diminishing in the American society just as quickly as proper
table etiquette. In the long run, family will mean more than etiquette
because they will always be there and will always be supportive, no motter
what happens, even if someone puts their elbows on the table.
This holiday season, everyone needs to spend more time with family and
less time worrying about having perfect table manners. Instead, people
should make sure that everyone is involved in discussion and is enjoying
being with family. Time for etiquette can be found later, but no one ever
knows when family members will not be around anymore.
Pass the food the wrong way, talk with a full mouth, eat too much, and
most imporantly, relish the time spent doing these things around family.
That is what Thanksgiving meals are really all about.
Review:
Dreamer great for familes
By: Amber Ysusi, so.
Ad Designer
A great family film to go see this holiday season would
definitely have to be Dreamer.
A great heart warming film, the movie is based on a true story, which makes
it even more exciting knowing that the events actually happened to someone
in real life.
It is a very inspiring movie that has a great theme of following one’s
dreams. It proves anything is possible if people want it badly enough.
Cale Kress,the main character is played by Dakota Fanning. Cale and her
father try to help a former race horse get back on its feet for the Breeder’s
Cup after a hard fall at a different race, but they hit quite a few bumps
along the way that make their dreams seem basically impossible. Money is
tight and the family has to struggle to afford what they need for themselves
and also for the horse.
Cale falls in love with the horse and helps it to overcome its problems.
She also inspires her father, who had lost hope in the great horse farm
his own father had once owned.
Dreamer is a movie for all ages. Anyone could enjoy it from young kids
to teens and even older adults. It is one of those movies that can make
the audience cry and laugh at the same time.
I would recommend this movie to everyone. Anyone who wants to watch a good
and inspiring movie should absolutely go watch Dreamer. Families will enjoy
watching this film together.
What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
 Chris Kolb, fr., “My favorite part about Thanksgiving is seeing all of my family relation.” |
 Christa Phillips, so., “I like the foods at Thanksgiving, such as chocolate pie.” |
|
 Clay Hunter, sr., “Dressing and cheesecake are my favorite things about Thanksgiving.” |
|
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