Tha-CHRISTMAS!!!!

[ashandacisag]

In this cartoon a turkey is holding a “give thanks” sign and is about to be ran over by a large Christmas truck that is being driven by Santa Claus. The author’s reason for creating this comic was to exaggerate the idea that Thanksgiving is often overlooked by Christmas. The Christmas truck represents the greediness of Christmas and how people only care about the presents and decorations. The author proves his point by clearly showing how the true meanings of the holidays are put aside and turns into it being mainly about gifts, and little things such as giving thanks are no longer of importance.

The author and I have the same opinion on this subject. Thanksgiving always gets overlooked by Christmas. Whether in stores or talked amongst little kids, it just never gets as much attention. I went to Wal-Mart today and it looked like a winter wonderland. There was nothing that hinted to the idea that Thanksgiving was next week! I guess the idea of receiving presents is more important than giving thanks.

Tab (Thomas Boldt), The Calgary Sun, 11/18/2008

[sijunlisrad]

It's almost as if the author took this thought right out of my head and drew it on paper. I was at Target looking for Thanksgiving decorations to decorate a bulletin board with a few weeks ago and all I saw were Christmas supplies. There were still a few things left over from Halloween but nothing on Thanksgiving. This made me realize how little people care for Thanksgiving.

As depicted in the cartoon, Christmas overrides Thanksgiving. Like you said, "The idea of receiving presents is more important than giving thanks." Thanksgiving is just as important as Christmas. It teaches people to be thankful for what they have and it shouldn't be overlooked so often.

[alyssaostroff]

Good analysis of the political cartoon!

I agree with your opinion as well, Ashanda. A few weeks back, there really wasn't too much about Christmas being displayed. Halloween was everywhere one week and then a week later, Christmas! Where did Thanksgiving go to? Thanksgiving is a day when an individual reflects back on his life and remembers why it is he is thankful. It is a day to realize yeah my life's not perfect, but I have it pretty great. That day is about love and being together with one’s family. Christmas does bring families together, but if you asked any child what Christmas is about, chances are majority will say “it’s about the toys.” It hasn’t always been this way, but now that there are these big businesses with big sales, I think the true meaning of Christmas is lost. It’s turned into a commercial holiday. Still, I am somewhat baffled as to why Thanksgiving gets the short end of the stick when it comes to holidays. That holiday needs more publicity. But, when it gets down to it, Thanksgiving has a meaning and a purpose that can’t be hidden beneath flashy lights, ornamental trees, and extravagant gifts.

My opinion may be biased, though. Santa has never come to my house. *sniffles* (I think he’s prejudice against Jewish people.)

[Mr. Wells]

It is an interesting debate about which holiday should (or does) have more emphasis placed on it.

On the one hand, Christmas - in its purest, non-commercialized existence - is tied to one religion, and thus excludes those Americans who are not connected to that religion. However, as this country was "settled" (read: taken from the original inhabitants, who were ruthlessly killed and, if not killed and if treated well, came down with a nasty case of smallpox) by members of that religion, should not Christmas be more "important" to Americans at large than a holiday only recently (within the last 100 years: look it up) added to our nation's calendar - a modern tradition - based tenuously at best on a largely fictitious event between two clans with a barely tenable trust of one another?

Class? Thoughts about this?

[Mr. Wells]

Good work, Ashanda! I like that you parlayed the cartoonist's opinion into your own. Smooth rhetorical move.

50/50