Thanksgiving In A World That Is Losing Its Mind?

| Photo by Aliaksei Lepik on Unsplash

A Special Thanksgiving 2024 Article

It is Thanksgiving week in the world’s biggest economy with history’s most powerful military. But is it indeed Thanksgiving Day in a “world that is losing its mind”? Why should ordinary folks celebrate it, small people (yes, those with less in life or whose lives are experiencing pain because of fatal illnesses, and the patients do not have enough medical care)? Why should those living marginal lives join in the merriment of being thankful for everything they do not have?

Pundits often describe the phrase “the world lost its mind” as an exaggerated way of saying that society in many developed countries seems to be exhibiting a significant amount of irrational behavior — especially among their national leaders. Because often the spread of misinformation, extreme polarization, and a lack of critical thinking- mainly made uglier by social media- making the American world topsy turvy? Quite a few souls will not agree that it is even figuratively true. Does it reflect a growing debate about the level of societal discourse and the acceptance of unfounded, if not doubtful, beliefs?

So, this writer turned to his editorial assistant, Mr. Google. I asked him to show me “worlds that are losing their mind.” The first answer to pop up is How to Cope When the World Has Lost Its Damn Mind.

It is a website called Motherhood and More by Annie Reneau. She says she has three kids, an insatiable wanderlust, and a wicked love for coffee. The site is for mothers. This writer would not bet that the website includes Cat Moms of VP-elect Sen. JD Vance’s description. Thus, this Filipino satirist would leave it to readers who are moms (with real rascals, oops, children) to explore the website and write a follow-up for next Wednesday’s column. The best essay (or a combination of the best comments) will probably be featured on December 4, 2024. The writers of the winning entries will receive vacation trips (for two) to the Philippines provided this columnist wins the Super Lotto grand prize before December 28, 2024, celebrated as Niños Inocentes (Innocent Children’s) Day. It is the Filipino equivalent of April Fools’ Day.

But speaking of Thanksgiving and the Oval Office, this column wrote on November 27, 2022, “Can Mr. Biden Amend President Washington’s Proclamation on Thanksgiving Day”? The article said: “Today is the last day of the four-day Thanksgiving Weekend 2022. Perhaps President Biden may ask his legal advisers if he can issue a proclamation that will amend President Washington’s proclamation on Thanksgiving Day. Can Mr. Biden amend the first president’s proclamation on Thanksgiving Day to conform with the truth? Because apparently, there were three previous Thanksgiving events in the Great States of Florida and Texas ahead of the 1621 Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth Rock.” It could have been President Biden’s immortal introduction of perhaps three more Thanksgiving Days in this country.

The White House staff of President Biden did not forward the “Thanksgiving-2022” article to him again. Mr. Biden could have “amended” President Washington’s proclamation and made history. Unfortunately, President Biden was not able to know also the other articles written in this column about a suggested “Biden’s Back-to-Basics” Doctrine. The “BB2B” Doctrine articles have been published into a book, Part IV of the Mabuhay Writings series on Amazon Books, with President Biden on the cover.

Jobo Elizes, the publisher of the Mabuhay Writings, appears to be the number-one Filipino-American supporter of President Biden. Why? Mr. Elizes made the other articles in this column that mentioned the Biden Administration into two books called Mabuhay Writings Books II and III. Perhaps President Biden should give a presidential medal to Mr. Elizes before he leaves The White House for his dedication to his presidency.

On behalf of the other columnists, publisher, and staff of the Philippine Daily Mirror, this journalist wishes all, especially the Moms (and Cat Moms, too), the best for Thanksgiving and the Yuletide Season that follows. Yes, a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving even to those who think “the world is losing its mind.”