I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful indeed for a host of things —-I just don’t “do” it on a Thursday in November.

But reading the headlines today; I do find some things that render thoughts of thankLESSness.

On the topic of a Catholic bishop telling Rep. Kennedy he isn’t fit for communion? Yeah…the last time we let religion rule civic life this way, it WAS called the “Dark Ages” and for good reason. It is over-the-top irrational to expect Rep. Kennedy to vote the Catholic line on isues like abortion—it amounts to “establishment of a religion” by forcing ALL his constituents to live by the precepts OF his religion. But then, perhaps the Catholic Church has just decided to quietly step aboard the Dominionist Bandwagon? I don’t know what it is about America; the wall between Church and State is under pretty continuous attack, yet most folks don’t notice till their personal toes are trod upon. Wake UP! Iran and Afghanistan didn’t wake up one morning and find the mullahs in control….it began with small things. I am NOT thankful to see this trend in American religion.

And then, the headline about rains in Mecca in the season of the Haj just made my inner Snark lick her lips. “Raining on their parade” she said. Don’t worry, I slapped her. I am more worried about the massive crowds providing a vector for deadly flu strains this year; and I dont’ think rain will help. I am not thankful that people are cold and shivering in the Arabian desert on the most important religious occasion of their lives.

And the headlines scream that Obama is going to explain why he is not getting our asses OUT of Afghanistan on December 1st. Merry Freaking Christmas, Barry?

We already know you are committing more troops. Great, are you giving in to generals possibly under the sway of people who do things like paint medieval Crusader knights on F-16s, or let the Bagram chaplain drive around in a vehicle with a huge glowing cross onboard? Because committing more men to a combat zone where superiors proselytize and threaten anyone not “Christian enough” is insult to the injury of sending them where the natives want them dead!
Not the “change” I voted for, Mr. President! No, I am not thankful for this decision.

And finally? Our elections have been dirty; some of the counting has been suspect. But we don’t know jack about “dirt” and elections….until you try to literally bury the competition with a back hoe. Definitely not thankful for savagery of this sort!