[From Bill Powers (2006.11.23.0245 MST)]
Mike Acree (2006.11.21.1030 PST)–
**The Great Thanksgiving
Hoax**
I think it would be possible to take any set of documents, and given
scissors and paste, make them say anything you want them to say. This is
a clear example of that. The idea that in a winter when people were dying
of hunger the resources were shared according to need becomes
“socialism”, and the idea that after the colonists learned
better ways of growing food the need for such sharing was removed turns
into the victory of free enterprise. What utter hogwash.
Best,
Bill P.\
[From Rick Marken (2006.11.23.0850)]
Bill Powers (2006.11.23.0245 MST)--
Mike Acree (2006.11.21.1030 PST)--
The Great Thanksgiving Hoax
I think it would be possible to take any set of documents, and given scissors and paste, make them say anything you want them to say. This is a clear example of that. The idea that in a winter when people were dying of hunger the resources were shared according to need becomes "socialism", and the idea that after the colonists learned better ways of growing food the need for such sharing was removed turns into the victory of free enterprise. What utter hogwash.
I think the hogwash was posted by Ken Kitzke this time.
Apparently this "free market" trope on the Thanksgiving story has been around for some time. This morning the LA Times printed a history of Thanksgiving editorials and, lo an behold, there was the "free market" story as the 1952 editorial.
I find it amusing (or horrifying, depending on my prevailing level of cynicism) that people have been able to take the basically very humane teachings of Jesus -- do unto others, love thy neighbor, when slapped offer up the other cheek, easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get through the gates of heaven, let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone, blessed are the meek, etc. -- and turn them into a justification for "red in tooth and claw" free market capitalism, preemptive war, greed and intolerance. Talk about control of perception!
Happy Thanksgiving
Love
Rick
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