It's Thanksgiving. You knew that, didn't you? I don't know how you could have missed it - not with all the Facebook photos of turkeys in ovens, pie doughs being rolled out, and sweet potatoes being covered in marshmallows, brown sugar or brandy... or all three!
In keeping with tradition, I'm baking today too. Not a pumpkin pie or a green bean casserole. I'm keeping it simple with a Black Russian cake with raspberry glaze... not exactly traditional but it gives me a chance to put my new fluted pan to use. I'm sure I'll be following more tradition by posting a photo of the finished product later!
Also keeping with tradition, I thought about writing out a list of things for which I'm thankful. Then I realized not only is it just about everything in my life but, since I try to remember how grateful I am every day - okay, I try to do it often, if not every day - that creating a list today makes it no different than other days. So I put away the blog for the day, thinking I just wouldn't compose an entry today. Then two things happened back-to-back.
My morning routine hasn't been broken this morning. I'm sitting here in front of my computer. I have a cup of hot, black coffee to my right. And the news is on in the background. Of course, many of the stories today revolved around the holiday - the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, live feeds from homeless shelters and soup kitchens, video of people camping out for Black Friday, iPhone apps that help you shop/get discounts at retailers and, finally, a list of stores open. Today. Retail stores. Open. All. Day. Long.
Seriously?
In the past, I've been known to voice my opinion that on two holidays (Thanksgiving & Christmas), the only workers who should be required to report for duty are those involved in essential services - police, fire, medical, etc.
Of course, through the years, it's become more common for people to ease their holidays by eating out instead of cooking a traditional dinner. So I suppose I understand that some restaurant staff will be working. And many take advantage of the long weekend to travel - so, again, I begrudgingly accept that those in the travel and hospitality industries might have to work. Here in Vegas, the casinos don't close - I have mixed feelings about that. But retail stores. I just don't get it.
Kim & Dana (those are my local newscasters), listed off the stores that will be open today. Here's a partial list:
- Miracle Mile Shops
- The Forum Shops at Caesers
- Las Vegas Premium Outlets - North
- Walmart
- Old Navy
- Sam's Club
- Burlington Coat Factory
- TJ Maxx
- Ross
- Marshall's
These aren't stores that are opening at 8 p.m. or midnight for early Black Friday specials. That's reserved for stores like Kohl's and Target. But the stores listed above are open all frigging day. And most of them are even extending their hours today - some starting as early as 5 a.m. So not only do these workers have to work on Thanksgiving. They have to get up at some awful hour they're probably not at all accustomed to. Then work a nice 8, 10 or 12 hour day. The lucky ones will get the early shift and maybe... just maybe... drag their tired butts home and their loved ones will have set aside a plate of leftovers for them to eat while the rest of their family is already napping from their tryptophan-induced food comas.
I get that we've replaced our instinctual need for hunting and foraging with shopping. I even understand that we've somehow replaced showing our love through hugs and words by showing it with gifts and things. I understand it - doesn't mean I actually accept it. But I just don't get how we can't put that on hold for one damn day. A day intended for gratitude. A day revolving around the custom of spending time with family and friends. Of sharing the ideals of community and friendship and love. Instead, we've turned the custom into a day of just plain spending.
My belief that retailers should not be open today - shouldn't even open early for Black Friday - was shown through the signing of an online petition asking Target to not open tonight for early Black Friday shoppers. Although the petition did nothing to change the plans of these retailers, it did do something for the young woman who started the petition. I received an email from her today:
________________________________________________
Jim -
Tonight, I'll be putting on my red shirt and going to work at Target after I eat Thanksgiving dinner. But when I sit down at the table, I'll be thinking about everything I'm thankful for -- including you.
When I started my petition asking Target to open later for Black Friday shopping, I never imagined it would be this successful. Nearly 370,000 people (including you!) signed in support, and my campaign inspired 157 other petitions by workers at retail stores around the country. I even flew to Target's headquarters in Minneapolis to deliver the signatures! I am truly in awe of the effect just one petition had for so many people like myself, who want to keep Thanksgiving dedicated to family.
Target may not have decided to open later on Thanksgiving, but you and I were definitely heard by retailers everywhere opening early for Black Friday shopping. My story was featured in the media 1,628 times, including interviews with the Washington Post, TIME, USA Today, and many, many more. (And in case you missed it from the previous email, you can see my interview on the Today Show here!)
When I first found out I would be forced to work on Thanksgiving, I felt angry and frustrated. Now, even though I have to go into work, I feel empowered, because all of you are standing with me. I know Target and other retailers got the message loud and clear that Americans care about Thanksgiving and family more than their bottom line.
Thank you so much for supporting me through this fight -- and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Casey St. Clair
Corona, CA
When I started my petition asking Target to open later for Black Friday shopping, I never imagined it would be this successful. Nearly 370,000 people (including you!) signed in support, and my campaign inspired 157 other petitions by workers at retail stores around the country. I even flew to Target's headquarters in Minneapolis to deliver the signatures! I am truly in awe of the effect just one petition had for so many people like myself, who want to keep Thanksgiving dedicated to family.
Target may not have decided to open later on Thanksgiving, but you and I were definitely heard by retailers everywhere opening early for Black Friday shopping. My story was featured in the media 1,628 times, including interviews with the Washington Post, TIME, USA Today, and many, many more. (And in case you missed it from the previous email, you can see my interview on the Today Show here!)
When I first found out I would be forced to work on Thanksgiving, I felt angry and frustrated. Now, even though I have to go into work, I feel empowered, because all of you are standing with me. I know Target and other retailers got the message loud and clear that Americans care about Thanksgiving and family more than their bottom line.
Thank you so much for supporting me through this fight -- and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Casey St. Clair
Corona, CA
________________________________________________
Casey, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too. I hope the shoppers who patronize your store this evening walk through those doors understanding the sacrifice you and so many others have made just so they can get a television for two hundred bucks. I commend you for standing up, speaking out, gathering forces, and bringing together a community. But, most of all, I appreciate your attitude of gratitude. Your ability to find the silver lining. To see the forest through the trees. To understand some things are out of our control but that shouldn't stop us from taking the steps necessary for change. I'm sure these steps you've taken this month will continue in the coming months and years and, maybe one day, your dream of a Thanksgiving with family - a Thanksgiving for all - will become a reality again.
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