So, as I was racing along Rockwood Avenue at 5 PM on Thanksgiving Day, blindly following my GPS to the nearest Wal-Mart, I started thinking. I CAN love Wal-Mart and hate the Daily Kos on occasion. Certainly, for both caveats, a rare occasion, but a possibility nonetheless. And, anyone who says otherwise is itching for a fight.
You see, Kos bugs me now and then, and recently it has with alarming frequency. It's like a pool filled with rocks. If you soft focus on the pool, the rocks look uniform and peaceful. But, if you pick one up, it takes on a personality of its own, hard and igneous or brittle and shale. Many Kossacks spout their own personal brand of extremism ... anti this or that, and very vehemently anti, in fact. Nothing is gray, everything is brilliant white or the darkest black. I'm a gray sort myself, and so I'm in a perfect position to remark on the black/white style Kossack.
Bottom line: I'm sick of Kossacks who hate TV and don't think anyone should watch it. I want to trust Arlen Specter and feel that you probably can't put a progressive in every district. I never liked John Edwards. Basically, I get sick of the extremists who think that their way is the only way. I want to use my donuts for difference of opinion because that's the bottom line anyway.
What got me thinking about all this was a diary filled with vitriol aimed at the corporate greed which keeps stores open on the high holy day of Thanksgiving. The very thought of such a sin filled numerous commenters with hatred and revulsion. Now, this diary became a Mecca for haters of corporate greed. Boycott KMart and Wal-Mart and anything with Mart in the name. It even had the F-star word (F*CK) in the name. Woo. Me, in my typical gray way, thought, well maybe not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving. Maybe people need a place to get a last minute item for their Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe someone is happy there is a place that is open for whatever. Isn't this kind of similar to people who say that Christmas is under attack? Think about it.
That other diary went on like this ...
Fuck you, you greedy, soulless bastards. I hope your bigwigs enjoy having dinner with their families while your poor employees are slaving away in your store.
My own little comment:
I only hope that someone is open today with (2+ / 0-) groceries. There's always something I need.
That is true. Usually it is cream or something I have forgotten. I'm a single parent and our way (me and the three) is to keep it as simple as possible. We eat when it's done and don't get up until we damned well feel like it. Usually the turkey is ready at 6 PM or so. Turkey. Quiche and spinach lasagna for the vegetarian. Cranberry sauce. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, and lots of gravy. This or that. Bread. Salad. Pie of at least two types. On this particular Thanksgiving, it was unsalted butter. The grocery store is open until 4 PM so I was good. I didn't want the checkers to know I had to rush in for butter for Thanksgiving so I got toilet paper and kitty litter also. Raced home and my son Sammy got the turkey in the oven.
I had made pies and quiche in the morning so I could watch football and rest for a bit .... Detroit was crushed ... who cares about Detroit? Basted at 2:30. More football. Zzzzz. Woke up at 4:30 and .... the oven was cold. Dead. Gas worked but oven wouldn't start. Sammy tried to figure it out and I started thinking of our options. Cry? No way. I love a challenge. I'll buy a steak or two and we can grill. Yes. No. Store's closed. WTF? We can cut chunks off the raw turkey and microwave it. Yes. No. I drove to the store. Closed. Plan B. Wal-Mart. Yes, Wal-Mart is open. That pissed-off-at-corporate-America guy told me so. Garmin. 1.7 miles. GO. Get some charcoal and we can grill the turkey on the Weber. My other kid went with me and was not happy.
Well, dinner was awesome. I love Wal-Mart although this was the first time I ever went there and I might not go back unless I get those GFP fish I wanted. They had old wrinkled bags of charcoal under a tarp in the garden area. The bags were broken so I got two for $1.50 each. I told the clerks of my plight and they listened with horror and concern. Yes, I felt awful for them working that day but hopefully they got overtime or did so by choice. They felt awful for me and were really happy to have helped. It was nice to share some solidarity with them that day. Sammy cooked the turkey in a disposable foil pan and put the stuffing into a bag of foil. The grill was hot and glowing, a beautiful sight, and we were eating by 7:30 PM. I think we actually ate sooner than we would have if the 20 pound bird had cooked in the oven at its own pace. We toasted each other with wine and had a great time ... the food seemed so much better than usual. We had the feeling of a massive accomplishment.
As for Kos, I am not so angry anymore but gosh guys, you don't own America. There is room for people who want to shop at Wal-Mart on Thanksgiving and those who like Arlen Specter. Some of us even like Chris Matthews, and aren't vegetarians and maybe believe that it is a good idea to send more troupes to Afghanistan. Some Kossacks don't like pootie diaries and get mad at Israel or the Palestinians or both. Others believe in GMO and Jesus. Some voted for Max Baucus and are members of the NRA or don't use automobiles and watch TV or don't watch TV. And, there is even alliedoc who is always trying to imagine the other side, most of the time.
Happy Thanksgiving, no matter what your persuasion! Go Steelers!
Peace.