Behind The Curtain On T-Day 205
Ant writes "MSN Encarta has Columnist Martha Brockenbrough's article on the myths of this American holiday. From the article: 'A lot of what we know to be true about Thanksgiving really isn't. Determining exactly what did happen is difficult. For starters, we don't even know for certain if the Pilgrims served turkey, although it's a strong possibility.'" Additionally, maotx writes "Contrary to popular belief, turkey does not make you sleepy. While purified tryptophan is a mild sleep-inducing agent, there is not enough in turkey to have a sedative affect. And on top of that, turkey isn't even unusually high in tryptophan compared to other foods, such as beef or soybeans. So for those of us enjoying turkey today, bring on the turkey and have a Happy Thanksgiving!"
The Pilgrims should have served steak (Score:5, Insightful)
Tell me... (Score:5, Insightful)
And She Doesn't Even Touch the Biggest One (Score:3, Insightful)
But suggesting to most Americans that it wasn't the Pilgrims must be a little too much for some to consider.
Re:another critical article (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, I'm really going to have to talk to my grandparents about that. Oh, wait... that was almost 400 years ago.
Any chance we can just enjoy the tradition as it is currently enjoyed by millions of people? You know - in the general spirit of family togetherness, and blissfully minus too much of the commercialization (um, other than transportation use) that makes the rest of the holidays such a mess?
Tryptophan (Score:3, Insightful)
Tryptophan is an amino acid that is used by the brain to manufacture serotonin. It's present in all protein, and usually you have plenty of it in your bloodstream. However, it can only get into the brain piggybacked on another molecule, and it has to compete with other amino acids for this ride. One way to soak up the other amino acids is to produce insulin with a carbohydrate-only meal. The insulin removes enough of those amino acids to allow more tryptophan into the brain, thereby providing more raw material for serotonin production.
I'm sticking with the Prozac though.
Re:The Pilgrims should have served steak (Score:3, Insightful)
Uh, no. Canadian bacon is called back bacon in Canada. Bacon by itself is the same as what Americans call bacon.
Re:Tell me... (Score:5, Insightful)
Frankly, I'm tired of people trying to lay some trip on me because I'm a "white male". What the fuck did I have to do with buttraping the natives on this country and taking their land? Hey - I'm real sorry about how it all went down, but my family was from Russia and Germany - not Spain - and they only came over within the last century. And I'm pretty fucking sure they weren't royalty or had anything to do with or control to change what happened on this continent.
Should all the people who have migrated to Australia in the last decade be responsible for what Britain did to the aboriginies in the last century or two?
On the other hand, it does seem silly to celebrate. But isn't that the Christian way? Fuck someone over, make a holiday for it or take their holiday and make it their own.. voila. Kinda like the whole pagans and Christmas thing. Or the pagans and easter thing.
Interestingly enough, it does still seem to be what is tought in school, which is fairly amazing.
Re:another critical article (Score:5, Insightful)
True, we could have just let the bloody regime that formed the colonies stay in power, and it could have had a non-stop, continual bloody fight with the French, the Spaniards, and everyone else with an interest in more land, gold, etc.
This will be easier: give me a run-down of the cultures and geographical spots that do not have a bloody history going back several centuries, so that we can get all of our societal guidance from them. Western Europe? Nope. Eastern Europe? Nope. Central/South America? Nope. Asia (in any quarter thereof? Nope. North America before the Europeans showed up? Nope. Australia? I could use a refresher on their history, but don't think that continent is free of bloodletting. Hmmm.
Yes, forgetting history can be an aspect of repeating it... but what makes you think that's a peculiarly American thing? Or that America's history is any more bloody than, say, the Middle East, or the Caucuses, or anyplace else? Now, review the most recent 200 or so years of global history, reviewing the frequency with which the people in each culture and country have had regular, peaceful, democratic changes in government every few years. The US has had its procession of leaders and representatives partially interrupted by one civil war, but has otherwise performed civilly, not bloodily.
At no point during that history has gathering around a table with family been somehow less about gathering around a table with family. Whether or not some sects or towns or states have made pronouncements along the way about other meanings of the (age old) harvest feasts held this time of year, such gatherings provide their own meaning - and for most people (not counting turkeys), it's peaceful and a moment to reflect on giving a damn about at least some members of our families.
Bzzzzttt.... (Score:5, Insightful)
There is on top of that a sleepiness after meals that comes from a dip in blood sugar once insulin kicks in following the ingeston of sugars. The feedback loop of blood sugar and insulin is usually a bit laggy.
Re:What the hell IS thanksgiving? (Score:2, Insightful)
We're thankful every day we're not living in America with arrogant pricks like you.