U.S. Thanksgiving Prayer

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

Thanksgiving Prayer
William Burroughs

"To Jack Dillinger and hope he is still alive.
Thanksgiving Day November 28 1986"

Thanks for the wild turkey and
the passenger pigeons, destined
to be shat out through wholesome
American guts.

Thanks for a continent to despoil
and poison.

Thanks for Indians to provide a
modicum of challenge and
danger.

Thanks for vast herds of bison to
kill and skin leaving the
carcasses to rot.

Thanks for bounties on wolves
and coyotes.

Thanks for the American dream,
To vulgarize and to falsify until
the bare lies shine through.

Thanks for the KKK.

For nigger-killin' lawmen,
feelin' their notches.

For decent church-goin' women,
with their mean, pinched, bitter,
evil faces.

Thanks for "Kill a Queer for
Christ" stickers.

Thanks for laboratory AIDS.

Thanks for Prohibition and the
war against drugs.

Thanks for a country where
nobody's allowed to mind the
own business.

Thanks for a nation of finks.

Yes, thanks for all the
memories-- all right let's see
your arms!

You always were a headache and
you always were a bore.

Thanks for the last and greatest
betrayal of the last and greatest
of human dreams.

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/modlang/carasi/thanksgivingprayer.htm

 

[Just the Facts]

Was that really neccessary? Every society has it's dregs, that could just as easily be a Canadian Thanksgiving Prayer.

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

True.

 

[peapod]

Ithink Calm was only trying to provide some humor, I don't think he ment to offend anyone. :wink:

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

OK but I can imagine an American can be offended by this, not?

 

[peapod]

Probally mr Rick van Opbergen, but I don't think it was intentional. thank you Pea van Podbergan....I am getting confused :wink:

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

Huh?

 

[peapod]

Our names ricky they are confusing me....I will turn back into peapod at 2 when the reverend chris gets out of bed :wink:

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

Haha well I can change mine too ... into "Gouda Man" or something :wink:

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: U.S. Thanksgiving Pra

Remember That William Burroughs is an American poet and writer. He was the counter-culture before there was a counter-culture and he spent his entire career criticizing the American status quo, often with humour.

I don't see anything wrong with putting up one of his poems...especially as this is one og the milder ones.

 

[Just the Facts]

Re: RE: U.S. Thanksgiving Pra

I don't see anything wrong with putting up one of his poems...especially as this is one og the milder ones.

Be that as it may I just don't see the point in berating people while they're celebrating a day of thanksgiving. It's hitting below the belt. I've also tried really hard to see the humour in it, but I just don't get it.

 

[Paranoid Dot Calm]

First of all, when I read it I chuckled a bit.

But, I will admit that after an hour or so, I thought of deleting the post and thought it may offend Americans. That was not my intention. (Especially, on Thanksgiving.) I complain about America all year, on Thanksgiving they deserve a break.

I'll try to make up with "Just The Facts"

Calm

 

[Reverend Blair]

Be that as it may I just don't see the point in berating people while they're celebrating a day of thanksgiving.

Obviously Burroughs did. Others share his opinion. It's important to remember that there are a lot of people in the US who really don't have a hell of a lot to be thankful for this weekend.

 

[Paco]

Thanks for "Kill a Queer for Christ" stickers.

Where can I get these?

 

[peapod]

Wow!!! just the facts, that is a awesome avatar calm made you, he is very good at making them

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

Indeed Pea, nicely done Calm

 

[Just the Facts]

I'll try to make up with "Just The Facts"

Calm

Yup, that's cool. 8)

But please don't feel you have any need to make up with me! :cheers: