O aniversário de Mark
Twain às vezes coincidia com o Dia de Ação de Graças. Quando fez setenta anos,
consagradíssimo no seu país, Twain disparou um discurso demolidor sobre o Dia
do Peru. Começou “revelando” o segredo da sua longevidade:
As an example to
others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule
never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain when awake.
E depois tirou a
máscara do piedade cristã/puritana que move o dia e o país do dia:
 |
| Foto minha: peru de fazenda, não do mato, me olhando com olhar desconfiado... |
Thanksgiving Day, a
function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those
people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for—annually,
not oftener—if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the
Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by
their neighbors the Indians. Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason
that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the
exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side,
consequently on the Lord's side, consequently it was proper to thank the Lord
for it and extend the usual annual compliments. The original reason for a
Thanksgiving Day has long ago ceased to exist—the Indians have long ago been
comprehensively and satisfactorily exterminated and the account closed with
Heaven, with the thanks due. But, from old habit, Thanksgiving Day has remained
with us, and every year the President of the United States and the Governors of
all the several States and the territories set themselves the task, every
November, to advertise for something to be thankful for, and then they put
those thanks into a few crisp and reverent phrases, in the form of a
Proclamation, and this is read from all the pulpits in the land, the national
conscience is wiped clean with one swipe, and sin is resumed at the old stand.
Mais sobre o mais "anti-americano" dos ícones americanos e o Dia do Peru, aqui.
Thanksgiving
Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries
ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be
thankful for—annually, not oftener—if they had succeeded in
exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve
months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors the Indians.
Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of
time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating
had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side,
consequently on the Lord's side, consequently it was proper to thank the
Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments. The original
reason for a Thanksgiving Day has long ago ceased to exist—the Indians
have long ago been comprehensively and satisfactorily exterminated and
the account closed with Heaven, with the thanks due. But, from old
habit, Thanksgiving Day has remained with us, and every year the
President of the United States and the Governors of all the several
States and the territories set themselves the task, every November, to
advertise for something to be thankful for, and then they put those
thanks into a few crisp and reverent phrases, in the form of a
Proclamation, and this is read from all the pulpits in the land, the
national conscience is wiped clean with one swipe, and sin is resumed at
the old stand.
Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2010/11/mark-twain-thanksgiving.html#ixzz2D1FOJCaw
Thanksgiving
Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries
ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be
thankful for—annually, not oftener—if they had succeeded in
exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve
months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors the Indians.
Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of
time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating
had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side,
consequently on the Lord's side, consequently it was proper to thank the
Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments. The original
reason for a Thanksgiving Day has long ago ceased to exist—the Indians
have long ago been comprehensively and satisfactorily exterminated and
the account closed with Heaven, with the thanks due. But, from old
habit, Thanksgiving Day has remained with us, and every year the
President of the United States and the Governors of all the several
States and the territories set themselves the task, every November, to
advertise for something to be thankful for, and then they put those
thanks into a few crisp and reverent phrases, in the form of a
Proclamation, and this is read from all the pulpits in the land, the
national conscience is wiped clean with one swipe, and sin is resumed at
the old stand.
Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2010/11/mark-twain-thanksgiving.html#ixzz2D1FOJCaw
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