tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post3189671554802396691..comments2023-10-24T00:47:56.684+11:00Comments on Tania McCartney Blog: thankful? Oh yes, I bloody well amTania McCartneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07704561641397381874noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-90637857484067053482012-12-02T02:47:59.401+11:002012-12-02T02:47:59.401+11:00As an American - I love this post! I would like to...As an American - I love this post! I would like to point out that most Americans are actually not from this continent. Our past was once firmly planted in Europe (if you recall history {not you Tania} we escaped religious persecution from Europe). The USA is SO diverse today - it is amazing! The changes in this country over the past 10 years is astounding. There are holidays celebrated for many {MANY} nations that were once called home. That is something to be thankful for.tiarastantrumshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17081471547238465133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-35979596480378351132012-11-26T14:10:51.753+11:002012-11-26T14:10:51.753+11:00So agree with you, Sandy! xxSo agree with you, Sandy! xxTania McCartneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07704561641397381874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-627791028248933912012-11-26T12:33:01.754+11:002012-11-26T12:33:01.754+11:00Yay to you. We organise Halloween in our street. W...Yay to you. We organise Halloween in our street. We see it as an excellent way to integrate neighbours and promote 'community' - the older oneighbours love being visited by children in costumes. Parents go with all the little ones. It's very safe because the street is crowded - full of parents and kids. Drivers are reminded a few days in advance. Signs are provided for mailboxes so 'trick or treaters' don't bother those who don' t want to be involved. If you want to eat dinner in peace or run out of wrapped lollies - you just take the sign down. Sure Halloween, like all other traditional holidays, has been commercialised - but each individual can choose how commercialised they allow it to become in their life - and too many lollies? Not if managed - no different to Easter or showbags. We have heaps of fun and my family now know all their neighbours whereas before the kids never spoke to many of them. And as for an occasion to be thankful - bring it on I say - who cares what country it comes from. I don't want to eat turkey but I certainly want to celebrate being thankful. Some values are worldwide and if the day itself is specific to a particular country - what's the problem with that!Sandy Fussellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11314500608922097735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-58842915727811777472012-11-24T04:25:22.145+11:002012-11-24T04:25:22.145+11:00Hi Tanya, I too am grateful to live in Australia....Hi Tanya, I too am grateful to live in Australia. I travel around the world every year as I have a home also in Romania and spend a few months there each summer. I've visited many countries and enjoy seeing them celebrate their customs and traditions.<br /><br />There are so many countries around the world who are in turmoil, either with war, famine or in financial crisis. When I get home here to Perth, I tell my family and friends, what a great country we live in. Sometimes, I don't think a lot of people, young and old, appreciate the freedom and beauty of this country.Jennifer Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04121730306777446294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-22940757867727084752012-11-23T12:01:01.812+11:002012-11-23T12:01:01.812+11:00....and I ADORE that photo!....and I ADORE that photo!Dani and Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047269884481178994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-84068711277414158402012-11-23T10:18:24.331+11:002012-11-23T10:18:24.331+11:00Love it, Dan. We had a BALL celebrating many diffe...Love it, Dan. We had a BALL celebrating many different festivals during our time in China {including Halloween, actually! my goodness, that was HOOT!} and I was so intent on continuing to enjoy those festivals upon returning home. Maybe I have a celebration fetish? Maybe I just love tradition and life celebrations too much and want to jump on EVERYONE's bandwagon tradition!?Tania McCartneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07704561641397381874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-40133438275479366542012-11-23T10:04:36.013+11:002012-11-23T10:04:36.013+11:00Here...Here. Life is about having a bloody lot of ...Here...Here. Life is about having a bloody lot of fun! (And if it's not then perhaps it should be). Does it bring a smile to my kids faces to dress up? You bet it does. THAT is more important to me that standing on my soapbox and vetoing a harmless tradition. Living here in Vietnam we celebrate all sorts of diverse cultures and traditions that the kids are exposed to going to an international school. Never had one person say to me yet that this was bad for them but loads saying what an amazing opportunity it is. Why should they only get this experience when living off shore? Here's to heading down to Footscray and celebrating Tet upon our return!Dani and Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047269884481178994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-78594522168874083592012-11-23T09:53:12.344+11:002012-11-23T09:53:12.344+11:00Thank you - intelligent, worldly, fabulous people ...Thank you - intelligent, worldly, fabulous people who can read and comprehend! Thank you for seeing my point so clearly.<br /><br />I'm also jack of the gimme-attitude and the commercialisation and while I don't normally directly celebrate any of the festivals you've mentioned, I do like them - not because I can buy something, though - because I love the festivity and tradition. For example, I will often leave a love note in my kids' school bags on Valentine's Day or have chocolate cake for them when they get home - but that's about it. Hallmark don't earn a cent from me.<br /><br />Halloween - I don't mind giving some candy if kids drop by but 9 times out of 10, they don't, and if they do, they're neighbourhood kids I know, just having a bit of fun. I don't mind.<br /><br />Husband stopped giving me Valentine's Day flowers a long time ago and I can't say I mind! I much much MUCH prefer the times he comes home with flowers 'just because'.<br /><br />:)Tania McCartneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07704561641397381874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-822958314422887842012-11-23T09:44:47.719+11:002012-11-23T09:44:47.719+11:00I agree with what Susan says. I don't celebrat...I agree with what Susan says. I don't celebrate Halloween (even with my ancient Celtic heritage) nor Valentine, mostly because of the crass commercialism.<br /><br />I wouldn't give sweets to strange kids roaming the neighbourhood (most without parents chaperoning too!) mainly because I don't like this 'gimme gimme' attitude many kids have.<br /><br />But like you dear Tanya, I give thanks every day for our beautiful, ancient, intriguing, fabulous Australia. I give thanks for beloved family and friends (including you), and the freedoms we have, unlike so many other places on earth. <br /><br />Most people here, I suspect, never think about this fact, esp those who won't think beyond their own fenceline, mentally and physically. More of the gimme gimme culture perhaps?<br /><br />Lovely to read your rave, Taz! We all need to do that occasionally.Sheryl Gwytherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03660201098245632077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-70561341352258032092012-11-23T09:14:47.545+11:002012-11-23T09:14:47.545+11:00Bravo.Bravo.Chantelle {fat mum slim}https://www.blogger.com/profile/02167267576456836722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6572244077856831005.post-40631321122358887782012-11-23T08:56:01.140+11:002012-11-23T08:56:01.140+11:00*standing ovation*
Well said, Tanya.
I don'...*standing ovation*<br /><br />Well said, Tanya. <br /><br />I don't celebrate Halloween because I hate the way it is marketed and I'm not keen on handing out lollies to kids i never see any other day of the year. I don't do Valentine's Day because of the marketing either. As for Thanksgiving, like Valentine's Day I don't celebrate it because I think we should be thankful, and acknowledge those we love, every day of the year. <br /><br />I agree that's it's time to stop the Us/Them mentality and acknowledge that our lives are richer, deeper and more amazing because we have the opportunity to experience the cultures of the world so easily now. Susan Whelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18253437044745874795noreply@blogger.com