Giving Thanks?

Thanksgiving Day means many things to many people. My first memories are of sitting in the back seat of my parents' station wagon (in the very, very back, in those funky pop up seats, well out of reach from my parents) and driving across Ohio on our way to my grandparents' house in Detroit. Not exactly over the river and through the woods, although given the condition of the Ohio Turnpike back then, it was probably preferable.

Detroit has a couple of neat traditions of which I remember fondly. One is the Hudson's Department Store Parade. It has actually been around for as long as the Macy's Parade (1924) in New York. And, in those days, the networks televised a bunch of parades on television, including Hudson's and those in Philadelphia and Hawaii.

Then, of course there is the matter of the Detroit Lions hosting an NFL game on Thanksgiving, something it first started doing in 1934. Other teams, most notably Dallas, have done so, but when you think of football on Turkey Day, you think of the Lions.

It's because of fond memories such as these, Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. It has that Norman Rockwell feel to it, doesn't it?

And, like most holidays, its origins are not set in concrete. While that certain Puritan/Pilgrim harvest fest held in Plymouth, Massachusetts does seem to have occurred, there are many who don't think it is a simple as that. Even the date is a bit murky; some say 1621, others a few years later, and there is even a school of thought it was 10 years later in Boston. Hell, some even place the holiday's origins back to England. Considering that's where the Pilgrims were running from to begin with, well, there is a bit of irony there now isn't there?

There is likewise some debate over which American president to give credit for the traditional Thursday observance. In 1789 George Washington issued a proclamation for a day of public Thanksgiving. A proclamation, by the way which is top heavy with religious references.

Then, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln, opined it should be the final Thursday of November. Quite a while later, in 1941, Franklin Roosevelt, always looking for a way to make a name for himself, changed it to the fourth Thursday, and there we are.

My ample research on this topic showed no one was willing to take credit for being the first business to think being open on Thanksgiving Day would be a good idea. However those clever folks at the first turkey dinner in Massachusetts must have known something; the Bay State has Blue Laws which prohibit many stores from being open on legal holidays. Found within the papers of the pilgrims was a statement from 1621 saying, "There is no way in Hell any of us would be caught dead in Walmart on Thanksgiving Day; or any other day for that matter." Well put, eh?

Although many people agree with me about Thanksgiving being their favorite holiday, it, alas does not get the same respect in popular culture as Christmas, or even Halloween for that matter.

I mentioned above the ol' “Over the River” song. And, well, that's about it, except for Adam Sandler, bless his heart, with his “Thanksgiving Song.” This, though is compared to about 100,000 Christmas songs, which now start to receive airplay right after Halloween, totally bypassing Thanksgiving. Not fair.

About the only other tune associated with my favorite holiday is "Alice's Restaurant," and that is really a protest song against Viet Nam and some inept Berkshire County cops and judges. Again, unfair.

Further, there are countless Christmas television specials each year; not so much for Thanksgiving. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a modern classic, but does anyone really talk about “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”? Not only is it behind “It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”, but I would argue even “It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown” is more popular.

Shows such as “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer” and “Frosty The Snowman” are rerun each year, as is “The Grinch.” Can you think of any such Thanksgiving special? I seem to remember in the 1970's one from “The Walton's” ran for a few years, but even in that the most memorable scene was John-Boy getting beaned by a plank flying off his father's table saw. What's so Thanksgiving about that?!

But, from a television standpoint, what Thanksgiving does have is quite possibly the funniest half hour ever broadcast. In 1978, “WKRP In Cincinnati” aired its “Turkey's Away” episode, in which radio station owner Mr. Carlson decided to do a turkey giveaway. From a helicopter hovering above the Queen City. When I watched it upon its initial broadcast, I doubled over in laughter at its brilliance, as the fowls were hitting the pavement, with stellar play-by-play from Les Nessman. Whenever I have viewed it since then, I have laughed more.

So, there. We Thanksgiving lovers at least have that. Because, to quote Mr. Carlson, “as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.”

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

'Til next time, keep on smiling.

Of politics, printing & disgrace

It is a cold, rainy Friday, 50 years to the day since JFK's motorcade made its way through Dallas on a campaign swing. Since everyone else is covering that one, I thought I'd address politics and news a little closer to home, and a little more recent.

Item: Sausville wins...for now

One of my political idols, Tip O'Neil was quoted as saying, “All politics is local.” This has certainly been the case for anyone following the vote for Supervisor in the Town of Malta. This one was closely watched for a couple of reasons. One, is given Malta's explosive growth, the choice of leadership will have much more emphasis than perhaps some of the other towns in Saratoga County. And, if incumbent Paul Sausville once again could turn back the challenge of Democrat Cynthia Young, he would be in position to lead the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors come January.

Despite the latter item, it is not necessarily a given such candidates will prevail. Milton Supervisor Frank Thompson was in a similar position two years ago and he lost a primary to Dan Lewza, so nothing is for certain.

And, as of today, anyways, 2 ½ weeks after the election, Sausville won. By one vote. And only after two write-in votes were declared invalid by Saratoga County Supreme Court Justice Robert Chauvin.

Elections decided in a courtroom are never a good thing, and Sausville can hardly claim a mandate here (not even within his own party, as 3^rd party candidate Peter Klotz, whom Sausville defeated in a primary last month, received over 400 votes in the general election.) Young may even file an appeal. Plenty of uncertainty, and I can't help but wonder how many in Malta are kicking themselves for not voting (or worse, saying their vote doesn't matter) on Election Day.

UPDATE: On Monday, November 25th, Young did indeed file a notice to appeal Judge Chauvin's ruling. The Ballston Journal's Faith Gimzek has been all over this story since Election Day, and provides some great detail here. This race may be far from over. Cue the hanging chads.

Item: Wormuth finally steps aside

While there as been uncertainty coming out of Malta, there has been an absolute stench emanating from Halfmoon. But, starting today much of the odor may be gone as Supervisor Mindy Wormuth has finally stepped aside.

Wormuth's political career has been consistent in regards to accusations of conflicts of interest in her decisions. Maybe it was a questionable property sale last year to a developer (Scott Earl) looking to do business with county.

Or perhaps it was when she formally recommended a candidate (Christine Abele) earlier this year to head up the Saratoga County animal shelter. Abele had listed Wormuth as a reference on her resume. Didn't seem to matter a bit that the businesses of Chris Abele, Christine’s father, had also donated more than a few bucks politically to Wormuth.

Or, quite possibly it was the bribery charge brought on by the Feds against her in support of mixed martial arts. This one caused the good folks of Halfmoon to have to see a picture of their Supervisor being led into court in handcuffs. Can't imagine many of them will miss her. Or will be listing her as a resume reference again, either.

Item: All the news fit to print?

Regular readers of my column from my newspaper days know my love of that medium. And, while I follow many local and national publications on-line, I still subscribe to print editions of the Times-Union and Saratogian. Both publications have been delivered to my doorstep for years. In recent years, the Saratogian has used the TU's circulation staff; my newspapers are delivered by the same person, at the same time.

This is not a big deal. However, recently the Saratogian decided to have their printing handled by the TU as well. Now, the paper had not been printed in Saratoga for years. I can still remember back in the day waking out of the Parting Glass in the wee hours of the morning, and passing by the Saratogian building and watching the presses roll. That was until they outsourced the job to the Record in Troy, but the difference was negligible.

The move to the TU, alas, has been a disaster. While it has generated a crisper looking copy, the print is now much smaller, and for many, difficult to read,

Plus, it's what is inside, more accurately not inside the copy that has been the story. The Saratogian now has a ridiculously early deadline. Which means if it didn't happen before say 7:00 pm, you won't read about it in print for at least 48 hours, if at all.

And, they have been getting grilled over it. The reader's forum comments (which, to their credit they have been publishing) have blistered them on this on a regular basis since the change. Many of these have been for lack of local sports scores from the night before. Ditto for town or school board meetings held after dinner.

To make matters worse, in print the newspaper consistently directs their readers to check the Saratogian website for such stories. A website which any fool with internet access can get for free. So, why exactly would anyone pay for the print edition?

In the category of pissing of their customers with a change, this one is in the New Coke echelon. Not to mention a serious misjudgment in regards to as whether or not print editions are still important.

UPDATE: Merely a day after this blog was first posted, the Saratogian printed a column by publisher Michael O'Sullivan in which he announced an upcoming paywall for portions of the on-line edition his newspaper. I don't believe this will improve the print edition timeliness at all, but maybe it will throw us paid subscribers a bone. 

Until next time, keep smilin'.

Veterans Day

Note: I have been more than a little bit lazy in posting blogs lately, so until creativity finds me again, I thought I would share this one, published a year ago, which would seem to be more than appropriate on this special holiday.

Towards the end of World War II, somewhere in the Pacific Theater of the war, a young member of the United States Navy, William Samuel Hamilton was serving his country. Both of his brothers were also seeing active duty. The brothers both returned home safely. William, tragically did not, as he was killed in action in 1945.

The Hamilton brothers were just three of the approximately 11 million Americans who served during that war, and William was one of the more than 450,000 who perished. As a tribute to her uncle, my mother, seventeen years later named me after him.

My grandmother used to proudly tell me about how all three of her brothers served. A tough woman, she was nonetheless often brought to tears when talking about her little brother who was killed. A picture of William, in his Navy blue in a classic looking gold oval frame hung in her living room until the day she died in 1985. Since then, it has proudly been displayed on the walls of his namesake.

There was a time when honoring our veterans such as this was a common occurrence. Enlisting in the service after Pearl Harbor was not only an honor, but to many, their duty. If a war could be described as popular, it was this one. As such, the returning veterans were given the respect they deserved.

Then, disturbingly in the early 1970's, such homage fell out of favor. The reason was the soldiers were now returning from an unpopular war, the one fought in Vietnam. The one Walter Cronkite (quite correctly) declared we could not win. The one for which its participants did not want to enlist. The one which generated protests, and caused battles between generations.

No, these veterans were not embraced upon their return. Our country, not in its finest moment, shunned the Vietnam vets, seemingly blaming them for the problems the war caused.

This was certainly not in the spirit in which Veterans Day was first conceived. When on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918 that other World War ended, a holiday soon sprung up to commemorate it. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the holiday, then called Armistice Day, “for those who died in the country's service, and with gratitude for the victory.”

In 1945, the holiday's meaning was loosened a bit to honor all those who had served. In 1954, with World War II, and Korea (the Forgotten War) in the rear view mirror, Armistice Day became Veterans Day. But, given its “11th” roots, it remains the rare holiday which is not recognized on the closest Monday. As such, November 11^th is almost a recognized as July 4^th.

But, again, the years immediately following the Fall Of Saigon were not kind to our veterans. Thankfully, things began to change. While many disagreed with the wars fought in the Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan, their displeasure was now directed at the government, not with those who served. And, as those men and women returned from battle with much more appropriate gratitude from their country, the mood also changed about those who served in Korea and Vietnam.

This even includes once again naming structures for the vets. While there are “Veterans Memorial” highways and stadiums all over the country, most of these were named a half century ago. It would not have been popular in the mid 1970's, however to name anything in honor of those who served. This has now thankfully changed.

Locally, we saw this just a few weeks ago with the Route 9P bridge over Saratoga Lake. Gene Corsale, a Korean War vet, had tried a few times to have bridges named in honor of veterans, but had been unsuccessful. His efforts this time hit the jackpot, though. Those now driving over the lake will do so via the Saratoga County Veterans Memorial Bridge. A seemingly small gesture to honor a large group. To whom we owe an even larger debt.

And, since Gene, being a veteran himself, could speak with much more authority than I on the subject, I will close this column with his own words, first published just about a year ago:

“God bless our veterans. God bless them and watch over our service women and men.”