“Thanksgiving” Allows Us to Review the Good Feelings

Published in Guangming Daily News
(China) on 22 November 2012
by Jikai Wang (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stefanie Zhou. Edited by Jonathan Douglas.
According to foreign media reports, before Thanksgiving on Nov. 22, millions of Americans are racing to the airport or driving on the road, taking advantage of the holiday to visit friends and family. It is estimated that between Nov. 21 and Nov. 25, over 43 million people will travel 80 kilometers or more to attend holiday parties.

Today is a grand traditional holiday — Thanksgiving. A holiday with similar importance and characteristics to the Americans as the traditional Chinese New Year has to us.

To the Chinese people, the origin of the holiday is not important. What is important is the warm family reunion that this holiday emphasizes and creates as well as the “Thanksgiving” theme. The emotional desire for family, friendship, love, etc. is free of skin color and ethnic groups. It is a beautiful spiritual home for all mankind!

From media outlets such as the internet, television, etc., we can see that Thanksgiving is not just an American holiday. Like other “Western holidays” including Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, it has “walked” into the customs of the Chinese people. Of course, the Chinese people have localized this holiday, mainly through excavating the “Thanksgiving” theme.

For the Chinese people, Thanksgiving should not be a problem. 5,000 years of heavy cultural heritage in China never ignored this grateful spiritual theme. “A drop of favor should be repaid with a fountain of return” [is a saying that] grew up together with generations of Chinese people. The seed of Thanksgiving is already implanted in the soul of the nation.

We will not talk about those familiar, timeless and touching stories of filial piety that have brought gratefulness to the parents, or the numerous warm social stories about those who never abandoned ill relatives no matter how hard it is. However, while being touched, we cannot ignore the social indifference we see more and more.

Of course, with China's rapid economic development, youngsters are facing greater pressures from work and life. It is inevitable that they need financial help from their parents. However, these are not unperturbed excuses. Even immoral actions, like forcing parents to give up their pension money to “care” for them, were performed by those who are ungrateful. Unhealthy practices of society cannot escape responsibility for these un-filial behaviors: adults who, for their personal interests, not only proved ungrateful, but also framed the good ones, which leads to social indignation at “how difficult it is to be a good person.” Parents who, on the issue of their child’s education, put too much emphasis on test scores and getting into a good school, while ignoring traditional moral education, such as finding pleasure in helping others. Unscrupulous enterprises and traders who gain benefits at the expense of people’s health and lives…

With the help of this wonderful holiday of the United States, let us remind ourselves of the warmth of “Thanksgiving.” Let your parents know how grateful you are for their care either face to face or over the phone; send your loved ones a text message or a gift to show your feelings for all that they have done for the family; express your appreciation sincerely to the friends who support and care for you.

Thanksgiving will make our lives different. Thanksgiving gives us the momentum to move forward and the warmth of sunshine!


  据外媒报道,在22日感恩节到来前夕,数百万美国人或奔赴机场、或驱车上路,利用假日拜访亲朋好友。据估计,在21日至25日之间,将有超过4300万人旅行80公里或更长的距离去参加节日聚会。(中国新闻网11月22日)

  今天,是美国的传统盛大节日——感恩节,这个节日对于美国人来说与我们中华民族传统的春节差不多重要和有些相似的特点。

  节日的由来对于中国人来说,并不重要,重要的是这个节日所注重和营造出的家庭团聚的温馨,以及“感恩”这个主题。对于亲情、友情、爱情等等世间美好情感的渴望,是不分肤色与民族的,它是全人类共同的美好精神家园!

  我们从网上、电视等等媒体中可以看到,感恩节已不仅仅是美国的节日,它也像情人节、母亲节等“洋节”一样“走进”了中国民众的习俗之中。当然,中国人在过这个节日的时候,已经本土化,主要挖掘“感恩”这个主题。

  感恩,对于国人来说本不该成为问题。中华民族五千年厚重的文化底蕴,从来都没有忽视过感恩这个美好的精神主题。“受人滴水之恩,当以涌泉相报”这句话伴随着一代代中国人从小一起成长。感恩的种子早已植入民族的灵魂。

  我们不说那一个个耳熟能详、历久弥新、感天动地的“二十四孝”故事对父母亲人的感恩;也不说当前不论多么艰难也不离不弃照顾患病亲人的众多社会温暖故事。然而,在感动之中,我们不能不说看到的却是越来越多的社会冷漠!

  当然,目前随着我国经济的高速发展,现在的年轻人工作与生活的压力越来越大,经济方面难免需要父亲的关照,可是这些都不是可以坦然受之的理由,甚至不知感恩父母养育之恩,发生强迫父母拿出养老钱“照顾”自己的不如牲畜行为!这些不孝行为,社会的不良风气也不能脱责:成年人为了自身的利益,不仅不知恩图报,反倒诬陷好人,让社会发出“好人难做”的愤慨;家长对孩子的教育过多的注重升学与分数,忽视传统的助人为乐等道德教育;以及社会上一些无良企业和商贩,为了利益,置人民的生命、健康于不顾……

  借助美国这个美好节日,让我们重温“感恩”的温馨,向父母当面或打个电话,倾诉一下自己对父母养育的感激;向爱人发个短信或送个礼物,表达一下自己对爱人为家付出的辛苦感受;向支持与关心自己的朋友真诚的“说声”感谢……

  感恩,会让我们的生活与众不同。人生有了感恩,我们就有了更多前行的动力,和温暖的阳光!
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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