Good morning!
Over the years here, there has been much talk about the origin of Thanksgiving. And surrounding that has been discussions about our feelings over this particular “holiday,” while revealing the truth about what really happened between the Pilgrims and the American Indians.
As much as I am well aware of how Thanksgiving came about, the story not warm and fuzzy like the one we were told growing up, by celebrating, it does not mean that I lessen the truth or try to bury the horrific acts of violence that the native American Indians had to endure.
I celebrate “togetherness” by being able to share some time with friends and family, and give thanks for all that I have. And remember that some families never had that opportunity. I also remember that no matter how tough or challenging life can be sometimes, there is always someone who has struggles that are far more challenging, and as kind human beings it is up to us to reach out and be there in support to those who need it most.
I feel grateful that I can take this time today to be with my family and friends, when I know that there are those who would love to be with theirs, and who can’t.
And since I am a girl who blogs bringing to light the cruelty and unfairness of others, so that they have a voice, the least that I can do on Thanksgiving Day while I am with my family, is address those that are so greedy for the buck, that they would make their employees work on a day that they should be with their families celebrating “togetherness” and all that they have to be grateful for.
From Think Progress:
Walmart Is The Latest Company To Ruin Workers’ Thanksgivings
Walmart has announced it will open its stores at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving,
joining retailers like Target, Best Buy, Kmart, Macy’s, Kohl’s, J.C. Penney, and Toys R Us that are cutting their workforce’s holiday short to pursue holiday season profits. Kmart will open its doors the earliest of all the stores, opening at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
“Almost everybody to date has moved up, at least one hour, if not more,” Walmart Chief Marketing Officer Duncan Mac Naughton
said Monday. “We thought 6 o’clock was the exact right time to win the weekend.” He explained that the 1 million workers needed to staff stores are “really excited to work that day.”
Last year, Walmart faced
protests and strikes for creeping into holiday hours. The 8 p.m. start time prompted an online petition that collected more than
30,000 signatures.As consolation, the retailer said it will
pay workers higher holiday wages, give them one 25 percent discount on a transaction, and give them a free meal.
What Walmart did not explain in its announcement is that 1 million workers have little choice but to work. Retailers have insisted they will afford time off to any worker who want to spend time with their families. However, far from being “excited” to work the holiday rush, it’s more likely managers have flatly told staff they cannot request the time off. The
Huffington Post has reported on several signs popping up in Kmart stores that tell employees to not even bother requesting time off. (Kmart replied those were “rogue” signs.)
And the workers who volunteer to show up on a holiday may be doing so because they can’t otherwise get enough hours.
More than 8 million people are currently working part time but want to be full time. Erratic scheduling is not only an issue that hits Walmart around the frantic holiday season; it’s long been
accused of understaffing and constantly changing schedules, and retail in general has
become known for shortchanging workers on the hours they need. Furthermore, Walmart’s aggressive use of a
temporary work force throughout the year already leaves workers without benefits, predictable scheduling, and enough pay. Even when retail workers are full-time, they struggle to survive on low wages and are
not necessarily guaranteed vacation time.
*****
Readers: On the one hand, I HOPE that no one visits Walmart to show them how inconsiderate they are toward their employees by making them work today. And on the other hand, I know what it is like to be working in a place where there is no one visiting and all you want to do is leave. So a part of me is wanting the store to flood with people telling the workers that they are so grateful for the service and holiday spirit, so that the workers can have as much of a positive and joyful experience as they can while they are working. But…that they don’t buy anything in support of Walmart being open today!! We don’t want Walmart to benefit and do it again next year, right?
Whatever you do on this day and however you view this day, I HOPE that it brings you peace & joy & Love, and reminds you of how much we all have to be grateful for, today and…EVERYDAY throughout the years. And that you have such an abundance of all of this, that you spread it where ever you go, and to whomever you meet.
Before I sign off, I want to say once again, that I am so grateful for all of you being here through the years with me on this journey. There are days where I don’t think I can post another article that angers me to tears. And then I experience the gratitude that I feel from the conversations and comments…and I am moved to tears in ways that I didn’t expect.
And when I stop, I realize that I am so grateful for your presence…you…my extended family. Thank you for taking your time to be here with me.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! PEACE & LOVE.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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