The Power of Thanksgiving and Speaking English

My grandfather came to the United States as a 13 year old in June, 1914.  He was definitely a stranger in a strange land.  And yet when I reflect on my memories of him, heavy as his accent was, there was no question that he was American, and certainly that all his children were Americans.

Speaking English.

I also remember that his favourite holiday was Thanksgiving.

With the exception of the turkey, which would cause trouble if you were a vegetarian, the entire menu could be adapted to whatever your religious/ethnic/cultural bias might require, and yet there you were at the table celebrating the pilgrim fathers.

Despite all the baggage surrounding the Indians and the Puritans and that the Pilgrims survival was the beginning of the end for the Native Americans Thanksgiving still sets the stage for the development of the United States and is an entry point for almost every immigrant.

For despite the deeply religious fervour of the Pilgrim Fathers, the celebration itself became a non-denominational if not outright secular event, which allowed my grandfather to be enamoured with it although he was an orthodox Jew.

I would maintain that one of the most important keys to his integration was language.

Not far behind was the need to adapt to a secular society, outside, if not inside the house.

It is the only way forward and the sooner the nations of Europe, and the immigrants, face up to these requirements, the better.