Jolie blasts Thanksgiving

[CharliNye]

It is so believable because a) she is a fruit loop and b) there are people out there who are always looking for something to be "offended" over.

It's statements like this that make me think this board has some of the most close-minded people on earth.

Why? Because anyone who is different is considered nuts. I like people who are different, who are out there a little(or a LOT). They're generally some of the most introspective and creative(AND generous) human beings I've ever known. The big thinkers, they don't care too much what others think, but do have the capability to get tired of being ripped upon.

I find calling someone you don't know a fruit loop(and why is that? Because the tabloids and gossip books gave you your info? I mean let's just overlook the fact she had done more for philanthropy then almost anyone else in the world these days-no joke) really sad.

 

[Holly]

Where are all the people who were chastising everyone in the Bristol Palin thread for being jealous, awful people?

Oh.

It's statements like this that make me think this board has some of the most close-minded people on earth.

Why? Because anyone who is different is considered nuts. I like people who are different, who are out there a little(or a LOT). They're generally some of the most introspective and creative(AND generous) human beings I've ever known. The big thinkers, they don't care too much what others think, but do have the capability to get tired of being ripped upon.

I find calling someone you don't know a fruit loop(and why is that? Because the tabloids and gossip books gave you your info? I mean let's just overlook the fact she had done more for philanthropy then almost anyone else in the world these days-no joke) really sad.

What a lovely post.

 

[tonilea]

It's statements like this that make me think this board has some of the most close-minded people on earth.

Why? Because anyone who is different is considered nuts. I like people who are different, who are out there a little(or a LOT). They're generally some of the most introspective and creative(AND generous) human beings I've ever known. The big thinkers, they don't care too much what others think, but do have the capability to get tired of being ripped upon.

I find calling someone you don't know a fruit loop(and why is that? Because the tabloids and gossip books gave you your info? I mean let's just overlook the fact she had done more for philanthropy then almost anyone else in the world these days-no joke) really sad.

I thought fruit loop was pretty mild. I know and like lots of fruit loops.... might even be one of their number. lol I stand by the statement that there are people who are always looking for something to be offender about... I think you just made my point.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Im sure everybody wants to cancel their holiday now that she has spoken I think Im cancelling any future visits to any of her movies. Now Im not saying that she or anybody else has to celebrate anything. But she didnt have to be such a B about it. Just my opinion, but she can go back to France!

She's American, born and raised.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Thanksgiving, like most holidays, means so much more (or less) than its originating events. These things develop a life of their own, and vary greatly from one home to the next. I bet that if we asked what Thanksgiving means to you (members of this forum), we would get a wide variety of responses, few of which would actually tie back to the pilgrims.

I suspect that Jolie's issues with things like Thanksgiving are derived more from her horrible family life than the holiday itself - but that is just me.

 

[DebbieB]

She's American, born and raised.

But do they even live here? It seems like they are always overseas. I believe she gave birth to their children overseas. But they will be back here to make money.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sure, you can make a statement any way you want, but the world generally is not revolving around your celebrity opinion.

Absolutely. Celebrities, and their opinions, hold only as much weight and influence as we allow. Don't agree with Jolie's statements? Ignore her. Loath them? Go ahead, boycott her movies. I love a free society

 

[Colleen27]

So the event we're supposed to be celebrating on Thanksgiving. . .well. Really. It isn't really. . .well. Celebrate-worthy. I mean, think about it. Take Easter. Easter celebrates the most important event on the Christian calendar. That's Celebrate-worthy. Or take the 4th of July, most of us can really get behind that celebration. . .but memorializing a feast held by a bunch of bigots who tried to kill themselves off through mild incompetency (after all, while they were incompetent, they were nowhere near the scale of say, Jamestown)?

Yeah, but these things take on a life of their own over time and the origins of the holiday become less and less relevant to the modern celebrations. Thanksgiving today isn't about Pilgrims and Indians any more than Halloween is about the pre-Christian or medieval superstitions that started the celebration or Valentine's Day is about honoring a saint who was martyred for conducting Christian marriages in defiance of Roman law. Heck, plenty of people who aren't Christian at all celebrate Christmas and Easter in this country, not in honor of the religious roots of the celebrations but out of respect and love for traditions carved out by earlier generations that did believe.

 

[Geoff_M]

So the event we're supposed to be celebrating on Thanksgiving. . .well. Really. It isn't really. . .well. Celebrate-worthy. I mean, think about it. Take Easter. Easter celebrates the most important event on the Christian calendar. That's Celebrate-worthy. Or take the 4th of July, most of us can really get behind that celebration. . .but memorializing a feast held by a bunch of bigots who tried to kill themselves off through mild incompetency (after all, while they were incompetent, they were nowhere near the scale of say, Jamestown)?

Your feelings only really make sense if Thanksgiving were a celebration of Puritan culture or actions... and it's not. It may have a historical foundation in Puritanical America, but that's not what the modern celebration is about. If you wanted to you could apply the same jaundiced filter to the celebration-worthy "Easter" as many of the facets of our current celebration has its historical celebration are rooted in Paganism and other fertility rites. You also hinted correctly that The 4th of July is viewed as anything but celebration-worthy by many due to the fact that so many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were slave owners and allowed the awful institution to remain codified in our legal system for another 80+ years.

One last note about the early-European view of Native Americans... While it's certainly true that as time went on, the treatment of Native Americans became more an more shameful, I'm not too wild about another myth from the era. That is the one where the Native Americans were all living in harmony with Nature and one another until "we" showed up and ruined it all. I'd never use the pejorative term "savages", nor was it universal among tribes, but there was plenty of "unpleasantness" between tribes themselves that had been going on for centuries. It doesn't excuse the mistreatment of Native Americans by our government (in its current form, or its predecessors), but there were plenty of people getting slaughtered, having their land taken, enslaved, and being persecuted based on their cultural identity before "we" showed up. My eyes were really opened up to this when I read Undaunted Courage, about the journey of Lewis & Clark, written by the late historian Stephen Ambrose.

 

[browneyes106]

Your feelings only really make sense if Thanksgiving were a celebration of Puritan culture or actions... and it's not. It may have a historical foundation in Puritanical America, but that's not what the modern celebration is about. If you wanted to you could apply the same jaundiced filter to the celebration-worthy "Easter" as many of the facets of our current celebration has its historical celebration are rooted in Paganism and other fertility rites. You also hinted correctly that The 4th of July is viewed as anything but celebration-worthy by many due to the fact that so many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were slave owners and allowed the awful institution to remain codified in our legal system for another 80+ years.

One last note about the early-European view of Native Americans... While it's certainly true that as time went on, the treatment of Native Americans became more an more shameful, I'm not too wild about another myth from the era. That is the one where the Native Americans were all living in harmony with Nature and one another until "we" showed up and ruined it all. I'd never use the pejorative term "savages", nor was it universal among tribes, but there was plenty of "unpleasantness" between tribes themselves that had been going on for centuries. It doesn't excuse the mistreatment of Native Americans by our government (in its current form, or its predecessors), but there were plenty of people getting slaughtered, having their land taken, enslaved, and being persecuted based on their cultural identity before "we" showed up. My eyes were really opened up to this when I read Undaunted Courage, about the journey of Lewis & Clark, written by the late historian Stephen Ambrose.

I completely agree with you on that last people. A lot of people ignore those facts and it bothers me.

 

[luvmy3]

Unless she is at my house ranting about Thanksgiving as I was about to slice the turkey, her opinion on Thanksgiving doesn't matter. She's entitled to feel the way she does (if this is even true) and she's entitled to celebrate any way she feels.

 

[PaulaSB12]

http://www.celebrific.com/2160/angelina-jolie-brad-pitt-celebrate-thanksgiving-in-vietnam-pictures/
Brad PItt says they are celebrating it

http://extratv.warnerbros.com/videos/?autoplay=true&mediaKey=1c98a019-3d76-4423-a409-b04aa2ff3400
http://www.netglimse.com/news/7913/Brad_Pitt:_Reveals_about_unusal_family_plans_for_Thanksgiving

There is no evidence that she even said this yet people are acting sheep like in believing it. She celebrated in 2007 Brad Pitt says they will be celebrating it but some unknown hack says she hates and you all believe it?

 

[disykat]

Yes, we are like sheep. It is becoming an important part of our belief system. The fact that we are discussing this means it has become part of our very being. We live and breathe to rail against Angelina Jolie and all she represents.

Get a grip people. She is a celebrity, which means she will be represented and misrepresented. It's part of the package. The fact is that most of us discussing this don't give a fig about Angelina Jolie. The only thing we know about her is that she is odd - based not only on second hand gossip, but on interviews with her. (Let's face it, once you've admitted publicly you wear blood in a vial around your neck, some people think you're odd.) We're discussing a topic at this point, not slandering your best friend.

I clicked on this thread for one reason only - because the thread title was about blasting Thanksgiving. I assumed the thread would be about people who don't celebrate because of their feelings about our country's treatment of Native Americans. That's the topic. The celebrity name is just one name that could be anyone.

 

[Acklander]

The only thing we know about her is that she is odd - based not only on second hand gossip, but on interviews with her. (Let's face it, once you've admitted publicly you wear blood in a vial around your neck, some people think you're odd.)

Wasn't she in her early 20's when she wore the blood? In my early 20's I wore those stupid leg warmers. Not that I'm equating leg warmers with wearing someone's blood in a vial, but that I don't want some of the dumb things I wore in my early 20's to be held against me for the rest of my life.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Your feelings only really make sense if Thanksgiving were a celebration of Puritan culture or actions... and it's not. It may have a historical foundation in Puritanical America, but that's not what the modern celebration is about. If you wanted to you could apply the same jaundiced filter to the celebration-worthy "Easter" as many of the facets of our current celebration has its historical celebration are rooted in Paganism and other fertility rites. You also hinted correctly that The 4th of July is viewed as anything but celebration-worthy by many due to the fact that so many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were slave owners and allowed the awful institution to remain codified in our legal system for another 80+ years.

One last note about the early-European view of Native Americans... While it's certainly true that as time went on, the treatment of Native Americans became more an more shameful, I'm not too wild about another myth from the era. That is the one where the Native Americans were all living in harmony with Nature and one another until "we" showed up and ruined it all. I'd never use the pejorative term "savages", nor was it universal among tribes, but there was plenty of "unpleasantness" between tribes themselves that had been going on for centuries. It doesn't excuse the mistreatment of Native Americans by our government (in its current form, or its predecessors), but there were plenty of people getting slaughtered, having their land taken, enslaved, and being persecuted based on their cultural identity before "we" showed up. My eyes were really opened up to this when I read Undaunted Courage, about the journey of Lewis & Clark, written by the late historian Stephen Ambrose.

Your argument only makes since if most elementary schools spend a week on the Eostre holiday or teach kids about the origins of the symbolism of Holly or anything at all about Mithras's birthday. I personally don't know of any. However, the schools certainly do spend a great deal of time teaching kids about Pilgrims and Plymouth, so I'd say our celebrating of the holiday has a great deal to do with celebrating a bunch of people who wanted to establish a pretty rigid, egotistical theocracy.

And romanticizing Indians has nothing to do with it. Their relationship with the Indians was pretty poor from the get go beause they characterized the Indians as heathen, degenerate savages who were in desparate need of the civilizing influences that they would provide (the fact that the Puritan ideal of what should happen to the Indians included enslavement and decimation of the Indian numbers non-withstanding).

As I stated, you should look to the Acadians for evidence that the poor relationship with the Indians was the Puritans fault. The original Acadian settlers view of Indians was that they were buying land from the people of a different culture and nation; they were just new immigrants to an old land, however, they were immigrants here in massive numbers and with superior force. Their first compacts with the Indians included the hope that descendants of the Acadians and descendants of the tribe would be the same; and by the time of the Grand Derangement they were well on their way to accomplishing this goal.

The Puritans went in with a bigoted attitude - it shouldn't be surprising that they reaped what they sowed in Indian attacks, captures and warfare.

You can't really bring in any other actions that did or did not occur in US history unless it ties directly to or can be considered in comparison to these events; it doesn't matter if Native people were involved or not.

If the holiday were separate from the origin, I'd have no problem with it. But it's not, and many schools spend a week or two in corollary with the holiday praising the Puritans perpetuating the romantic views of that people. (Which is very odd, since, if I'm reading correctly, you inferred that I was romanticizing the Indians. . .)

 

[DisGirlAllie]

But do they even live here? It seems like they are always overseas. I believe she gave birth to their children overseas. But they will be back here to make money.

Last I heard, they had an enormous house in Los Angeles.

 

[Geoff_M]

Your argument only makes since if most elementary schools spend a week on the Eostre holiday or teach kids about the origins of the symbolism of Holly or anything at all about Mithras's birthday. I personally don't know of any. However, the schools certainly do spend a great deal of time teaching kids about Pilgrims and Plymouth, so I'd say our celebrating of the holiday has a great deal to do with celebrating a bunch of people who wanted to establish a pretty rigid, egotistical theocracy.

I think your definition of a "great deal" probably varies from mine. And while schools may present a "Disney-ized" version of the first Thanksgiving, I'm not sure that getting all "heavy" with elementary aged kids is an advisable thing to do. It's similar to some of the criticisms of Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" because it didn't present a realistic view of the racial conditions in 1920's New Orleans.

If the holiday were separate from the origin, I'd have no problem with it. But it's not, and many schools spend a week or two in corollary with the holiday praising the Puritans perpetuating the romantic views of that people. (Which is very odd, since, if I'm reading correctly, you inferred that I was romanticizing the Indians. . .)

Sorry, that wasn't my intention. I brought it up because it's another romanticism from that same era that involved some of the same players. As for the separation in practice, "Pilgrims" were mentioned exactly zero times in our house today. I'm sure we weren't alone.

 

[Imzadi]

But do they even live here? It seems like they are always overseas. I believe she gave birth to their children overseas. But they will be back here to make money.

They also have a huge home in New Orleans.
Brad Pitt created a nonprofit foundation & charity, the Make it Right Foundation, to help build new houses in New Orleans for those that lost theirs during Katrina. He & Angie have donated some millions of dollars, as well as getting other stars like George Clooney, etc., to donate thousands of dollars, too.

http://www.makeitrightnola.org/


Please tell us what charities/foundations/programs you have helped with your American made dollars?

Last I heard, they had an enormous house in Los Angeles.

 

[Acklander]

They also have a huge home in New Orleans.
Brad Pitt created a nonprofit foundation & charity, the Make it Right Foundation, to help build new houses in New Orleans for those that lost theirs during Katrina. He & Angie have donated some millions of dollars, as well as getting other stars like George Clooney, etc., to donate thousands of dollars, too.

http://www.makeitrightnola.org/

They really are quite generous. I once read that for every $3 she's ever earned she's always kept one, saved one, and donated one; and the money they made from the photos of their kids was 100% donated to children causes. I know they spend a lot of time overseas but I think that's because many of the films they're in are filmed overseas - so they bring the whole family over where ever they are filming.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Considering it's not a public statement that she herself is making, it's not really any of my business how she feels about Thanksgiving and how it is viewed in their families. I would probably feel different if she was out doing some public campaign to promote this opinion, but she didn't. It's a statement from an unnamed source who is "supposedly" close to her.