It seems entirely possible for Americans to go through the rituals of Thanksgiving without actually giving thanks.
What’s been bugging me lately is Christians celebrating Christmas without considering how Jesus would want it celebrated. Somehow I don’t think a man of compassion, poverty, and service to others would say, “Spend a great deal of time shopping and then on my birthday give each other presents while stuffing yourselves full of food and liquor.” While the “Keep Christ in Christmas” people endeavor to keep Jesus in mind during all this revelry, I’m ranting because I think the whole holiday is misguided.
As a member of a religion that doesn’t expect any faith or ritual of me, I’m more likely to celebrate the influence of Jesus’s philosophy by doing some volunteer work. I feel obligated because normally I sit on my ass designing digital stuff, not nursing people to health or teaching autistic kids as my sisters do. They’re living the volunteer work and deserve the day off.