So this mass mailing came into the office today (with a little bit of emphasis added by me):
Fellow State Employees,
This Thanksgiving, Hoosiers from all across Indiana will gather with family and friends and celebrate the shared blessings that give each of us reason to pause from daily life and offer our heartfelt appreciation for all that God has bestowed upon us.
Quick interruption, for a few important clarifications in case the governor or his writers see this response:
1. I’m actually not a state employee. Thanks to laws that let contractors do equal work to their officemates without the benefits, I’m not supposed to feel included there, despite me getting the memo. But thanks for reminding me of the money I’m losing on the office closure.
2. People across MORE than just Indiana participate in this NATIONAL holiday.
3. Lots of state employees (and us contractors) aren’t worshipers of whatever evil god allows you to turn your back on refugees… but I’m getting ahead of myself.
As we give thanks, let us be mindful of the men and women in our Armed Forces who will spend Thanksgiving away from hearth and home to defend the posts of liberty abroad. Let us also give thanks for our first responders, whose dinner must wait as they work to ensure that our communities are safe.
Damn. Ok. He had two good points. But brace yourself for the stupid:
In this season of tradition and gratitude, let us also remember those among us who struggle with heavy hearts during the holiday season. Hoosier Hospitality is often demonstrated with a helping hand, a warm meal or words of encouragement; small gestures that go a long way in heartening a burdened neighbor.
To us, Thanksgiving marks the true start of the holiday season; a time to reflect and rejoice upon the grace within each of our lives.
So, from our home to yours, we’d like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Governor Mike Pence and First Lady Karen Pence
Seriously. Days after preventing screened refugees from moving in? The day after getting sued for doing this, he has the gall to wrap himself the benevolence of “Hoosier Hospitality”? What about BIG gestures of allowing refugees from a war torn area? Wouldn’t those go a longer way to heartening burdened people??
In light of the whole way the Republican party is going under Trump’s leadership, I guess it makes sense if the whole holiday thing is looked at as “Us vs. Them,” like they look at the whole world. Still, how do the fundamental ideas of sharing and opening homes NOT cross even that thick border? Or if they don’t cross over, at least make you give a second thought about that reverence from the first paragraph. You can’t have it both ways!!
