Fellow alumni members, friends, and supporters, on Thursday November 24th, members of our association will join in and celebrate the festivity of Thanksgiving. We will have the good fortune of seeing family and friends who will travel countless miles to celebrate and feast with us on this day that transcends peace, happiness, togetherness, and the bounty God has favored us with. Interestingly enough, evidence abounds that the first thanksgiving tables displayed deer meat, shell fish, cornmeal, dried beans, and bean casseroles; the paradisiac turkey came some years later as an additional center-piece adornment. This progression suggest that adding other delicacies to a Thanksgiving table is both normal and acceptable.
As Guyanese and of Caribbean heritage, I contend that some of our native dishes would add to this festal day and enhance the celebratory spirit of gratefulness to the Almighty. In particular, how logical would it be to celebrate Guyana’s newly found wealth on Thanksgiving day with foods that are native to our homeland? Curried dishes, cook-up rice, pepper pot, garlic pork, lo-mien, and hot tea instead of coffee for an after dinner beverage, would be welcomed additions to Guyanese Thanksgiving tables, not to mention the distinctive aroma and satisfied stomachs. What is the point? The point is that our foods on a Thanksgiving table represent all of our six precious ethnicities, our hope for togetherness and a divinely led destiny. I can think of no greater reason today for us to be thankful.
As we here in North America honor this day, keep in mind those at home and down the street from us who are less fortunate. The suffix of Thanksgiving is ‘giving’, therefore, we will truly be exhibiting how blessed and thankful we are by the act of giving back; if you know someone who is alone give that person a phone call, if someone is sick pray for him or her and give them love and hope, if a friend is down on his or her luck help them out, if you have many coats give some to somebody who otherwise would be cold this winter. My friends, these are the fundamental principles of CAAAI, and the legacy of Robert A, Pinkerton. Always remember Guyana and never be too tired to give. Please have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving, and may God bountifully bless you and your family.
Submitted by: Dr. Aubrey F. Bentham - President
