Reflection

This past week was quite a lesson on human interaction. Through the noisy insanity of the screaming mass that is my family, I saw parallels to the larger world of international relations.
Constructivism
My cousin Ryan, the roofer and husband, shocked us all when he broke from his labels and assumed another one- father. Of course, we all knew about the birth of his daughter only months before, but when he altered his behavior and began to do things like help clean up messes and watch his language, we all were a little shocked. We weren't sure how to treat him in his new role. He was always the sort of renegade cousin, and when he changed his identity, we shifted the way we treated him.

Liberalism
Jessica was in charge of the mashed potatoes.
I was in charge of the pie.
We made friends.
She got extra pie
I got to lick the spoon from the mashed potatoes.
Thanksgiving + liberalism = :D

Realism
By it's very nature, Thanksgiving rejects the idea of realism on a micro level. However, on an international level the holiday is all about realism. If you throw a little cynicism into the mix, Thanksgiving Day quickly becomes Thank God I'm Not An Impoverished Congolese Woman Day. Thanksgiving is all about what we Americans have, not how we can help other countries. It is very much America individually celebrating its success.