Who Gets To Decide?

On the eve of being thankful, another holiday that has become controversial because of its origin, I begin to wonder who gets to decide.
Who decides what we celebrate and why? Who decides what is right for our nation and why?
Decisions I do not take lightly- Though sometimes I fly by the seat of my pants and go with what I know- inevitably decisions are important and have the ability to effect people.
The bigger the decision maker- the more effect they have-
Some people think we should not celebrate Thanksgiving because of the treatment of our native Americans- so should we decide to erase this holiday from our calendars? Who gets to decide?

I have once again been subject to censorship- but this time it's in a very odd place. A gay magazine. Why would a magazine called The Advocate-defined as 'a person who speaks or writes in support of a cause'- censor an ad for one of my gay romances? Who decided that? There was no exposed cock, ass or even a kiss. But the picture was 'too suggestive' for their other advertising clients. Say what?? The picture of two men together is too suggestive for their ??? advertisers? Not their readers, not their staff, they are pandering to the right wing GOP? who advertise in their magazine? Sorry if I am confused. The cover design was approved by my contact in the ad department, then rejected after it was made into a complete ad and submitted. A book cover, about gay romance, rejected for being too suggestive in a gay magazine.
Who decided that?
And if they had published my book cover- would they sincerely have had a mass exodus of their high paying clients? Advertising clients who pay for ads in a gay magazine- The Advocate- known for being gay for decades- yet...we may offend a conservative advertiser.
Color me confused.
The same ad was welcomed by Attitude Magazine in the UK. They bloody loved it! (to coin a mark-ism) So my cover and ad in the United Kingdom was welcomed and accepted without hesitation.
I am only more and more aware of how the USA is becoming a haven for the conservative right. More and more sickened as the views of one slanted hateful side of our country, gains leverage in something as important to the gay community, as a gay magazine.
Who gets to decide?
One person votes yay or nay? A raise of hands?
Doesn't matter, does it? You may think Thanksgiving celebrates something not too pretty in our nation's history- good luck getting it removed from our calendar- to be honest, I don't know how I'd feel about it either way- most of our traditions are about money- oh, yes, that's right. The Advocate again. Money- not rights- censorship is okay, if it keeps money from walking away from their coffers.
I sigh in defeat. Oh well, I'll always have London...
Be safe
and remember the troops while you pig out at your dinner table.