Thanksgiving Parade & Trump’s Immigration Stance – 2025 Update

This year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City offered a new live-streaming experience, and I regret not watching it live. The annual event, now in its 101st year, continues to be a major spectacle, even as it adapts to the digital age. An estimated 10 million people watched the parade live.

Now, experiencing the New York parade doesn’t require a trip to the city, or even a VIP ticket. Viewers can purchase a digital live stream that simulates a VIP viewing experience, with the ability to select different vantage points through drone-mounted cameras – a “multiview streaming” option.

The parade’s iconic balloons have also been updated for the digital era, incorporating augmented reality effects. These effects enhance the viewing experience for those watching online, making the balloons appear even more vibrant than they do in person.

The balloons, many of which depict animated characters, are so large they would be difficult to incorporate into parades in other countries. Some measure as tall as six-story buildings, a hallmark of the New York parade. In contrast, the Chicago parade is known for its marching bands, with champions from across the United States competing for recognition, while Philadelphia’s parade focuses on family and Christmas themes.

This Thanksgiving was marked by record-breaking travel numbers across the United States, alongside soaring turkey prices – a traditional staple of the holiday meal.

I’ve almost forgotten the taste of turkey on Thanksgiving. I only attended one Thanksgiving celebration in the United States, many years ago.

On Thanksgiving Day, which fell on November 27th this year, families gathered. Men traditionally watched American football broadcasts, while women socialized and gossiped in family rooms.

My one experience attending the New York parade was truly impressive. It exemplified the scale and quality one expects from a wealthy nation.

Even as families celebrated, former President Donald Trump used Thanksgiving as an opportunity to post on social media, not to offer holiday greetings, but to reiterate his anti-immigration stance. He claimed that immigrants were taking food off the tables of American citizens.

Trump used the holiday meal as a platform to raise concerns among Americans that their food supply was being diminished by immigrants.

The holiday was also overshadowed by tragedy. Just two days before Thanksgiving, a shooting occurred involving an Afghan immigrant, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who shot two U.S. soldiers: Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24. Beckstrom died in the hospital, and Wolfe remains in critical condition. The soldiers were part of a federal force deployed by Trump to combat crime in Washington D.C.

Trump has a specific immigration agenda, including a review of existing citizenships, stricter requirements for new applicants, and increased efforts to prevent undocumented immigrants from entering the country.

Lakanwal was among the 60,000 Afghan citizens who entered the United States after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had previously worked with the CIA during the war in Afghanistan.

Following the U.S. withdrawal, individuals like Lakanwal sought refuge in the United States, fearing persecution if they remained in Afghanistan.

Lakanwal resided in Washington state, near the Canadian border, before driving across the country to Washington D.C.

There, he opened fire on soldiers, and was subsequently apprehended. His motive remains unknown, and he has been labeled a terrorist by U.S. authorities.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and the motive is a key focus. The situation presents a challenge for Trump, given the significant number of Afghan refugees now residing in the U.S. He intends to leverage this issue to criticize President Biden ahead of next year’s election.

This marks a rare instance of Thanksgiving being used to escalate political tensions, and to divert attention from concerns about rising prices, including the cost of turkey. (Dahlan Iskan)

Komentar Pilihan Dahlan Iskan pada Tulisan: Bawazier Soedomo

siti asiyah

I have three brothers, all boys. My youngest brother was always the most mischievous and rebellious child. He was always in trouble at school from elementary through high school. He also refused to go to college. But all his mischief and rebelliousness melted away in front of our mother. Whatever our mother said, he always obeyed. I was even scolded by her for something I considered trivial – delaying buying her a plate of rice with fried tofu because it was almost midnight. She said, “How dare you argue with your mother?” She then went out herself to find the rice and tofu until she got it. And there are many more stories of his obedience to our mother. Today, his blessing comes in the form of wealth. And just like my mother, my brother loves to donate to charity. Like when we went on vacation and didn’t have a car, he loved to take pictures with the beautiful cars in the parking lot. At that time, our mother said, “Your brother deserves to be rich.”

DeniK

I’m still curious if when building factories in Arab countries, he is often visited by organizations or NGOs asking for “japrem” (preman’s share/extortion money)?

Bahtiar HS

Pak @DjokoLodang, Maybe Abah is like me. I want to let my beard grow long, but there are other sunnahs (Islamic traditions) that are more of a priority. Namely, pleasing my wife because she doesn’t like and is annoyed by a long beard. Even a short stubble makes her skin feel rough. That’s why I don’t have a mustache or beard. To please my wife. If there are two sunnahs that “conflict,” choose the one that has an impact on others. Growing a beard is just for yourself. But not having a beard makes my wife happy and brings us closer. So, I choose to please my wife. The same goes for my wife wanting to fast on a voluntary basis. Ask your husband first. Let him know and think about it. But if she’s not strong enough to resist the urge to fast during the day, she should understand and break her fast. Follow your husband’s wishes. Priority! You get double the reward. The reward for fasting is there, and the reward for pleasing your husband is there. And the fast is shortened because you can eat during the day. What more blessing could you ask for?

Muh Nursalim

The goal isn’t to become an employee. That’s the purpose of education at Pondok Gontor (Islamic boarding school). Having a diploma is for applying for jobs, both government and private. Those without a diploma are “forced” to become entrepreneurs. Those with diplomas then become the employees of those without diplomas. Gontor doesn’t want to take equivalence exams. It issues its own diplomas with a curriculum it creates itself. Initially, the diplomas weren’t accepted. Everywhere. But over time, because of the quality of education, they became accepted. Even the state accommodated similar Islamic schools by enacting laws about Islamic schools.

Agus Suryonegoro III – 阿古斯·苏约诺

WHEN SARONG MEETS NOODLES, WAZARAN IS BORN.. Pak Dahlan’s writing today once again makes me nod and smile. Big business often starts with small steps—even 100 boxes of noodles. The story of Kholid Bawazier teaches us that business intuition is sometimes sharper than an academic degree. He was told not to go to college, but he went to “University of the Market” instead. Ironically, from sarongs, mushrooms, tuna, to instant noodles, everything has been elevated to a global level. From Jalan Sasak, Ampel, to eight countries. This is a definition of going international without motivational seminars. What I admire most is ethical consistency. Knowing all the secrets of the noodle business, he remained loyal to his long-time business partner. He didn’t try to create his own brand. In a world of cutthroat business, this is a rare morality. And one more thing, the inheritance was divided fairly among his sisters. This isn’t just a business strategy, it’s a strategy for keeping the family united. The message is clear: wealth isn’t about speed, it’s about doing things the right way—and being obedient.

Agus Suryonegoro III – 阿古斯·苏约诺

LOGISTICS ARE FAR, BREATH IS LONG.. What impresses me most about Kholid Bawazier’s story isn’t the noodles and coffee, but the endurance of his business. Imagine, fish from Bitung being transported to Cirebon, then exported again through Bitung. It sounds illogical. But in the world of business, sometimes the “illogical” is a lifesaver. When government policies changed and the factory closed, Kholid didn’t complain on social media. He built another factory. When regulations changed, he stopped new investments even though he had already spent a lot of money. This isn’t about short-term profits, it’s about long-term survival. I also see a pattern: Indonesian entrepreneurs abroad are often more willing to take industrial risks than those at home. From Saudi Arabia, his business expanded to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This isn’t just exporting goods, it’s exporting a strong mentality. Pak Dahlan Iskan’s writing today reminds us: a true entrepreneur doesn’t just count profits, but is also prepared to lose without falling. And that isn’t taught in any university.

Jo Neca

Why did the Elephant sit down and go bankrupt? Because he rarely stood up. He got hemorrhoids. Remember to stand up. Especially on a soft sofa. Don’t forget to stand up.

Lagarenze 1301

Long ago, when Ramadan arrived, the symbol was sarongs. Before Eid al-Fitr, the company I worked for not only distributed THR (holiday bonus) but also sarongs. The brand was: Gajah Duduk (without the letter ‘j’). Every year. I always gave the sarong to my mother. But when it was time to pray Eid, the sarongs we brothers wore were bought by my mother at the market. They were much cheaper. Several days after my mother passed away, I opened her closet. I found piles of Gajah Duduk sarongs. Neatly folded with the plastic still on. Never opened. I realized my mother kept the sarongs as something very valuable. The result of her children’s hard work, who sometimes didn’t come home until after midnight. Time flies. Years ago, the sign that Ramadan was approaching was seeing the sarong advertisements on TV. Now, not many people watch TV anymore. But the sign that Ramadan is approaching is still the sarong. Even if not many people wear them anymore. For Tarawih prayers. And Eid prayers.

Jokosp Sp

It’s a bit awkward with the Banjarese language. Let me try to interpret it. I didn’t know: I didn’t recognize Kholid Bawazier. I was a little doubtful when I shook his hand in Jeddah two weeks ago. He looked different than 10 years ago. His beard was longer. He is 68 years old. “I like to go to Surabaya,” he said, born on Jalan Sasak, Ampel, Surabaya. Now Kholid is often in Jeddah. His business in Saudi Arabia is growing. He now has a partnership with Kapal Api to create the Wazaran Kapal Api Coffee factory. If the beard is the same in Banjarese, it’s “janggut”. But if it’s a mustache, it can be “sasingut”, or in Kuala Banjarese it’s called “sasengot”. This is probably because the people of Galuh Banjar often talk to Javanese people, so fragments of Banjarese are mixed in… 🙂 🙂 🙂

Liam Then

20 TOP COUNTRIES CONSUMING INDOMIE.. 1. Saudi Arabia 2. Egypt 3. Nigeria 4. Ethiopia 5. Sudan 6. Morocco 7. Yemen 8. Lebanon 9. Syria 10. Turkey 11. Serbia 12. Australia 13. United States 14. Singapore 15. Malaysia 16. Philippines 17. Hong Kong 18. Japan 19. Netherlands 20. South Africa ### Indomie has gone global. The world is now Indomie-fied.

Liam Then

ALL NATIONS ARE EQUAL BEFORE INDOMIE.. This is thanks to Kholid Bawazier, who slowly built factory after factory. Noodle factories. Not for show, but for logistics. His business map is neat.. 1). Saudi Arabia for the Middle East, 2). Africa for Africa, 3). Serbia for Europe. Efficient, quiet from sensation, but deadly to competitors. On the other hand, the strength of the Indomie brand is maintained through elegant partnerships—not greedy, not going it alone. What’s interesting is that this mi instant doesn’t force Indonesian flavors on the world. Instead, it adapts to local tastes: Africa, Arab, Balkans—all “Indomie-fied” without feeling colonized by flavor. This is globalization in the kitchen, not through speeches, but through bowls, spoons, and hot broth. The world may be different, but when the water boils and the noodles are added: “All nations are equal before Indomie.”

Jo Neca

Why would you make a trap for yourself? Hoping for the impossible. Unless a good dictator appears… Borrowing a term from my former father.

Runner

Just casually zooming in on Pak DI’s photos. All are dated November 11, 2025. It’s been a while. It means the stock of CHDI writings is safe. I wonder if they’ll be released one by one at certain times. So they don’t have to report on current sensational events. A clever strategy to avoid consequences… hehe, sorry Pak.

Juve Zhang

I’ve long suggested a Special Mining and Palm Oil Land Tax….we are all stupid with double-digit IQs….the rich coal and palm oil tycoons are getting richer and richer….look at Sampoerna Agro selling its palm oil business, always bought by foreigners, even POSCO Korea….this means they have a good business plan….a Special Mining and Palm Oil Land Tax will definitely bring a lot of revenue to the country. Just calculate the area of palm oil and mining land owned by private companies, millions of hectares….this is a fertile ground for collecting taxes. Oh, our double-digit IQs are difficult to develop, that’s why the country is always poor and being eroded by corruptors….a poor country, a poor people….the rich are coal and palm oil tycoons….where is Indonesia’s Mandani?….come on, Mandani Indonesia, run for president in 2029….we support you….

riansyah harun

The sentence “there is no and it is unethical” really shakes my heart as a small business that is far below an MSME. How can Pak Bawazier, even though he is skilled and has a vast business network abroad, already controls the market, and knows how to operate, especially instant noodles, still remain steadfast in not being “greedy”? He continues to work with his old business partner. He could easily establish his own factory, expand his business empire, and create his own kingdom. But the feeling is, here we should learn a lot from entrepreneurs like him who still maintain morals and integrity. Not immediately like the anecdote of arrogance of children in childhood, “I have everything, what do you want”…!!!

ra tepak pol

According to Islam, using water for purification (istinja) is the most superior and cleanest (afdhal). However, using tissue is also permissible and considered valid if the dirt (najis) is removed.

ra tepak pol

@Pak JK… AI summary: Cleaning with water is cleaner because it is considered able to remove dirt and bacteria completely, while tissue only wipes and can leave residue. Water is also gentler on sensitive skin, but it is important to dry it properly afterwards to prevent moisture that can invite disease. Why is this reversed?

Johannes Kitono

Head Covering. The photo is good. Both are smiling with head coverings. But something is wrong. Bawazier’s ears and some workers’ ears are not covered. Violating the hygienes SOP and QC missed something. All workers in the shrimp Cold Storage must wear head coverings that cover their ears. And those with beards should only work in the office. If not, they must wear a special mask that covers the beard. They are not allowed to be in the processing or production area. There was a story when Indian shrimp wanted to be exported. One lesson for female workers was to change old habits. Every time they finished defecating, they weren’t allowed to clean with water but had to use tissue. This seemed simple, but it took time to change so that the exported shrimp wouldn’t be contaminated with bacteria and pass the FDA. Hopefully everyone lives happily.

Ahmed Nurjubaedi

This is a story from my college roommate. Since his parents divorced, he only ate indomie, eggs, and occasionally rice cooked himself every day. Every day. Morning, noon, and night. Hot or stormy. He also added chili sauce. After 5 months, his face became acne-prone. Boils grew sporadically on his buttocks or other parts of his body. He was given ointment on one side, healed, then appeared on another location. The boils became like guerrilla troops. And his body was the battlefield. He was forced to go to the doctor. We, his roommates, chipped in to pay for it. And the doctor’s words were simple: stop eating indomie with eggs every day for 3 months. Let the body detoxify the indomie and eggs. After 3 months, you can eat indomie and eggs again. Once a week. And since then, there hasn’t been a day without rice, fried shallots, and fried tempeh.

djokoLodang

-o– The Sarong Story This is a true story. It was a long time ago, around the early 1990s. *) A director of a state-owned company in Bandung met an acquaintance—a private entrepreneur—who had just come from Makassar. He was given a gift wrapped neatly in gift paper. Without asking what was inside, the gift was taken home. At home, with a blossoming heart, he handed it to his wife. “Here, honey, this is for you.” After opening it, it turned out to contain a fine sarong, neatly folded to the size of a bundle of banknotes. –0-

Wilwa

@Juve. I was reminded of the history of the Jews before the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was leveled to the ground by the Romans a few decades after the emergence of Yahshua/Jesus. There was fierce competition between the Sadducee Jewish sect supported by the Jewish ruling elite and its rival, the Pharisee Jewish sect. The Sadducees were more influenced by Greek/Hellenistic culture, while the Pharisees were more influenced by Persian/Iranian culture, which was a sworn enemy of Greece (Rome). The two sects took turns holding the keys to the Holy Temple depending on which ruler was pro-Greek (Roman) or against it. As you can see, 2000 years ago, rulers were already in cahoots with religious leaders. You can read about this yourself on Wikipedia English regarding the little history I mentioned: Sadducees, Pharisees, Hellenistic Judaism, Josephus Flavius.

Ja’far Syahidan

Ahahaha. This is interesting. If you take the father’s will literally, all three are disobedient, because they all still sell noodle soup. But if you take the implied message behind the will, which is not to pass on poverty to the family, then all three have fulfilled their father’s will 🙂

Murid SD Internasional

Before he died, a father who had spent his entire life selling noodle soup from a small cart on the side of the road, made this will to his three sons. “You three must not be like your father, who only sold noodle soup from a small cart, and your father could only pass on poverty to you and your mother. Hold tight to your father’s will and never disobey your father’s will.” The three sons, while holding their father’s fingers, nodded in unison. The father breathed his last with a smiling face. Leaving the world peacefully. 10 years passed. The eldest son sold noodle soup from a cart, but there were exactly 300 carts! 300 employees! Spreading throughout the city! He could earn almost Rp300 million in revenue per day! Net profit per day was around Rp125 million! The second son also sold noodle soup, but in the form of a premium franchise restaurant! It spread to all corners of the archipelago! Net profit was Rp3 billion to Rp5 billion per month! The youngest son also sold noodle soup! But he built a factory as well! Exported to 3 continents! Serving 54 countries! Quarterly net profit was in the trillions of rupiah! The question is… Are all three sons disobedient to their father’s will?

Liam Then

A few moments ago, I spent about 20 minutes watching a video on the @johnyharris YouTube channel. It’s about the different lifestyles of Americans with wealth of $100 million, $1 billion, and then $100 billion USD. The differences are striking, but there’s a common trend. They apparently use a “buy, borrow, die” system. Their wealth is in the form of high-value asset shares, and when they need money, say $10 million, their shares are used as collateral at a bank. He says the interest rates can be very low because their high-value assets guarantee they can get very low interest rates. The money they get from borrowing is, because it’s in the form of a loan, tax-free (there). Because their asset/share values continue to grow annually beyond the obligation of loan interest, they don’t worry about paying installments and loans. Imagine their cash money, which they get from pledging their portfolio shares with cheap interest, can be fully used without being taxed, then bought government bonds (RI) which have relatively high interest. Wouldn’t they immediately profit? The difference for 3-year bonds is already 1.5%. 10-year bonds are even up to 2.5%. If this scenario is real, isn’t the Indonesian government financing their lifestyle? Therefore, the Indonesian government should work hard so that it doesn’t become a donkey pulling a cart, so that its economy is booming, automatically the yield on bonds can be cheaper. The richer the country, the cheaper the cost of borrowing.

Liam Then

A few moments ago there was a protester saying about someone who was arrested for selling rice seeds that were considered illegal. Here’s a video uploaded on the @moreperfectunion channel. The title: We Went to Arkansas The Farm Crises Will Shock You. Yesterday, Pak DI told about the prosperity of farmers in America. The reality is a little different. The number of farmers in America is decreasing every year, because many are going bankrupt, due to the pressure of almost monopolistic seed, fertilizer and harvesting companies. The video features a farmer saying that they are squeezed from above, the cost of seeds and fertilizers is expensive, because the sellers have almost no competition, and the selling price of the harvest is set arbitrarily by the buyers. Are government subsidies enjoyed by them? No, he said, but by those companies, because the money is used to pay off debts for seeds, fertilizers, etc. We must learn from this, especially the Indonesian government, because there are signs that multinational companies with large capital are entering the world of Indonesian agriculture. For example, in the distribution of rice, a large company from a neighboring country has begun to interfere. The video I mentioned above reminds us: a true entrepreneur doesn’t just count profits, but is also prepared to lose without falling. And that isn’t taught in any university.

Juve Zhang

When I was little, I heard my brother open a meatball noodle shop…. every afternoon he donated the leftover noodles to the neighbors on the left and right….wkqkkq the original noodles didn’t last long….

Liáng – βιολί ζήτα

Samyang Buldak. Here, the popular instant noodles are produced from South Korea. In South Korea and other East Asian countries, it is more commonly called ramen than instant noodles. Last year, several types of ramen from South Korea were considered problematic and were withdrawn from circulation, namely several types of Samyang Buldak (삼양불닭 sam-yangbuldalg) ramen. The reason for the ban was that the Danish authorities responsible for food said that Samyang Buldak ramen “is too spicy” – meaning the capsaicin content is very high – potentially posing a health risk, especially triggering hypertension. The meaning of “buldak” in the Samyang ramen brand is “very spicy grilled chicken”, so Samyang Buldak means ramen with a very spicy grilled chicken flavor. For South Koreans who like spicy food by tradition, the spiciness of Samyang Buldak ramen is still considered normal. But not for people in Northern Europe. Therefore, expanding a food business abroad, in addition to bringing the characteristics of the product, must also be adjusted to the habits and tongues of local consumers, especially there are strict regulations regarding the content of certain substances.

Source: