--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For John Dillinger In hope he is still…" description: "\"“For John Dillinger In hope he is still alive Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1986 In hope he is still alive Thanks for the wild turkey and the Passenge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/william-s-burroughs-528_american-dream_for-john-dillinger-in-hope-he-is-still-a_67841.jpg" --- # For John Dillinger In hope he is still alive Thanksgiving… ![“For John Dillinger In hope he is still alive Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1986 In hope he is still alive Thanks for the wild turkey and the Passenger Pigeons, destined to be shit out through wholesome American guts; thanks for a Continent to despoil and poison; thanks for Indians to provide a…” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/william-s-burroughs-528_american-dream_for-john-dillinger-in-hope-he-is-still-a_67841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/william-s-burroughs-528_american-dream_for-john-dillinger-in-hope-he-is-still-a_67841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/william-s-burroughs-528_american-dream_for-john-dillinger-in-hope-he-is-still-a_67841.jpg) > ““For John Dillinger In hope he is still alive Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1986 In hope he is still alive Thanks for the wild turkey and the Passenger Pigeons, destined to be shit out through wholesome American guts; thanks for a Continent to despoil and poison; thanks for Indians to provide a modicum of challenge and danger; thanks for vast herds of bison to kill and skin, leaving the carcass to rot; thanks for bounties on wolves and coyotes; thanks for the American Dream to vulgarize and falsify until the bare lies shine through; thanks for the KKK; for nigger-killing lawmen feeling their notches; for decent church-going women with their mean, pinched, bitter, evil faces; thanks for Kill a Queer for Christ stickers; thanks for laboratory AIDS; thanks for Prohibition and the War Against Drugs; thanks for a country where nobody is allowed to mind his own business; thanks for a nation of finks—yes, thanks for all the memories all right, lets see your arms; you always were a headache and you always were a bore; thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.”” [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A bitter, satirical lament that catalogues the grotesque contradictions of American history and culture, exposing exploitation, racism, and mythic ideals as sources of collective trauma. **In simple terms:** A scathing indictment of America’s violent legacy. Key Takeaway America’s myths mask systemic cruelty. Themes American history Violence Racism Cultural critique Satire Mood cynical disillusioned bitter Type lament satire When to use this quote - Reflecting on historical injustice - Analyzing cultural narratives - Discussing systemic oppression - Exploring personal disillusionment Key Concepts Colonialism Capitalism Moral hypocrisy National identity Practical Applications - Critical essays on American mythos - Teaching about historical trauma Questions to Reflect On - What does the author suggest is the true cost of the American Dream? - How does satire help reveal hidden societal wounds? A Different Perspective Some may argue the piece exaggerates for effect, overlooking progress and positive aspects of American society. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) [Thanksgiving day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-day/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s crowded today, the day before the big macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and people are filling up the tunnel like lemmings or cockroaches running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-crowded-today-the-day-before-the-big-macy-s-thanksgiving-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The first official national "Thanksgiving Day," established on November 26, 1789, was originally created by George Washington for "giving thanks for the Constitution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-l-harrison/the-first-official-national-thanksgiving-day-established-on-november/) [Steven L. 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