The Fellowship of Freethought in Dallas interviewed people at Skepticon about what their thankful for check out the video:

Now I hate to be buzz kill, but I have to ask, thankful to who or what?

PZ Myers hit the nail on the head by objecting to the question. He’s glad he has a good life and that’s probably the most honest and accurate answer out there. Passive language implies that a divine force is behind it. The traditional language of Thanksgiving similarly implies the divine. For a believer to say “I’m thankful for my family” that really means “I thank God for putting me in my family.” For an atheist to say the same would mean what?

A few people, including David Silverman got the language right or at least close enough.

Since we’ll probably all be asked what we’re thankful for tomorrow here’s how atheists can more accurately and better express their thanksgiving sentiments:

Instead of “I’m thankful for my friends and family,” say “I thank my friends and family for being so loving, supportive, etc.”

Instead of “I’m thankful for science,” say “I want to thank scientists for the discoveries they bring us.”

Instead of “I’m thankful for the groups that protect the separation of church and state,” say “I want to thank the activists that are fighting to keep church and state separate, oh, and while we’re at we should all join their organizations or send them money.”

Thanks to Dr. Zach for the link.