Thanksgiving Thoughts
November 21st 2007 15:02
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Families gathering to share food and gratitude for the prosperity of the harvest and the good fortune of the past year. Oregon schools notwithstanding.
The latest PC notion is that Thanksgiving should be a time of mourning for all the wrongs and injustices done to the Native Americans by the evil "white men." Obviously, those who subscribe to the idea haven't studied history. The first Thanksgiving was a holiday, celebrated by both the Indians and the European settlers. They all brought food and shared it. Had it not been for the generosity of the tribes, the settlers would never have survived. The two cultures got along very nicely to begin with, neither one trying to force their beliefs on the other.
When the Spaniards arrived, it changed. They considered it their mission to convert the "heathens" and force them to worship in accordance with Spanish laws. In their zeal, they began attacking otherwise peaceful natives.
Reservations weren't designed to isolate the Indians, you know. The original idea was to give them their own place that the "white man" couldn't invade. To this day, reservations are governed by tribal councils and police. Their law is upheld! They can spend time off the reservation to their hearts content, even living there if they want to. But white people aren't encouraged to live on reservations as it would violate the intended sovereignty.
Bad things have happened since, from the Trail of Tears to Little Big Horn, to Wounded Knee, etc. But Thanksgiving was begun long before those tragedies occured, folks. We celebrate the early settlers and the Native Americans who saved them, not the wrongs that have happened since.
So enjoy the turkey and all the trimmings. Be thankful that the tribes came to the rescue when they did. Say whatever prayers you choose (or none at all) and be grateful that we have the freedom to celebrate holidays in peace (at least for now.)
The latest PC notion is that Thanksgiving should be a time of mourning for all the wrongs and injustices done to the Native Americans by the evil "white men." Obviously, those who subscribe to the idea haven't studied history. The first Thanksgiving was a holiday, celebrated by both the Indians and the European settlers. They all brought food and shared it. Had it not been for the generosity of the tribes, the settlers would never have survived. The two cultures got along very nicely to begin with, neither one trying to force their beliefs on the other.
When the Spaniards arrived, it changed. They considered it their mission to convert the "heathens" and force them to worship in accordance with Spanish laws. In their zeal, they began attacking otherwise peaceful natives.
Reservations weren't designed to isolate the Indians, you know. The original idea was to give them their own place that the "white man" couldn't invade. To this day, reservations are governed by tribal councils and police. Their law is upheld! They can spend time off the reservation to their hearts content, even living there if they want to. But white people aren't encouraged to live on reservations as it would violate the intended sovereignty.
Bad things have happened since, from the Trail of Tears to Little Big Horn, to Wounded Knee, etc. But Thanksgiving was begun long before those tragedies occured, folks. We celebrate the early settlers and the Native Americans who saved them, not the wrongs that have happened since.
So enjoy the turkey and all the trimmings. Be thankful that the tribes came to the rescue when they did. Say whatever prayers you choose (or none at all) and be grateful that we have the freedom to celebrate holidays in peace (at least for now.)
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