Hope everyone got to see their families and cherished ones yesterday :) For those who don't know me I don't celebrate "Thanksgiving" because I think it is an insult to Native Americans. I think it should officially be renamed Day of Mourning or Day of Remembrance.
For those who don't know I like to expose people for their lies. If you are an American, you are more often that not being taught lies about the foundation of this country but also about the history of indigenous and native people.
The "Thanksgiving feast" they teach you about in school is lies. Sure, a dinner took place but Native American's were not invited. When the Pilgrims were having a feast celebrating their first harvest (because the natives helped them) they began hunt fowl. The guns shots alerted the the Natives Americans (Wampanoag tribe but you've never heard of them) who thought that the pilgrims were being attacked (Wampanoag and Pilgrims had a treaty to protect on another). The Wampanoag tribe then gather 90 warriors to go defend them but when they arrived they saw they were just eating and their allies at the time invited them to their feast.
But yeah after that more white people would come to colonize and Natives would be killed off due to the war and disease that Europeans brought over. Some even sold into slavery. They would be forced fed religion and then their land would be taken right from under them.
THE END
For more info about "Thanksgiving" just look up the Wampanoag tribe and info should pop up. I will post a couple links for you as well ^^
http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com/history.html
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/11/22/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story-64076
http://www.alternet.org/story/4391/thanksgiving:_a_native_american_view
As we were peeling potatoes Ben said "you know, this day should be called 'we took your land and gave you smallpox' day." We hear you. As one whose family was here before the Revolutionary war I feel all sorts of guilt. Even though my family was in Pennsylvania and had no slaves, I recognize that the land we farmed was not ours. It is difficult but worthwhile to sit and struggle with our past sometimes, even if we can't do anything about it. That said, I still use the day to be thankful for what I have and mindful of those who don't. Sarah Vowell's "The Wordy Shipmates" is a good read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Michelle. I did not write this so people feel bad. I wrote this so people will be aware of what the Wampanoag did for the Pilgrims. Most people don't even know the name of the tribe. They just write them off as happy Indians. That's what makes me sad. They are nameless in most stories about Thanksgiving. I never wanted other people to feel bad.However, the fact that you feel guilty shows that you have sympathy towards what happened to Native Americans. At the end of the day that's enough for me. I'm especially passionate about things that happened to Native Americans because my great grandmother was full-blood Cherokee. So forgive me if I get sad around "Thanksgiving" time. I will definitely check out that book.
ReplyDeleteYour post didn't make me feel guilty, just my general angst over being descended from pre-revolutionary settlers. Given that we were conscientious objectors and stayed to ourselves and had no slaves, I feel somewhat better but still sad. When we were in Plymouth we learned about the Wampanoug - they actually have integrated it into the living history thing. I agree that many people ignore the indigenous peoples of this country but I think it is more out of lack of information than of malice or intentional disregard for truth. Unfortunately history is too often written by the "winners" and often the other side is ignored or villified. I think itis progress that these stories are veginning to be told.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and commenting Michelle. I really appreciate your input ^^ Most people cower away from subjects like this because it makes them feel uncomfortable. I'm happy to hear that the story of the Wampanoag people are being integrated into living history. I did not know that before :) I always feel good when I learn something new. For future post I won't put "lies" I will just say that people aren't taught the whole story.
ReplyDeleteThere ya go! Love you.
ReplyDeleteLove you too Michelle ^^ Hopefully I will be in a better mood the next time I see you :)
ReplyDelete