Should so called “thanksgiving” be a national day of mourning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another attempt to ruin a holiday by shaming Americans.

Get your own holiday to cry over.

America does have a dark past. We should reflect on the massive human cost of building this country.

-Mayflower descendant

Nah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The notion that anybody native or not owns land is a little ridiculous and quite frankly for generations natives were kicking other natives off land and claiming it as their own before the Puritans showed up.

+1. That’s just how it was back then! You have to read about history in the context of that day and age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the victor deserve the spoils? Really? Disgusting.

It's life, as unfortunate as it is.

it’s Darwinism. Survival of the Fittest.

[Anonymous]

Thanksgiving is really admired by non Americans because it doesn’t involve religion, gifts, questionable heroes* — it’s just a time to be together and be thankful. So let’s not ruin it. And it’s the kinds of holiday that becomes more powerful the more inclusive it is. It doesn’t get weird like Christmas can be — an amalgam of a Very Religious Holiday and a kids gift bonanza for practicing and non practicing alike.

*yes the schools emphasize the pilgrim part

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am all for changing the national narrative around Thanksgiving to stop honoring the pilgrims/colonizers and stop painting Native people as savages to be rescued. I'm really glad we're having these conversations.

But I also want to keep Thanksgiving as a day of thanks. It's nice to have a holiday centered around gratitude, spending time with family and friends, nourishing ourselves. On Thanksgiving, I celebrate a day of being grateful and coming together. I totally disassociate with it's origin story, which we know is bunk.

I would be in favor of designating a different day as a day of remembrance for indigenous people who were killed and displaced by settlers. I think it's important to address that part of the country's history and make amends where we can.

But can we please just keep Thanksgiving as a day for eating and communing with loved ones and watching football? It's very meaningful to me.

This last sentence is, I think, unintentionally very funny, but I agree with everything PP wrote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another attempt to ruin a holiday by shaming Americans.

Get your own holiday to cry over.

America does have a dark past. We should reflect on the massive human cost of building this country.

-Mayflower descendant

In comparison to China, India? Yeah, no.

Also the Belgium and French colonizers (and attempted Japanese ones) were way, way worse than the English.

Ok. And? When we are celebrating *our country* we should acknowledge the genocide that paralleled its growth.

Why pretend like it didn’t happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another attempt to ruin a holiday by shaming Americans.

Get your own holiday to cry over.

America does have a dark past. We should reflect on the massive human cost of building this country.

-Mayflower descendant

The funny thing is that the most obnoxious commenters on this topic likely arrived more than one hundred years after your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another attempt to ruin a holiday by shaming Americans.

Get your own holiday to cry over.

America does have a dark past. We should reflect on the massive human cost of building this country.

-Mayflower descendant

In comparison to China, India? Yeah, no.

Also the Belgium and French colonizers (and attempted Japanese ones) were way, way worse than the English.

Ok. And? When we are celebrating *our country* we should acknowledge the genocide that paralleled its growth.

Why pretend like it didn’t happen?

Isn't that now Columbus Day? The day my husband is passed about because he's Italian and that holiday was made to acknowledge the racial discrimination against Italians in America, but now it's a symbol of Native American genocide, so that battle has been won.

Fwiw - my family did the Oregon trail there were no Native Americans oppressed in that journey. My ancestors did, however, lose 3 wives on the way out west.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another attempt to ruin a holiday by shaming Americans.

Get your own holiday to cry over.

America does have a dark past. We should reflect on the massive human cost of building this country.

-Mayflower descendant

The funny thing is that the most obnoxious commenters on this topic likely arrived more than one hundred years after your family.

I arrived 44 years ago, almost to the day. What’s your point? I give two figs what some internet cosplay Mayflower descendant says? That entitles them to what, exactly, in terms of moral authority or understanding of the situation?

Best I can tell from your perspective an actual Mayflower descendant is up to their elbows in blood and owes all kinds of land and reparations. You should go over her house and take what you want from her garage. Leave me out of it. I’ll be sitting comfortably in my house with friends and family, drinking wine and watching football, thanking the good Lord I managed to navigate UMC American life without being indoctrinated to feel so much shame and joylessness about my country, culture, and self.

Enjoy your day of mourning.

[Anonymous]

History has both dark spots and bright spots. Why? Because people evolve and do better.

I think it’s weird that we fixate on white American history without any contemplation of other cultures.

Go read about Native American history. Comanches are known as the most brutal, blood thirsty tribe. Their warring and land grabs started long before any Europeans arrived.

People with power have always done bad things. They were barbaric. Now we are less barbaric. All of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always mourn the turkeys.

Do you do this before or after enjoying your fine meal??! 🦃

Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to have Thanksgiving in September, during an actual harvest period, and not in the run-up to Christmas. It's stupid to have it in November.

I agree with this. Other countries have their thanksgiving right after harvest period is over. You give thanks for a good harvest.

[Anonymous]

Surely there must be more pressing modern days issues for Native Americans to focus on than the history of Thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:History has both dark spots and bright spots. Why? Because people evolve and do better.

I think it’s weird that we fixate on white American history without any contemplation of other cultures.

Go read about Native American history. Comanches are known as the most brutal, blood thirsty tribe. Their warring and land grabs started long before any Europeans arrived.

People with power have always done bad things. They were barbaric. Now we are less barbaric. All of us.

Because in today’s woke climate, we can only acknowledge that whites were barbaric, but a look at history proves otherwise.

[Anonymous]

My son woke up this morning and told me his teacher ruined thanksgiving for him by telling him the true story. He’s 8. I reminded him that none of his ancestors had anything to do with the founding of America (all more recent immigrants, including many Holocaust survivors) and that it’s important to remember the real history. We talked a bit about how you can still enjoy the holiday - family coming together, a yummy meal - and be respectful about it.