Thoughts on Thanksgiving

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dogmom

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Bebonang, I read your Thanksgiving post and decided it was important to put it here and also reply because I understand what you and your friend mean. I'm glad you expressed this. There has been genocide committed against the People <of the First Nations>
This I know. There is still injustice and disgrace, including stereotypes and misunderstandings around things like Thanksgiving/"Pilgrims", regalia etc. Have you been on this website? United American Indians of New England <United American Indians of New England>

here is some writings on a Lenape website regarding Thanksgiving: Native American

so I have mixed feelings about Thanksgiving. I mourn too. Around this time of year there are many holidays for us Jewish people and I also think about a Jewish concept repair of the world - tikkun olam. So part of that for me is honoring the ancestors of the People and remembering what has happened of sadness, loss, struggle.

WE MUST NOT FORGET
 
dogmom said:
Bebonang, I read your Thanksgiving post and decided it was important to put it here and also reply because I understand what you and your friend mean. I'm glad you expressed this. There has been genocide committed against the People <of the First Nations>
This I know. There is still injustice and disgrace, including stereotypes and misunderstandings around things like Thanksgiving/"Pilgrims", regalia etc. Have you been on this website? United American Indians of New England <United American Indians of New England>

here is some writings on a Lenape website regarding Thanksgiving: Native American

so I have mixed feelings about Thanksgiving. I mourn too. Around this time of year there are many holidays for us Jewish people and I also think about a Jewish concept repair of the world - tikkun olam. So part of that for me is honoring the ancestors of the People and remembering what has happened of sadness, loss, struggle.

WE MUST NOT FORGET
Click to expand...

I remember my 4th grade teacher discussing the TRUE events that happened for the first Thanksgiving. Boy did he get some backlash from parents. LOL. But it made a lasting impression on me, the way such a heinous crime has been glorified and twisted into a national celebration. I've come to see that many so-called "holidays" have a more complicated history.

Nevertheless, I choose to celebrate Thanksgiving as a time to be with family and eat and be thankful. I try not to think about history, but that doesn't mean I forget.
 
The first national day of thanksgiving in the USA:

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
 
We have always taught both my kids about the true Thanksgiving. We always read up on it each to to remind ourselves and then we will do a traditional dinner. Too often, I think the school system does not teach the kids about it. I know my kids knew and none of their classmates did. I got a lot of backlash from the school district for teaching my kids about it. Now, being down here with all this cultural diversity we have, almost no one around here knows about the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
 
yeah, I think you're right about many school systems teaching distorted views of history, Kristina-
 
Reba said:
The first national day of thanksgiving in the USA:

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting that, Reba. I was never taught that Lincoln established Thanksgiving in this way. I was always taught the whole Pilgrim and Squanto BS story. I like this one a lot more. I of course observe based on a more secular reasoning, but there is still reason to give thanks, no matter what deity you believe in (or not).
 
lots of my enjoy my family I understand knew my dad is not well yesterday 2 day ago depression I knew hard to my father, It is very not easy! I understand!
 
smithtr said:
lots of my enjoy my family I understand knew my dad is not well yesterday 2 day ago depression I knew hard to my father, It is very not easy! I understand!
Click to expand...
When someone recently loses a loved one, the holidays can be sad because the loved one isn't there. It's like an empty chair at the family dining table. It's normal to feel sad when the loved one is not around for holidays.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
Thanks for posting that, Reba. I was never taught that Lincoln established Thanksgiving in this way. I was always taught the whole Pilgrim and Squanto BS story. I like this one a lot more. I of course observe based on a more secular reasoning, but there is still reason to give thanks, no matter what deity you believe in (or not).
Click to expand...
The history behind the Canadian Thanksgiving Day is also interesting.

"The first Thanksgiving Day in Canada after Confederation was observed on April 15, 1872, to celebrate the recovery of The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness."

More at:

Canadian Heritage - Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day
 
Reba said:
When someone recently loses a loved one, the holidays can be sad because the loved one isn't there. It's like an empty chair at the family dining table. It's normal to feel sad when the loved one is not around for holidays.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, and strangely enough, it is also normal to feel guilty for being a survivor.
 
Beowulf said:
Oh yes, and strangely enough, it is also normal to feel guilty for being a survivor.
Click to expand...
Lots of mixed emotions involved, yes. Even if the departed loved one wouldn't want them to feel that way.
 
Reba said:
The history behind the Canadian Thanksgiving Day is also interesting.

"The first Thanksgiving Day in Canada after Confederation was observed on April 15, 1872, to celebrate the recovery of The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness."

More at:

Canadian Heritage - Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day
Click to expand...

For real? Lol, I am sorry my Canadian friends, but I'd be willing to bet that the "serious illness" is syphilis.
 
In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]Frobisher[/COLOR][/COLOR], who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay. ​
​
At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

This is the history of Canadian Thanksgiving as I (and everyone I know) has been raised on. I have never heard nor seen any mention or recording of the Prince of Wales 'origin'. ​

 
Reba said:
The first national day of thanksgiving in the USA:

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
Click to expand...


Don't you think that most of the politicians including Abraham Lincoln like all of the past presidents before him are not telling the truth at all? They lied a lot about us being savages and killing white people and all the stories that the public society read about in the newspapers or the paperback stories (to make the whites believe everything the government and the newspapers said). :nono:

Abraham is not that kind of a hero for us and maybe to Black people but thanks to him he put the slavery act out to make the Black people free but not to the Native American. Still Black people and Native people are still being discriminated and trying to have us assimilated to be like the White Christian people.

Anyway, what kind of Proclamation is that when they are talking about the common people who are Christians and think they deserve to get what they want but still we are human as much as that common people. We have our rights too and so are the Black people including the Jewish people and Asian people and many other people (example: Muslim or Japanese) who might be oppressed from the government abuse. I am just sick of having someone's righteous thinking that you and other people are better than we are and put us down making us feel lower than you are. :roll:

So cut out that out about Proclamation that don't mean anything at all.
 
Journey said:
In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]Frobisher[/COLOR][/COLOR], who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay. ​
​
At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

This is the history of Canadian Thanksgiving as I (and everyone I know) has been raised on. I have never heard nor seen any mention or recording of the Prince of Wales 'origin'. ​
Click to expand...
"...after Confederation...."
 
Bebonang said:
Don't you think that most of the politicians including Abraham Lincoln like all of the past presidents before him are not telling the truth at all? They lied a lot about us being savages and killing white people and all the stories that the public society read about in the newspapers or the paperback stories (to make the whites believe everything the government and the newspapers said). :nono:

Abraham is not that kind of a hero for us and maybe to Black people but thanks to him he put the slavery act out to make the Black people free but not to the Native American. Still Black people and Native people are still being discriminated and trying to have us assimilated to be like the White Christian people.

Anyway, what kind of Proclamation is that when they are talking about the common people who are Christians and think they deserve to get what they want but still we are human as much as that common people. We have our rights too and so are the Black people including the Jewish people and Asian people and many other people (example: Muslim or Japanese) who might be oppressed from the government abuse. I am just sick of having someone's righteous thinking that you and other people are better than we are and put us down making us feel lower than you are. :roll:

So cut out that out about Proclamation that don't mean anything at all.
Click to expand...

Hold on. Why did you have to scream at her, just because she is a white Christian? She never suggest something that she is better than you, or she "thinks" you're lower than her...

I mean, what the hell?
 
Bebonang said:
...Anyway, what kind of Proclamation is that when they are talking about the common people who are Christians and think they deserve to get what they want but still we are human as much as that common people. We have our rights too and so are the Black people including the Jewish people and Asian people and many other people (example: Muslim or Japanese) who might be oppressed from the government abuse. I am just sick of having someone's righteous thinking that you and other people are better than we are and put us down making us feel lower than you are. :roll:

So cut out that out about Proclamation that don't mean anything at all.
Click to expand...
If you have a problem with the Proclamation, you'll have to send your complaint to Lincoln. I didn't write it. There's no need to shoot the messenger.
 
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