As I sit here live blogging from my living room, my children are watching the second movie on A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, a video about the Mayflower pilgrims.
My feelings are mixed because my sweet & speechless Zoe is watching in rapt attention, as she learns about the early pilgrims, or at least our accepted mythology. Non-educational TV hasn’t given her this kind of thrall in a long time.
In the meantime, though, I learned this week that the story is not what we think. You can read about this in a post by Claudia Fox Tree at my friend’s site, Brandstoria, in a piece called “Pies for Thanksgiving”. I did know about Christopher Columbus and the atrocities his team performed on the natives and hence, the backlash against Columbus Day. Here is a quote from Fox Tree’s article:
“In 1637, “soldiers” from the Dutch and English massacred of 700 Pequot men, women and children as they were having their annual Green Corn festival. The Europeans burned everything and everyone, shooting potential survivors. The Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony declared and signed into law the “First Thanksgiving,” giving thanks for the elimination of the Pequots.”
How sad is this, and it is a reminder of how dangerous revisionist history is, as well.
So I do entreat you to have a good Thanksgiving, but give respect and memory to the people who were the caretakers of this land originally. As for my family, it is a good excuse for a get together. I give thanks daily, though. If you don’t, go ahead and start tomorrow, and continue on to Black Friday and every day afterward. There is so much to be grateful for, one day does not do it justice. And remember that you can even find blessings in your burdens.
And of course, dear readers, I am SO thankful for you, especially for all you who share and participate here. I’m working on making 2011 a year dedicated more to YOU, to helping you, bringing you training and other goodies, and hopefully a lot more GOOD giveaways.
For more information and resources about native Americans, go ahead and visit Ms. Fox Tree’s excellent site.
I just realized that the meal served on A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving 
is EXACTLY what my kids would LOVE to eat for T-Day!! Toast and popcorn, indeed!
