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The Deeper Meaning of Thanksgiving [1]

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Date: 2022-11-24

For many of us, the holidays are a time for family, for friends, and for giving thanks. But what does that really mean? What are we giving thanks for? And why? Unfortunately, the history of these holidays is not as rosy as we would like to believe. Every year at Thanksgiving, we sit down with our family and friends to enjoy a feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pie. We give thanks for all the good in our lives and reflect on what we're grateful for. It's a time-honored tradition that many of us hold dear. But what many of us don't realize is that the history of Thanksgiving is built on a foundation of genocide and deception. Let's take a closer look at the dark history of this holiday and how the truth has been hidden from us for so long and why?

The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 by the Pilgrims, who had recently arrived from England in search of religious freedom. They landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts and were greeted by the Wampanoag tribe, who helped them survive their first winter by teaching them how to farm and hunt. The following year, the Pilgrims celebrated a good harvest by holding a feast and inviting the Wampanoag tribe to join them. This is where the tradition of Thanksgiving began.

However, the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag soon turned sour. The Pilgrims brought with them diseases that wiped out entire tribes of Native Americans. They also began stealing their land and destroying their way of life. In 1637, they perpetrated one of the most brutal massacres in American history, killing 700 Pequot men, women, and children in cold blood. The truth is that Thanksgiving is built on a foundation of genocide and deception.

After the unprovoked massacre, the Wampanoag chief warned that this act of violence would one day be avenged, and his words proved to be prophetic. In 1675, the Wampanoag joined forces with other Native American tribes in an effort to drive the English settlers out of New England. This conflict, known as King Philip's War, decimated both sides; by the time it ended in 1676, nearly half of all English settlers in New England and three-quarters of all Wampanoag had been killed.

The origins of Thanksgiving are thus steeped in violence and deception. The holiday has been used to whitewash history and make Native Americans seem like violent savages. In reality, they were simply defending their land and their way of life against European invaders. The Pilgrims didn't land on Plymouth Rock to find a land of milk and honey. They landed there to escape religious persecution and begin a new life. And what followed was the brutal slaughter of Native Americans, the theft of their land, and the destruction of their way of life.

This dark history is something that many Americans are unaware of or just plain refuse to teach their children about which in my mind why many of the core problems in our Country exist because we have not truly faced up to our past. Thanksgiving is often presented as a feel-good holiday about two cultures coming together in peace and harmony. But the truth is that it's a holiday built on violence, deception, and genocide. If we're going to truly give thanks this holiday season, then we need to reckon with the ugly reality of our history. Only then can we move forward in a spirit of compassion and reconciliation.

The holidays are a time for reflection and to be thankful for what we have. Let us not forget the unfortunate among us, those with disabilities or mental illnesses that make the holiday season tough because of triggers from loss or painful memories. Also, be grateful for your health, your family and friends, and your life because it can all change in an instant. And definitely, always remember to be kind to fellow humans because you never know what they might be going through under that smile.

So, as we celebrate these holidays let's be kind to our fellow human beings because you have no clue what they are going through just the same as they have no clue about what you are dealing with. They could be grieving the loss of a loved one, facing financial ruin, or struggling with addiction or a different mental illness. We all need to lend each other a helping hand because we are all human and deserving of love and compassion. We need to reach out to them and let them know they are not alone (you all know who I am talking about). What might feel like a difficult phone call to make for you to someone that you know has been struggling just may be life-saving for the person on the other end of the call who has been hoping for a friend or family member who would reach out. So, Have a Happy Dark Holiday!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/24/2138212/-The-Deeper-Meaning-of-Thanksgiving

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