(no subject)

[serene]

Today I am reflecting a lot on how the joy of Thanksgiving is inextricable from the real pain that the settlers inflicted on the Native American people. I call T-day "Cultural Annihilation Day" sometimes, and it's no joke. Real people were cheated, displaced, and killed, and I want to remember. Pass it on.

Comments

[misanthropoid.livejournal.com]

Check with James, I'm beginning to suspect that what's in that jar is not really oregano.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Just for that, you get none of the toffee I'm making for the day-after-t-day thing at sogwife's family's.

[misanthropoid.livejournal.com]

Oh no!

I've been smacked square in the sweet tooth.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

Not to take away from your entirely valid point, but, to me, Thanksgiving is no longer about settlers and Native Americans. It's about giving thanks for all the things there are to give thanks for. (Again, for me.) I give thanks for the good without celebrating the bad, or at least, I try to. :) I try to give thanks every day, but it's nice to have a day to focus on doing so.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure, and I'm obviously throwing myself into a huge celebration of gratitude this week, but I feel that for me, it's always important to put both my joy and my sorrow into perspective, if that makes any sense.

again, not to invalidate your excellent point ...

[berkeleyfarm.livejournal.com]

You live close enough to Berkeley (your area qualifies for OIB, Only In Berkeley, status) that you can freely acknowledge Indigenous People's Day.

Which, as much as I dig the Italian thing, etc., etc., I think is a better "holiday" than Columbus Day. Scare quotes because a lot of people don't get it off.

On Thanksgiving I give thanks. It's not really about pilgrims and Indians for me, although I certainly enjoy the New World foods (turkey, potatoes, corn) of the holiday. I give thanks other times but it's nice to do it with family and friends.

Peace, out.

Re: again, not to invalidate your excellent point ...

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Yep, yep, yep.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Remembrance is such a complex issue.