Let's Take T'Day

Today, the socially-conscious spent the day posting Thanksgiving reality checks on Facebook and Twitter, some of which were inflammatory to a fault.  I read a number of pieces that basically told me I should renounce the tradition altogether, never again to gorge myself on another drumstick (that is, if the drumstick is being consumed on the fourth Thursday of November). 

Now, I'm not oblivious to the gruesome history regarding this land's Native population and the way they were (and continue to be) treated by European invaders.  It is absolutely imperative that we remain mindful of such a history and make sure our children aren't fooled by the whopping load of bullshit they're taught in school about the "cooperation" and "togetherness" between Natives and Europeans.  And mindfulness can and should occasionally come with staunch, honest humor.  Like so...








Yes, the history of our nation has a gruesome history.  But is such a history truly the root of Thanksgiving?

Not exactly.  In fact, Thanksgiving Day as we know it was more or less the brainchild of Sarah Josepha Hale, long-time editor of Ladies Magazine, who was instrumental in petitioning the federal government to make it a national holiday.  And despite school pageants that suggest otherwise, the day was not established as a national holiday to commemorate a supposed cooperative effort between First Persons and Europeans.  In fact, Hale's convictions rested on a far more ubiquitous concept.  After the Civil War left the nation fragmented, Hale saw Thanksgiving as an opportunity for unity:

Let us consecrate the day to benevolence of action, by sending good gifts to the poor, and doing those deeds of charity that will, for one day, make every American home the place of plenty and of rejoicing. These seasons of refreshing are of inestimable advantage to the popular heart; and if rightly managed, will greatly aid and strengthen public harmony of feeling. Let the people of all the States and Territories sit down together to the "feast of fat things," and drink, in the sweet draught of joy and gratitude to the Divine giver of all our blessings, the pledge of renewed love to the Union, and to each other; and of peace and good-will to all men.

Now obviously we do not commemorate Thanksgiving in this way.  We continue with our story of the supposed "First Thanksgiving" where "pilgrims" and "Indians" joined together to help one another survive the winter.  This clear distortion of history should, indeed, be taken to task.

But why does it mean we can't celebrate Hale's vision of peace, good-will, collectivism, and good company?  How does slicing up a turkey and gorging oneself on stuffing and mashed potatoes equal honoring genocide?  Most importantly, why is it important to only feel guilty about our ancestors' actions against the Native population on Thanksgiving Day?

I think you can be mindful of a gruesome history while still enjoying some of the (benign) traditions it produced, especially since the entire myth of Thanksgiving is bullshit anyway... what about a day in November where we just get together and eat some good food?  Why is that so bad, if we remain mindful of this country's history?

For those of you that are about to jump down my throat for the above statement: if you don't think you can enjoy a tradition or take advantage of a practice that has a gruesome history, you had better be ready to renounce a lot of things you take for granted.  Modern medicine comes to mind.  Much our knowledge of the human body, its limits, and safe treatment options came from Nazi Germany, Tuskegee, and, in the case of women's health, Marion Sims.  What about the Pill? That drug specifically came from dangerous experiments on Puerto Rican women.  Are you really ready to renounce all that?


I didn't think so.  

Something I've learned is that, while we work tirelessly to change the future, you can't change the past.  Being mindful, honoring those lost to unethical and/or genocidal practices, and working for a better future is one thing.  Trying to denounce and "opt out" of everything with a gruesome history is, for the most part, completely impossible.  I mean, you live in America, where every day this history is celebrated on some level, Thanksgiving or not.  Your clothes were made in Vietnam, the products that fill your home were made in China, and your food is probably not 100% ethically produced.  


I'm not going to apologize for enjoying my turkey, stuffing, gravy, cornbread dressing, and all that good stuff, especially since those foods have little to nothing to do with the horrific actions taken against the Native Americans.  Let's make Thanksgiving something rad... let's celebrate collectivism without all the baggage of historical myths, distortions, and what is in essence White Liberal Guilt.  If we do it on the fourth Thursday in November, so what?  It's not a bad thing to get together to eat, drink, and be merry.