‘’ We cannot break bread with you. You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now, my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations.’’ In the classic Adams Family, Wednesday Adams does a play in the movie at camp portraying the fact that the celebration of thanksgiving is supportive of what many say ‘’mass genocide,’’ however in this article we shall really highlight how this began and even how it grew over the years, along with traditions following it.
To begin let’s start with a summary of what the history is from a reliable resource, in accordance with the article listed below to summarize what was said they basically discussed the main event of thanksgiving, which was a, ‘’feast between Native Americans and a chief Massasoit, with the pilgrims that arrived on the Mayflower compact to the Americas. The Natives helped them navigate the land. This event took place in 1621 in Massachusetts.’’ According to the same article, thanksgiving did not become a national holiday ‘’ until 1863 in the midst of civil war, that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national thanksgiving.’’ Overall meaning it was a peaceful meal during a time of despair. This all sounds so great right, so where are these thoughts coming from, well in the same article it also discusses the conspiracy connected with thanksgiving.
The article quote for quote says it perfectly that, ‘’ In their view, the tradition paints a deceptively sunny portrait of relations between the pilgrims and the Wampanoag people, making the bloody history of conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.’’ Here the word (their) refers to Native Americans. Connecting back to the first paragraph although, the celebration of thanksgiving is remembering the dinner between the Natives and pilgrims, this like said still creates a picture that is untrue, because there was still like said in the article , ‘’bloodshed’’ or mass genocide between the two.
Although the history may be bad, the holiday of thanksgiving paints the picture of the pilgrims and natives getting along, this allowed for many traditions to start, although the holiday paints a false picture it is still widely popular, and people have come up with many traditions following it. Source one mentions many of those holiday traditions, such as the tradition of having pumpkin pie, which was a hit in the 18th century. The article also creates or gives an interesting fact of how a turkey was not at the feast between the pilgrims and natives, rather deer was eaten. The main point of thanksgiving now is to give thanks, and feast with family. Many foods are eaten, such as turkeys, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and even stuffing.
To continue on this topic lets see what some fellow students are doing and what they think of thanksgiving, according to Ash Tipton, Freshman here at WCHS, ‘’ We cook a feast with family members or go to another state to see them, my opinion on thanksgiving , ( it gets you fat.)’’ Another student Trenton Christian said that, ‘’ I would go to my aunt’s house, for thanksgiving. She would cook a lot of food for a lot of family members. And we would get around the table.’’ He continued by telling us his thoughts on thanksgiving which were, ‘’ it’s good, because of the food.’’
Overall thanksgiving is a time where many families come together to eat a meal, but to many this holiday can be controversial because it is like said in the article below, ‘’ painting a sunny picture between Natives and the Pilgrims, ‘’ which was not always true, meaning the holiday brings false thoughts into our minds, however for now it continues to be a holiday where family can eat and spend time in one another’s presence.
Source or article used: https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving
