Yesterday as I awaited the pies to bake into yummy goodness, I read an article about Americans living in other countries. The article described how ex-pats celebrate in Asia, India and other countries. Very interesting to note how sushi and rice are incorporated into the meal. A very disturbing or maybe thought provoking part came when one individual strongly indicated he is grateful to NOT celebrate a holiday that commemorates the beginning of the genocide of Native Americans. I had never really thought of this before. In fact, I usually tend to just think of Thanksgiving as a time of thanks giving.
However, I did do some research into the First Thanksgiving. I must admit history is not something that interests me. I am challenged enough to live in the present. So I googled the beginning of Thanksgiving. Here is what I found from a National Geographic website:
The Celebration
One day that fall, four settlers were sent to hunt for food for a harvest celebration. The Wampanoag heard gunshots and alerted their leader, Massasoit, who thought the English might be preparing for war. Massasoit visited the English settlement with 90 of his men to see if the war rumor was true. Soon after their visit, the Native Americans realized that the English were only hunting for the harvest celebration. Massasoit sent some of his own men to hunt deer for the feast and for three days, the English and native men, women, and children ate together. The meal consisted of deer, corn, shellfish, and roasted meat, far from today's traditional Thanksgiving feast.
They played ball games, sang, and danced. Much of what most modern Americans eat on Thanksgiving was not available in 1621.
Although prayers and thanks were probably offered at the 1621 harvest gathering, the first recorded religious Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth happened two years later in 1623. On this occasion, the colonists gave thanks to God for rain after a two-month drought.
This made me wonder what changed. I'm sure the history books have an explanation but I really don't care nor do I totally believe what they say. Just opinions.
Probably the culprit was what is so prevalent today....FEAR! Fear of a civilization that has different customs, different traditions, different beliefs. Fear of not enoughness. Fear when a group of people refuse to change to another's beliefs. Just my opinion but it is my fervent belief that most of what ails this world today is that same issue. We fear what isn't familiar.
This culture has advanced so much technologically but still remains the same in so many ways. What is the solution? I wish I knew. I do know one thing that has assisted me...my parents!
I think about all the things that I wish had been different in my childhood as I am sure many people do; however, my parents were accepting of so much that many of their generation were not.
During the 50's, it was quite common to have "hobos" stop by our home and ask for something to eat. My mother would graciously serve them a sandwich, some pie if it was available and a cup of coffee. People of color were always welcome in my home. There were absolutely no prejudicial remarks that I remember. My parents defended those members of what we now call the gay community. They weren't quite as accepting of different faiths but they gave it their all. As I look back, that was part of a fear of that place called "hell" that so many fear. Once again....fear.
Is fear a part of my life? Sometimes. I have found that as I read and discover more about other cultures, fear becomes a smaller and smaller part of my life. Down deep, we are all the same, all part of a Greater Presence and Power. Call it by whatever name you want.
So this Thanksgiving, I give thanks for many things.
Thank you John and Alyda for teaching me tolerance,
and a thank you to the Native Americans who celebrated with those Pilgrims long, long ago.
Happy Thanksgiving!
and
Happy Hanukkah!
Namaste,
Mareda
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