Now, before all you turkey eating, cider swallowing, football watching Thanksgivingites get upset, please consider this....
Isn't celebrating Thanksgiving in the U.S. like setting aside a day in Germany to celebrate the Holocaust? I know that no one (that I know of) on this forum is celebrating the genocide of the American Indian when they sit down with family and friends to engorge themselves with cranberries smothered in gluten. No, but isn't it something to ponder that after six decades of landing at Plymouth Rock, the Europeans had forever destroyed a culture that had inhabited the area for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the Mayflower? I mean, who was really thankful? It sure wasn't the Indians, because in 1620 the Europeans landed on Plymouth Rock, then 55 years later by 1675, the Puritans would almost decimate the entire Wampanoag tribe.
A tribe which included more than 30,000 people with a highly organized governmental system. They were reduced to no more than 2,000 Indians at the end of what would be called "King Philip’s War." King Phillip was known by his people as Metacomet, the son of Chief Massasoit who would welcome the Pilgrims to the New World (old world to the Indians) Metacomet would fight a war against the Puritans who were trying to move Wampanoag off their happy hunting grounds. Yet, as most Indian vs the paleface situations go, Metacomet lost.
Yet, the Puritans wanted to send a message to every Indian in New England just what can happen if they decide to get uppity. They decapitated Metacomet "King Phillip," his head was piked at the entrance of Fort Plymouth where it remained for TWO decades.
Now, I would also like to add here, that Metacomet "King Phillip" was what the Puritans called a "Praying Indian" meaning, he was a convert to the Puritan form of Christianity, he was baptized into their faith. But alas this didn't deter the Europeans who set their buckled shoes on Plymouth Rock from later on killing the Indians they once baptized. So, with all that being said, may you all have a wonderful day of fellowship and light fun. But please remember as you sink your teeth into that turkey drumstick which MeeMaw took such loving care and time to cook (98.00 bird?) to reflect and to be really thankful, not just on November 27th, but every day of the year. Because you might just be living on some land that was once inhabited by a tribe who no longer lives there. Maybe they we marched from one state to another (force marches, perish the thought) maybe you even live near an area where a massacre took place, or even by the res. Be thankful that you are free to live where you want to live, and practice your religion, ( or not practice) however you like. So, have a nice day, and spend that day wisely.
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