Should more awareness about the History of the Native Americans be created other than just roasting turkey?

Question

Why is it that during Thanksgiving people think more about turkey and food other than thinking about the Natives that were forcefully ejected out of their land? Should we not all have a sense of guilt that this land belongs to someone else yet we set rules on it without consent from the real owners.

Answer 1

Because Thanksgiving is a corperate holiday trying to gain money from ignorant people. That time wasn't thankful. The 'americans' ate their food and killed em all. Brought desease too. Its very sad that America needs a specific day so people can give thanks. Be thankful everyday.

Answer 2

I agree with the asker of this question. I think a big problem is that alot of people want the fun, sanitized version of everything. They want to feel happy and guiltfree and "holier than thou," just because -wow!- they set aside a day to be thankful. First of all, shouldn't one be thankful every day? Do we really need other people to tell us when exactly we can be thankful? It's just like other holidays that have been mercilessly taken over by the corporate world... Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day... shouldn't we be doing this stuff all year??? Second of all, we were not here first. That's all there is to it. The Native Americans were, and everyone else were just glorified immigrants. Whether the Native American culture was what some would consider "normal" or not, what gave anyone the right to impose our beliefs on them? I do feel that the Native Americans were horribly wronged, and although remembering that on one day a year doesn't remedy anything, it is a start.

Answer 3

What, add shoe buckles? Just don't let the immigrants participate. (To be read with a HUGE amount of SARCASM!) Honey, I can't agree with you more! I also applaud your asking this in July. I made my own shirt that states on the front, "Great-grandchild of immigrants," and the back asks, "How many Native Americans originally spoke English?"

I wish I had an idea to improve this disgusting situation, but I find myself pausing, wanting to ask if you have any ideas. If nothing else, thank you for letting me know I'm not alone on this, and that others DO care. Hopefully the people who see your post will do some honest reflecting and maybe the small amount of those will be better off having been brought in touch with a problem other than how to cook their turkey this November.

Answer 4

You're **** straight, I'm glad someone else out there agrees with my thoughts. Poor black man, poor mexican, poor Irish, everybody got a gripe because everyone thinks they're a victim. But you do the research, Native Americans have had it bad off. Yeah I hear you, but the blacks were forced into slavery and treated like animals. Well "brothers and sisters" Native Americans were too, sold into slavery and forced to march thousands of miles to be put behind walls where there was no food worthy of eating and no shelter worthy of living. In my opinion they were treated much worse than any other race subjugated to the "superior and civilized" caucasians.



I think much more thought and respect should be bestowed on all native americans. And not just the hollywood version of westerns apply. Native americans live throughout the American continents, north and south, and many cultures compose the term Native American. We should respect the uniqueness of all of these.

Answer 5

Yes, there should be more awareness. Through reading, taking courses in college, one will become more learned in the native peoples of America. There's Pow Wows celebrated amongst various tribal nations. I went to about 6, in Nebraska and I learned and had a good time. A wareness is heightened, through dance, food, drums, cultural stories,native dress, and activities. There's vast historical and cultural wealth left behind through the ancient archeological settlements and artifacts. There's a living breathing people today contributing and teaching awareness of their proud membership of the nations they belong to. Thanksgiving is a rememberence of when the pilgrims and Native Americans ate a feastful meal together. Thanksgiving, is a day that we all can give thanks for what's important to us individually.

Answer 6

When the Thanksgiving holiday arrives, I spend it with friends and relatives. We don't watch TV. We don't play any games. We engage each other in personal conversation all day. And not once does anything about indians ever come up. Never. Know why? Because we don't give a damn about what happened to them. That's why!



When the indians weren't searching for food, nearly always on the verge of starvation, they were trying to kill and enslave each other. They were, racially, perpetually locked into prehistoric barbarity. The way indians treated each other indicates that they don't deserve any special status as poor, displaced people. And I'm proud that my ancestors rounded them up and put them on reservations. That's how America became civilized.

Answer 7

Maybe you'd feel better if Hilter conquered the Natives and totally obliterated them and wrote them completely out of history? Because if modern USA did not exsist, that's exactly the deal sweetie, you'd be either white or non exisitant.

Answer 8

Although I tend to agree..the meaning has changed. Nowadays its about family and friends sharing tradition. Back then, it was not even called Thanksgiving and it was not a yearly thing either.

Answer 9

Yes,



And the after effects of the merge of civilizations, as a lesson for future generations that we do not need to eradicate the indigenous population.



Native American and Proud