Here's why we shouldnt celebrate Thanksgiving

[SF1900]

https://www.alternet.org/2019/11/heres-why-we-shouldnt-celebrate-thanksgiving/

After years of being constantly annoyed and often angry about the historical denial built into Thanksgiving Day, I published an essay in November 2005 suggesting we replace the feasting with fasting and create a National Day of Atonement to acknowledge the genocide of indigenous people that is central to the creation of the United States.

I expected criticism from right-wing and centrist people, given their common commitment to this country’s distorted self-image that supports the triumphalist/supremacist notions about the United States so common in conventional politics, and I got plenty of such critique. But I was surprised by the resistance from liberals, including a considerable number of my friends.

The most common argument went something like this: OK, it’s true that the Thanksgiving Day mythology is rooted in a fraudulent story — about the European invaders coming in peace to the “New World,” eager to cooperate with indigenous people — which conveniently ignores the reality of European barbarism in the conquest of the continent. But we can reject the culture’s self-congratulatory attempts to rewrite history, I have been told, and come together on Thanksgiving to celebrate the love and connections among family and friends.

The argument that we can ignore the collective cultural definition of Thanksgiving and create our own meaning in private has always struck me as odd. This commitment to Thanksgiving puts these left/radical critics in the position of internalizing one of the central messages promoted by the ideologues of capitalism — that individual behavior in private is more important than collective action in public. The claim that through private action we can create our own reality is one of the key tenets of a predatory corporate capitalism that naturalizes unjust hierarchy, a part of the overall project of discouraging political struggle and encouraging us to retreat into a private realm where life is defined by consumption.

So this November, rather than mount another attack on the national mythology around Thanksgiving — a mythology that amounts to a kind of holocaust denial, and which has been critiqued for many years by many people — I want to explore why so many who understand and accept this critique still celebrate Thanksgiving, and why rejecting such celebrations sparks such controversy.

[Rambone]

I’ll be eating a little extra now for the self-hating liberals out there

[Kwon]

I’ll be eating a little extra now for the self-hating liberals out there

Me too!

And some extra for the Flat Earthers, Black Israelites, The Westboro Baptists, The Hairdressers and The Homewreckers and the Vegans.

[Marty Champions]

Give thanks retards

Living a life of resentment=gay neegul

[The Scott]

Give thanks retards

Living a life of resentment=gay neegul

Izzat Wiggs you be dissin'...'n' sheit.  He be de Jizzraelites last hope.

[oldgolds]

You should thank God for Europeans who came here and created the most advanced, prosperous country in history.Native Americans would still be living in huts and killing each other without our intervention.  Look at the reservations today, poverty, squalor, crime, disfunction...And they get tons of government benefits, free rent etc.

[Royalty]

https://www.alternet.org/2019/11/heres-why-we-shouldnt-celebrate-thanksgiving/

After years of being constantly annoyed and often angry about the historical denial built into Thanksgiving Day, I published an essay in November 2005 suggesting we replace the feasting with fasting and create a National Day of Atonement to acknowledge the genocide of indigenous people that is central to the creation of the United States.

I expected criticism from right-wing and centrist people, given their common commitment to this country’s distorted self-image that supports the triumphalist/supremacist notions about the United States so common in conventional politics, and I got plenty of such critique. But I was surprised by the resistance from liberals, including a considerable number of my friends.

The most common argument went something like this: OK, it’s true that the Thanksgiving Day mythology is rooted in a fraudulent story — about the European invaders coming in peace to the “New World,” eager to cooperate with indigenous people — which conveniently ignores the reality of European barbarism in the conquest of the continent. But we can reject the culture’s self-congratulatory attempts to rewrite history, I have been told, and come together on Thanksgiving to celebrate the love and connections among family and friends.

The argument that we can ignore the collective cultural definition of Thanksgiving and create our own meaning in private has always struck me as odd. This commitment to Thanksgiving puts these left/radical critics in the position of internalizing one of the central messages promoted by the ideologues of capitalism — that individual behavior in private is more important than collective action in public. The claim that through private action we can create our own reality is one of the key tenets of a predatory corporate capitalism that naturalizes unjust hierarchy, a part of the overall project of discouraging political struggle and encouraging us to retreat into a private realm where life is defined by consumption.

So this November, rather than mount another attack on the national mythology around Thanksgiving — a mythology that amounts to a kind of holocaust denial, and which has been critiqued for many years by many people — I want to explore why so many who understand and accept this critique still celebrate Thanksgiving, and why rejecting such celebrations sparks such controversy.

SF1900 will mount an attack on the weights

[hardgainerj]

heres a brief lesson

[SF1900]

I just arrived at Rory’s parents home and they said Happy Thanksgiving and I said “sorry but I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Read the history.”

[chaos]

I just arrived at Rory’s parents home and they said Happy Thanksgiving and I said “sorry but I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Read the history.” Then they laughed at me and made me eat at the children's table.

[SF1900]

Not true at all!!

[robcguns]

You should thank God for Europeans who came here and created the most advanced, prosperous country in history.Native Americans would still be living in huts and killing each other without our intervention.  Look at the reservations today, poverty, squalor, crime, disfunction...And they get tons of government benefits, free rent etc.

This

[OneMoreRep]

The argument that we can ignore the collective cultural definition of Thanksgiving and create our own meaning in private has always struck me as odd.

Anyone who actually takes the time to read up on US history would not find themselves in shock or disbelief by such actions. It's what has been done since the beginning and will continue to be done. The great stories and memories will always be defined & narrated by the victorious.

With Native Americans, their genocide was one of the most brutal known to mankind. Prior to 1492, the lowest estimated number of native americans present in what we call the USA was 8 million (but some say that it could have been as high as 200 million - doubtful in my opinion). By 1890, I remember reading that it was more like 200K. The only silver lining to this black cloud comes by way of the fact that today there are around 5 million native americans in the USA. They have slowly built up their numbers once more. Granted, no one knows what would have become of them had they not been practically erased off the face of the earth by the colonists.

Our history is not as glorious as some would hope it to be. Luckily, people can change. People can evolve into accepting others for their differences and can come to terms with coexisting with people of all backgrounds, races and color. Tonight, I share the table with many Jews of a variety of skin tones and hair textures. I will make a toast to all of our GetBig brethren from all parts of the world.

"1"

[anabolicguru]

Me too!

And some extra for the Flat Earthers, Black Israelites, The Westboro Baptists, The Hairdressers and The Homewreckers and the Vegans.

LOL, my parents used to live right next door to the priest from westboro baptist church.  I swear, when he was alive, he always had some crazy shit to say

[Griffith]

It's hypocritical and amusing when Americans, Canadians and Australians criticise white South Africans and Rhodesians when they themselves literally exterminated the entire native populations of their own countries.

[IRON CROSS]

It's hypocritical and amusing when Americans, Canadians and Australians criticise white South Africans and Rhodesians when they themselves literally exterminated the entire native populations of their own countries.

Nope  , every one of Abos (around 300 000 of them) costs Aussie tax payers $ 70 000 p/a , 90% of them do nothing just collect free benefits !.

[Powerlift66]

All holidays are THE GHEY based on fake, children's stories. I do like the time off though.

[IRON CROSS]

Be AMERICAN & celebrate Thanksgiving !.

[Humble Narcissist]

You should thank God for Europeans who came here and created the most advanced, prosperous country in history.Native Americans would still be living in huts and killing each other without our intervention.  Look at the reservations today, poverty, squalor, crime, disfunction...And they get tons of government benefits, free rent etc.

This X2.  This myth of the noble savage needs to be debunked not promoted.  Natives were savages who raped, killed and tortured enemies from other tribes just for being from another tribe.  They would sometimes travel over 100 miles just to attack another people who weren't using their land for anything like hunting or harvesting.  Natives were also the first to attack white settlers wherever they settled.  They didn't believe in land ownership but complain to this day their land was stolen.

[mac33]

[The Scott]

It's hypocritical and amusing when Americans, Canadians and Australians criticise white South Africans and Rhodesians when they themselves literally exterminated the entire native populations of their own countries.

Personally I don't criticize any South Africans or Rhodesians for anything. 

But...But...Butt..What about Casinos?  Ummmmm....errrrrr...I mean "Native American Gaming Establishments.  Who is running those?  Is Wiggs going to start usurping their heritage and claiming that black folks are the real red ones so his peoples can then take over the Casinos and run them?  Into the ground.

The Natives of these lands were primitives.  They treated each other like shit, had not yet invented the wheel (other than, as I understand it, as a "toy") and it was the Spaniards (I think) that brought the horse to this country.  So it would appear they dragged shit everywhere. But oh, they were soooooo in touch with the Universe and the land was their mother and they are soooo wise.  Kinda like Lone Wati, without the smarts and sense of humor. 

Here's what the REAL Lone Watie would look like if the troof wuz be tolded.



And here's an ancient pictogram whitey found chiseled in the side of a majestic slab of pure mud.  It shows how the indigenous peepses used almost every freakin' part of the buffalo!  Wow.  Talk about wise guys.

[BlackMetallic]

https://www.alternet.org/2019/11/heres-why-we-shouldnt-celebrate-thanksgiving/

After years of being constantly annoyed and often angry about the historical denial built into Thanksgiving Day, I published an essay in November 2005 suggesting we replace the feasting with fasting and create a National Day of Atonement to acknowledge the genocide of indigenous people that is central to the creation of the United States.

I expected criticism from right-wing and centrist people, given their common commitment to this country’s distorted self-image that supports the triumphalist/supremacist notions about the United States so common in conventional politics, and I got plenty of such critique. But I was surprised by the resistance from liberals, including a considerable number of my friends.

The most common argument went something like this: OK, it’s true that the Thanksgiving Day mythology is rooted in a fraudulent story — about the European invaders coming in peace to the “New World,” eager to cooperate with indigenous people — which conveniently ignores the reality of European barbarism in the conquest of the continent. But we can reject the culture’s self-congratulatory attempts to rewrite history, I have been told, and come together on Thanksgiving to celebrate the love and connections among family and friends.

The argument that we can ignore the collective cultural definition of Thanksgiving and create our own meaning in private has always struck me as odd. This commitment to Thanksgiving puts these left/radical critics in the position of internalizing one of the central messages promoted by the ideologues of capitalism — that individual behavior in private is more important than collective action in public. The claim that through private action we can create our own reality is one of the key tenets of a predatory corporate capitalism that naturalizes unjust hierarchy, a part of the overall project of discouraging political struggle and encouraging us to retreat into a private realm where life is defined by consumption.

So this November, rather than mount another attack on the national mythology around Thanksgiving — a mythology that amounts to a kind of holocaust denial, and which has been critiqued for many years by many people — I want to explore why so many who understand and accept this critique still celebrate Thanksgiving, and why rejecting such celebrations sparks such controversy.

Funny, when it’s whites it’s called invasion and genocide

When it’s non whites its called immigration

[joswift]

This X2.  This myth of the noble savage needs to be debunked not promoted.  Natives were savages who raped, killed and tortured enemies from other tribes just for being from another tribe.  They would sometimes travel over 100 miles just to attack another people who weren't using their land for anything like hunting or harvesting.  Natives were also the first to attack white settlers wherever they settled.  They didn't believe in land ownership but complain to this day their land was stolen.

lol, Americans do that now, they have been in multiple countries all over the world killing brown people

[BBSSchlemiel]

https://www.alternet.org/2019/11/heres-why-we-shouldnt-celebrate-thanksgiving/

After years of being constantly annoyed and often angry about the historical denial built into Thanksgiving Day, I published an essay in November 2005 suggesting we replace the feasting with fasting and create a National Day of Atonement to acknowledge the genocide of indigenous people that is central to the creation of the United States.

I expected criticism from right-wing and centrist people, given their common commitment to this country’s distorted self-image that supports the triumphalist/supremacist notions about the United States so common in conventional politics, and I got plenty of such critique. But I was surprised by the resistance from liberals, including a considerable number of my friends.

The most common argument went something like this: OK, it’s true that the Thanksgiving Day mythology is rooted in a fraudulent story — about the European invaders coming in peace to the “New World,” eager to cooperate with indigenous people — which conveniently ignores the reality of European barbarism in the conquest of the continent. But we can reject the culture’s self-congratulatory attempts to rewrite history, I have been told, and come together on Thanksgiving to celebrate the love and connections among family and friends.

The argument that we can ignore the collective cultural definition of Thanksgiving and create our own meaning in private has always struck me as odd. This commitment to Thanksgiving puts these left/radical critics in the position of internalizing one of the central messages promoted by the ideologues of capitalism — that individual behavior in private is more important than collective action in public. The claim that through private action we can create our own reality is one of the key tenets of a predatory corporate capitalism that naturalizes unjust hierarchy, a part of the overall project of discouraging political struggle and encouraging us to retreat into a private realm where life is defined by consumption.

So this November, rather than mount another attack on the national mythology around Thanksgiving — a mythology that amounts to a kind of holocaust denial, and which has been critiqued for many years by many people — I want to explore why so many who understand and accept this critique still celebrate Thanksgiving, and why rejecting such celebrations sparks such controversy.

Do you live in the US?

[SF1900]

Do you live in the US?

No.