it is a wonderful article  in my mind .

It is nice to enjoy the holiday with others. We will have a Turkish muslim, a foreigner(California), a 90 year old widowed daughter of a Baptist minister, a Methodist and two Presbyterians. You are correct that it is a holiday to be celebrated by all.

Amen, could not have said it better.

I agree with yoiu 100%. Thank you for giving us food for thought.

You really should be more careful when including Native Americans when speaking about a 'Truely American Holiday' - and just who were you referring to when you were discussing Immigrants and Non- Immigrants?  Here is something that addresses the Native perspective:

Written by Barry White Crow Higgins
Sunday, 18 November 2007



I have been asked here today to speak of Thanksgiving from the Native perspective.
I am grateful for this opportunity. It is a however a difficult story to be told as it shakes the history most of us have grown to know. It had little to do with turkey, potatoes, or pie. Mid winter of 1620 the Americas saw the landing of the Pilgrims in the area known today as Plymouth MA. They were however not the first to land on these shores. In 1614 a British expedition had already landed there. When they left they took 24 Indians as slaves and left smallpox, syphilis and gonorrhea behind. That plague swept the so-called "tribes of New England", and destroyed some of the villages totally.


The new 1620 settlers were not farmers so their crop failed miserably. Were it not for the guidance of a Pawtuxet named Squanto they would have surely perished. Squanto also negotiated a peace treaty w ith the Wampanoag people. The next year William Bradford declared a three-day feast after the first harvest. It would later become a part of the myth known as Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims did not call it that nor were the Indians who attended the feast even invited. The invitation was only to Squanto and Chief Massasoit. They then invited over 90 brothers and sisters to the affair much to the distaste of the Europeans. There were no prayers and the "Indians" were never invited back again. So contrary to popular myth the Puritans were not friends to the Natives. For they believed they were the chosen people of the infinite God, granting them heavenly dispensation for any actions against a people predestined for damnation. Bradford later wrote "It pleased God to visit these Indians with a great sickness though in this regard God was not perfect for 50 of every thousand Indians has survived."

By 1641 things had really begun to deteriorate and the forth coming of the Natives peopl e forgotten. A 1641 massacre of the Pequot's in CT was very successful, so much so, the churches declared a day of "Thanksgiving" to celebrate victory over the now heathen first peoples. This was the first real use of the term of thanksgiving to mark a day of celebration. The celebration included the decapitation of the heads of eighty Natives, which were tossed into the streets for the New Settlers to kick about as a sign of power and defiance.
Also at this time the Governor Kieft of Manhattan offered the first use of scalping as a form of bounty of 20 shillings per scalp and 40 for each prisoners they could use to sell into slavery. Permission was given to rape or enslave any Native women and enslave any child under 14. Law gave permission to "kill savages on sight at will". By 1675 the Native people under Metacomet fought back with vengeance. But even Metacomet would meet his fate at the hands of the Europeans when he was hunted down and killed, body dismembered, hands sent t o Boston, head to Plymouth to be placed on a pole on a Thanksgiving Day in 1767. Archive
MAPA-Nevada

Early American history goes on to honor those who would contribute to the genocide of the First Peoples of the Americas. George Washington ordered the attacks on the six nations of the Iroquois despite the gift of 700 bushels of corn he and his men at Valley Forge received from the Oneida peoples. Survival of the troops was at the fate of the saviors themselves. Lord Jeffery Amherst the conceiver and first American user of biological warfare with his inspired use of smallpox infected blankets. Andrew Jackson late repeated this action with the Seminoles. Locally (here in New England) we know the massacre at what we now call Wissatinnewaq by Captain Turner against elders, women, and children. This history would repeat itself with the truth poorly documented and rarely spoken. As recent as 1967, the State of Vermont performed involuntary sterilization of Native females withou t their permission.

5 to 6 Million Jews and Gypsies were decimated by the Nazi regime in World War II. These facts are well remembered and the world mourns these events. Not to minimize these events or the souls of those victimized, these numbers pale in comparison to the events of the Americas. It has been estimated that over 100 million Native Americans were killed by the European invaders during the establishment of the nation we know today.
Thanksgiving was, without the declared name, a tradition of the Native Peoples a time to give thanks to the Creator for the bounty of the harvest and their lives. As the last crops were harvested time was taken to reflect and give thanks. Although short lived, for three days peace and fellowship was shared in New England back in 1621, a gratefulness was shown for the compassion of one peoples to another and the gifts of Grandfather and Mother Earth acknowledged and shared unconditionally.
I do not speak these truths to solicit s ympathy or the righting of ancestral wrongs. Histories cannot be changed but truth is tool that will give us an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and use this knowledge to prevent them from happening again. We know genocide is happening in many areas of the world today. We can pray for these victim souls and by living a better example we can effect change. I would suggest that Thanksgiving, go beyond the gratefulness of the harvest and should be dedicated as well to all our ancestors and give thanks for the things they have taught us with their lives of triumph and failure.
By awakening I pray we may learn to make a better tomorrow.

Actually, in the US, Thanksgiving does have its roots in Christianity. Perhaps not widely viewed as a Christian based holiday nowadays though and probably the closest thing (besides Independence Day) the US has to an American Holiday. By the way, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving as well, on the first Monday in October.

I think this is a wonderful example of what America is.  It is a people who come from every country and background giving thanks for the blessings they have received this year.  It is about being an American and feeling grateful for this county and our bounty.

What a great article to describe the holiday. I am a liberal conservative, sometime christian in behavior and a war veteran. If I did not have such a large wonderful family (which I am very thankful for), I would love to come to dinner at your home.

Gratitude is one of the most important dispositions anyone can cultivate.  The world owes us human beings NOTHING.  The attitude of entitlement has done a great deal of harm to our social and economic climate.  Even in the face of horrid tragedies and travesties, finding one thing to be grateful for, even the smallest thing, is an important step toward healing.  Otherwise, one cultivates resentment which eats at the spirit like the flesh-eating strep bacterium, leaving nothing but dis-ease.

some of us also remember and respect the our pilgrim and indian forefathers; we understand what they went through and are thankful for it.

Thanksgiving is celebrated by many cultures around the world.  Not just the USA

Unfortunately, Thanksgiving has its roots in the the destruction of the Native American (Indians') nation and culture.  It may be a *Halmark* holiday now, but it didn't exactly start out that way...

I totally agree with the author, this is the time to reflect on what you have that really counts and share with those that really need.

now thats America for you

With all the trials in normal every day life, we tend to forget about all the blessings we really have. There are many things we don't appreciate nearly enough. We could use a little Thanksgiving everyday. I am thankful for so much.

It is a uniquely American holiday in that we choose to forget the ugliness of its roots.  
We killed thousands of native AMERICANS and took their land.  Let's party!
Similar to how we say our troops are "protecting freedom" when in truth, our President invaded another country ...in violation of international and American law.

"the churches declared a day of "Thanksgiving" to celebrate victory over the now heathen first peoples. This was the first real use of the term of thanksgiving to mark a day of celebration. The celebration included the decapitation of the heads of eighty Natives, which were tossed into the streets for the New Settlers to kick about as a sign of power and defiance."

Strange. I never learned this in grade 2.  

You specifically mention them, but most Native-Americans do indeed have a problem with this holiday, and many of them actually set up protests.  Have you ever been on a resorvation where they live??? I suggest you set up a "pilgrimage" to one on Thanksgiving day next year.  I can assure you that it will be an eye-opener.--

As children we were taught about the First Thanksgiving in the simpelist terms because that's as much as children can handle.  As adults we learned that the Puritans and Native Americans were not friends.  In fact the Puritans took advantage of the Americans.  They had the Americans teach them how to survive in this land and then did not extend a hand in friendship.  The Americans suffered at the hands of the Puritans and other groups of settlers that followed.  We took their land, their women, their lives and their pride.  Should we be thankful on Thanksgiving Day for what we have?  Yes, we should.  But we should not take pride in calling ourselves Americans because we are not true Americans.

Many years ago I joined the peace Corps.  We left the States to train in Zimbabwe for two months in the middle of October.  Thanksgiving was the first family holiday we were away from home for.  There were about 40 of us in the training group.  We took over the training facility's kitchen and made one of the most memorable Thanksgiving dinners ever.  A few Zimbabweans were kind enough to join us for dinner.  I was sitting next to one of the Zimbabweans (Solomon) as we ate.  He asked what else we had to do on Thanksgiving except for the eating and the being thankful.  I told him nothing, that was all he needed to worry about.  He proclaimed Thanksgiving to be the greatest holiday ever.  I told him not to jump to any conclusion until he's hung out with me on St. Patrick's Day.

The first Thanksgiving that took place was when explorer Martin Frobisher gave thanks for arriving safely (in what is now Newfoundland, Canada) in 1578 while searching for the Northwest Passage.  I always think of "our" Thanksgiving as being more closely connected to the harvest than the US one.  At any rate, it's my favourite truly Canadian holiday!  

After reading Diane Elliot's post, I am just a little heart sickened.  I, like many others, am half Native American and throughout my life have been seperated from my heritage, with little to no contact with the tribe my father was adopted out of.  Unfortunately, the only knowledge of my ancestor's lives I have are what I learn from history class and what I have been able to squeeze out of government adoption agencies.

Though I will not cancel my Thanksgiving plans in mourning of something that happened centuries ago, I will remember those that have perished, in this country and others, at the hands of hate-filled humans and I will enjoy the family that I do have fully and undconditionally, as they are everything to me.

Mr. Teague - thank you for your article as it is wonderful and a reminder that maybe, just maybe, we as human beings are on the brink of being able to wholly and happily accept others for who they are, not where they come from or what god they worship.

After an endless history of hate and "star-bellied sneetch" behavior, it is high time that we show gratitude for having one more day to make a positive change in the world.

I was saddened to read the lengthy comment regarding the crimes committed against Native Americans--not because they are untrue, but because they are! There have been many wrongs committed by this country against many people groups within our borders: African Americans, Japanese (during WWII), Native Americans and others. And now we risk doing so with Muslims because of the fear of terrorism. When fear motivates it usually leads to destructive results.

Despite these problems, Thanksgiving still is a day that is set aside for us all to be thankful to God--the one from whom all blessings come. And thank God that no one has yet figured out how to commercialize the day! So, regardless of our circumstances, we can all find things for which we are grateful. As one person already mentioned, we are owed nothing; entitlement is a myth. So give thanks! It'll do you and those around you good.

Thanks to Barry White Crow Higgins for reminding us to remember the native americans when we are thankful on Thursday and everyday of the year.

And if we hadn't killed the Indians, none of you would be here.  Be thankful, ingrates.

Wow people need to lighten up.  God forbid you enjoy the holiday for what it is and not try to make history are curse.  Once you do that, you might not have your heart attack next week.

We cannot do anything to reverse or undo what evil events people have contributed to in the past or the evil events they are taking part in now.  Let us just be thankful for what each of us has in our own lives that is positive and plentiful.

Great article.  One things I despair about is how Christmas for many is mostly about gift-giving and receiving simply for its own sake, but Thanksgiving is truly simply about showing appreciation for family, friends, and good food.

Regardless of whether Thanksgivings beginnings were born from all the wrong reasons, it's still awesome to have a spot on the calendar to share in a widespread feeling of gratitude with other people - and obviously it also gives some people a forum to expound more serious reasons to be thankful for their prosperity and freedoms.

Sorry but thanksgiving has its roots in the harvest festivals held by most cultures around the world and as stated by another writer Canada also celebrates Thanksgiving.

On behalf of Korean Americans--South Koreans--I am grateful that American soldiers rescued my parents' country from the ruthless dictator from North Korean during the Korean War.  

Just to put things in persepctive.....The Native Americans are no more native then the rest of the immigrants that make up this continent.  They came across the land bridge from Russia, what are now the Aleutian Islands. They were here first, that is all. I was born here, so I AM an American. As much as anyone else alive today. I won't ask for forgiveness for something I had no hand in, and I won't hang my head in shame for something I wasn't party to. History is the past, we are to learn from it, not be judged by it.

I think this article is inspirational to the 'new age' Americans and the'new wave' of immigrants coming to this land. But when you include all Americans in a 'family' you must realize that your America is a parasite that has taken over and destroyed native lands and peoples. Thanksgiving, as the title implies is about thanks, but we all know we were not the first Americans.
As a young 'American' student studying people and cultures worldwide, I commonly ask questions in class to get past the 'facts' presented in books. So one day in my Latin American studies class, studying the affects of the Columbian Exchange (surely the author of this story has knowledge of this in history), I asked if they celebrate Columbus day in Spain. The teacher had no idea. I thought since Columbus was travelling under Spanish flag, the country would surely celebrate this holiday since they became rich and dominant in Western Europe during this time. But the people suffering during the transfer of disease and slaves was the native people.
Fastforward to Thanksgiving. If you want to do true 'American' reporting, pick up a travel guide and take a trip to any 'Indian' reservation and see what graces their plates on Thanksgiving. I am sure it won't be their native diet which sustained them for hundreds of years. No, instead it will be a genetically modified diet that has caused widespread heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
I hope you enjoy you truely give thanks to what matters in your life. But more importantly open your eyes to what is really happening and has happened to the native people of this land.

Typically American, I read the first article from Don Teague and I thought what a wonderful article about Thanksgiving. I continue to read on and I get all the stuff that is wrong with America, our violent history, etc. WE KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. LET'S CELEBRATE THE GOODNESS OF WHAT IS RIGHT ON THURSDAY.

I see a lot of message posters citing the barbaric history of how we treated the Native Americans.  While it may be niave of me, I just look at Thanksgiving as what it means to me and my family.  For us, it is a time to gather with friends and family and appreciate eachother as well as our good fortune.  It's a chance to hear my father tell boring stories, the endings of which he usually forgets.  It's a chance for the children to gather around the TV and watch the Macy's Parade.  It's a chance for my wife to make some of the best tasting food of the year.  It's a chance to bask in the glow of friendship.  I am sorry that 300 years ago, someone I didn't know masacred someone else that I didn't know on a continent that my ancestors had yet to even set foot on.  But it doesn't make me appeciate the holiday any less.  Just as being an atheist doesn't make me love Christmas any less.  It's all about what the day means to you.  To me, it means a lot.

Being a some-what history buff myself I have always been ashamed of our American past and have never known how to deal with it. But at the end of ww2 many were trying to place the blame for Dunkirk when Winston Churchill said, "if we spend our time delving
into the past we will loose our future" (not an exact quote). I don't mean to say, ignore our past, but we should not let it control our future.

As much as I appreciate the sentiment that Thanksgiving is a "True" American holiday, you failed to recognize that Canada celebrates Thanksgiving as well (in Early October). Maybe next time you might want to research your material a bit further before you distinguish a holiday as for "one nation", especially when others celebrate it and appreciate being thankful too.

We should give thanks every day for a myriad of things we enjoy in the United States. We should not think we need a sanctioned holiday to suggest that once a year is enough or that America is "God's nation". God is not partial; the man who works righteous in every nation is acceptable to him.

If so many people are bent out of shape about America, then why don't they leave? Here in America, you have the right to leave............
I am an American, I am a Christian and I thank GOD every day that I live in the best country in the world. I will say a prayer for all of the sad people out there who do not realize how good they have it here and how blessed they truly are.

Don is absolutely right. Thanksgiving is the only true American holiday left.

No other holiday allows us to celebrate glorious excesses of consumption while simultaneously institutionalizing revisionist history (No, we didn't commit genocide - The native tribes were our buddies.  We shared food every year at this time!)

Yup, nothing gets more American than that.

That really explains the meaning of THANKSGIVING Day. Is giving thanks for all that you are able to accomplish each day as an US citizen. I am an American Soldier currently serving in IRAQ, and this Thanksgiving Day like any other Ima celebrate it away from the ones I love, but in thoughts and prayers I know that im thankful for having a big support system behind me.

Thanks for all the "Christian" talk. It reminds me that as a Jew in this country I will always be on the outside, but that is an ok place to be. Tell Rifraf to eat some turkey and enjoy. If Jews can do it, so can muslims.

I am from a latin america country , there is so much I have to be thankful for I will be celebrating this day with some old and new friends, We decided to come togather to give God thanks for life, health and to pray for peace through out the world,its' 10 of  US from 5 different countries who just want to say thank you Lord

It's a day of thanks- to be thankful for all the good things that have happened during the year.

Why is it so difficult to celebrate ONE day in the year, without having to re-hash EVERY SINGLE horrific thing that our ancestors did?

One day...can you pessimists back off for one day!

I may be just a college student studying abroad, but for me, Thanksgiving has always been about being thankful for what I have: my friends and family. Yes, in the past people have made mistakes, and we continue to make mistakes today, but why must we be so pessimistic about it? Let's look at the good in the world for once, there are 364 other days to think about the bad as another poster pointed out. This year will be the first year I'm away from my family for Thanksgiving, and my experiences this year have made me even more thankful for them! I just wish I could spend such a special day with them. Instead, I'm going with the next best thing: my family of friends abroad. It doesn't matter who "family" is, as long as you care for eachother. Family is the most important aspect of the holiday, and while history shouldn't be ignored, it shouldn't have the primary position either.

Did I read the same article as everyone else?  I think the point was that it is a Holiday to be thankful for whatever you want. Or not to be thankful if that is what you choose. I feel THAT is what American means. Atleast it used to.  I'm thankful that I got to hear my son yesterday when he called from Iraq. Just thankful as a Mom to have one more day.    

My partner of 9 years is one year out from brain surgery and the removal of a cancerous tumor. This past year has been one of chemo therapy, radiation therapy, fear and hope. Now she is cancer free, for that and the support of family and friends...I am very Thankful.

Diane's arguments while valid are not as impressive as they ought to be (the facts are, the tone is not).  I am not sure what history books from which you used but I learned all this and more (not to mentioned studying American Indian culture at one point).  If we (and by we here I mean "white" Americans) were the only people to do awful things to people it would mean even more – unfortunately it is not even close (take the current re-hashing of the Cambodian killing fields as a pertinent example).   I work with people all over the world and none of them seem to dwell on the evil actions of their ancestors, let alone trying to destroy the sanctity of their holidays.

I do not mean to belittle the horror that we put upon the Indian people (and the dire straits in which many still live) but face the facts – this was not the first nor the last time awful things will happen to groups of people.

I am Thankful for my new baby, my family, the nice house and job I have…and I live in the 21st century where we do have our own issues with which to deal…

Never forget but don’t let it keep you from living...

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  Specfically for the reason that it is the least involved holiday of the year.  Just cooking!  Not that a tremendous amount of work does not go into cooking because it does, but that is not so different from any other major US holiday.  On Thanksgiving though  I can visit with my family, eat delicious dinner, and enjoy the day without anymore being expected of me or anyone else.  Despite its roots, Thanksgiving, thankfully has evolved into a day of reflection, gratitude and feasting.  Thursday I will be sure to be thankful for that too.  

Thanksgiving is what it is.  I am certain that the past was not as brutal nor as sweet as some would have it.  It is a wonderful holiday that fills the need for all humans to take stock, get a little perspective and appreciate what they have.

The people of the past acted as products of their time.  The Indians were not saints and the Pilgrims were not devils.  All were trying to survive and get by as best they could.  It is easy to judge now, but one wonders how you or I would have behaved in the same situation.  

Thanksgiving is the fantastic holiday of the US and Canada.  Don't mess up a good thing.  

I appreciate this article. I am part Native American. Yes, there was bloodshed, but it was a VERY long time ago and has come to stand for new things. Why do we insist on destroying anything that means something to the majority? Just because they are the majority does not mean they need to continuously apologize for things people did hundreds of years ago. As an Irish/Indian/and other things I LIKE to celeberate Thanksgiving and I think it is RACIST to tell me that b/c my SKIN COLOR is the same as those who did atrocities HUNDREDS of years ago I should be ashamed of my culture!

We know bad things happened, so now lets bond together and be ONE instead of continuously forcing people to be ashamed of things they had nothing to do with.

GOOD GOD people.

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