Thanksgiving: Revealed

Thanksgiving is a great holiday, it gives us a reason to reflect on our lives. We have a chance to see all of the positives the past year has brought and it allows us to give thanks alongside the ones we love. In grade school, we as a nation were taught that the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock and the Native Americans came together to have a peaceful meal and gave thanks. As time went on, I have heard about many different stories that tell us otherwise, and the evidence is convincing. Even as a child, in grade school I never fully grasped what my teachers were telling us, something just did not add up. I decided to do my own research about Thanksgiving and now things are beginning to make more sense.  

As a child I was well aware that I was different; my name was different, my hair was different, my skin was different, my family was different. As a result, I felt that the whites, (Pilgrims) and the colored, (Native Americans) having a meal together was very hard to believe. However, learning more about the context during that “First Thanksgiving,” helped to make more sense of the real story. Before I continue, this was not the “First” Thanksgiving, as we were told. There is evidence that shows that these types of gatherings took place more than once a year, and actually involved fasting to give thanks to the Almighty. Don’t take my word for it go look it up. In 1621, the Pilgrims were outnumbered by the Native Americans, 50 to 90. The personal accounts during the 1621 Thanksgiving, did not show any signs that would affect how we celebrate Thanksgiving today. The Pilgrims were celebrating their harvest, and the Native Americans did the hunting for the 3 day feast. The Pilgrims clearly did not have the upper hand over the Native Americans, they were higher in numbers, and they knew the land much better. After finding these answers, I was only left with more questions.

Despite this friendly exchange between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans, there was still a genocide, known as the Indian Massacre of 1622. Why is it that in grade school this fact was conveniently left out? I also found that the Native Americans were the ones to blame when it came to the cause of the genocide. They say that the Natives came to sell goods and they were UNARMED, but they grabbed anything they could find and started to kill the English settlers. 347 settlers were killed on this day. This does not make any sense to me, what could they possibly be selling goods in exchange for? The Native Americans have been on this land for hundreds of years and did not need the assistance of the English settlers. If they came with the intent to kill, why did they come unarmed? Furthermore, how do you kill 347 people if you are UNARMED? If the “First Thanksgiving” was as peaceful as they were telling us in school, why was it that less than 6 months later the English settlers felt the need to kill the Native Americans? This story was clearly written by the English settlers to justify their actions.

To complicate things even more, (You are quite welcome) what about slavery, scientific racism, and the Jim Crow laws? This history is much more recent and cannot be questioned to the same extent as Thanksgiving. If people in the 1950’s, only 70 years ago, had a problem with drinking from the same water fountain as a colored person, then how does it make sense that the Pilgrims, 393 years ago, had no issues sharing an ENTIRE 3 day feast with a group of colored Native Americans? Does the story of the Pilgrims and Indians suggest we got dumber? No, it does not, it’s just a story, that’s all it is, a story that does not make sense. We MAKE-UP stories to keep everyone entertained. We throw in a few moralistic attributes to make the listener feel as though they are gaining something from the story. In the case of the Thanksgiving story, we are gaining the virtue of being thankful and learning how to coexist with people from different backgrounds. The events of 1621 may be true, but where is the evidence? The Indian Massacre of 1622 does not offer such evidence, nor does the hundreds of years of slavery and segregation that followed.

Looking at these events does not change anything. Generations to come will continue to celebrate thanksgiving no matter what is said about it. We weren’t there and we will never really know what happened in the past. There is a difference between the “past” and “history.” The past is what actually happened, while history is the story that the winner wants you to believe. History gets manifested by whoever has the money to commision the writers to write what “the money” wants. Money talks. Our history books and the teachers that HAVE to teach us these events, are being paid by that same money. They should teach the students both sides of the story so that they can come to their own conclusion, simply supply the facts. Thanksgiving has nothing to do with the Native Americans. The celebration was derived from a religious holiday that has morphed into what we know today. The idea of this “peaceful” exchange between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, is just the means by which “the money” tries to cover up their mistakes. The Thanksgiving story is one such method to cover something up. The Pilgrims invited the Natives to the feast, this shows the reader that the Pilgrims were the nice ones. Killing hundreds if not thousands of Natives, for no reason was what “the money” wanted to cover up. “The money” was able to turn the reason for the massacre back on to the Natives by saying the reason they killed all of them was because THEY attacked first.

Despite the lies that surround Thanksgiving day, it is our job to unravel the stories and remember what this day has come to mean for us and our families. Whatever story “the money” is telling to save THEIR a$$, does not get to dictate the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving. There are Native American groups around the U.S. that honor and remember the many lives that were lost during this time in “American” history. Knowing this past is important, but there is nothing we can do to “fix” it, all we can do is learn from it, and hope for a better future. So be grateful for what you have now, be merry, and enjoy a meal with those you love and love you back.

~Go get you some Churkey!

Family Holidays

The holidays are just around the corner! Did you make sure to get the turkey? How many are we serving? Will there be enough? What about the presents?! The holidays are just another great way to stress about everything, HOORAY! .. No, let’s remember what the holidays are about, the importance of having your family and loved ones together to enjoy each others company and to catch up. We already spend so much time busy with work and dealing with our own lives that we forget who matters the most, our loved ones. Take the time to celebrate and focus on the good things, and be grateful for the people around you that you love and care about. Realize that the holidays are about appreciating what you have now.

This is the time of the year to let go of pointless grudges, all the pent up emotions will not make for healthy vibes to add to the holiday cheer. Use this opportunity to start smoothing out those rough edges and tying up loose ends. There’s nothing in the world that can’t be ‘fixed’ and it’s better to settle things for the sake of common peace and well being. Grudges are pointless, they lead you to open up a bottle of old negative emotions that can ruin a perfectly good family reunion. Not to mention, they take a toll on your personal peace and well being. Don’t let past issues mess up your’s and your loved ones chance to catch up. Grudges don’t solve a thing, instead focus on creating good memories with the people you love so you have something good to look back on. When you are dealing with hard times, these are the memories you want to come back to, not the grudges.

I think it’s sad when people let greed reign during the holidays. I have been taught that it’s better to give than to receive. I’m not saying it’s not okay to treat yourself or feel excited to receive a present from someone, but that’s not what the festivities are about. The holidays are about giving. Unfortunately, I know people who give to receive and they expect to get some ridiculously expensive gifts in return. If this is the only way for them to feel happy during these holidays then they’ve completely missed the point. When you receive a gift, it’s the thought that counts and not the money spent on the gift. Do not expect to receive gifts, when you do it’ll be a nice surprise. Let gratitude reign over greed!

Materialistic things are not as important as your loved ones so dont waste your time on objects, they won’t be able to give you love and support. Celebrate eachothers presence, it’s not about the gifts! During these holidays appreciate your loved ones and look forward to more joyful moments with them in future gatherings. The experiences you build with your loved ones are priceless. Appreciate each other to the fullest while you still can. Don’t let these family gatherings get SO spaced out allowing the tumbleweed to roll in between. Treasure everyone while you can because if you wait until next year to see them, who knows if the same ones will come back for the next holiday. Be grateful of the folks that are in your life, because there will be a time when they will no longer be there.

Life is like a box of chocolates, it’s gonna melt! In all seriousness, after reading this post, go give your folks a call and tell them just how much you love and appreciate them, this will make them feel so loved :) Don’t be a stranger now!

Happy Family Time!

I Am American Despite What You See

Independence Day, the 4th of July. I am an American, but there have been too many times where I do not feel that I am such. Is this what the forefathers fought to achieve? This is the “United” States of America, right? If it is so, then why do we still experience racism today? We are too busy looking at one another as being different, that it is impossible to be “united.” I Identify myself as Indian because I have been put into the “other” box too many times. I was born and raised in America, America is all I know yet the way people treat you makes all of the difference.

I cannot count the number of times people (this includes people of  Indian background) have asked me where I was born, or when I came to America, and they are shocked every single time. I was even put in ESL when I was in grade school, but I know It had nothing to do with my ability to read and write, it was because my skin happens to be brown. And that is not even the tip of the iceberg; someone even had the nerve to tell me to go back to India! This incident took place in the year 2012, yes 2012 … I don’t even need to explain how I felt, WE HAVE A COLORED PRESIDENT FOR GOODNESS SAKES! Science shows us we are all the same, when looking at DNA there is no way to tell whether the person is black or green or purple or white or blue or yellow or brown or orange or red or violet or salmon or corral or etc … look at a 64 crayon’s box. Then why are we still wasting time and energy making people feel as though they do not belong. NEWS FLASH: none of us belong!!! Native Americans? .. ringing any bells?

So what are we celebrating independence from? Ourselves? The “other?” They are one in the same. I am not saying don’t celebrate the 4th of july, go out have some fun, BBQ, have a few drinks, watch some fireworks, or light some yourself. The 4th of July 1776 is no small accomplishment, this was the birth of our country, without the events that lead up to this date, we would not be here. All I ask is that you think about this the next time you encounter hate toward another person based on the color of their skin. As Aesop once said, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

~ Red, White, Blue

Valentine’s Day ... Let Me Count the Ways I Hate Thee

St.Valentine's Day … today this is a celebration of the love between two people. I hate this holiday!

I don’t hate it because I am in fact single … but because everyday should have the potential to be “Valentine’s Day” when you appreciate your significant other and make them feel special.  

There are 365 days in a year and this is the only day on the calendar that formally recognizes the love between two people. You should not need a holiday to remind you that you need to appreciate your significant other, they should be special every single day. This person is not there because they have to be, they choose to be, they choose to tolerate all of your flaws and support your endeavors because they love you.  

The fact of the matter is that we are all going to die one day; life is too short. If you appreciate someone then you should tell them. Valentine’s Day should celebrate all Love, not just the love of a significant other, but the love of a child, parent, or a really good friend. When it comes to this holiday we tend not to recognize the other types of love that exist. We go through our lives not showing other’s that we appreciate what they have done for us. We do not know what tomorrow holds, when will you have another opportunity to express your gratitude? The smallest bit of appreciation can go a long way.

I was watching a TED Talk a while back by Drew Dudley, on leadership. Dudley talks about how we as people are leaders without even knowing it, and we need to let the people around us know that they have made a positive impact on our lives. Dudley calls this point in time the “Lollipop moment,” this is the exact moment in time when the other person made the impact. We should apply this same idea to the ones we love.

After watching Dudley’s talk, I stepped out of my comfort zone and made more of an effort to let people know that I am grateful for that “lollipop moment” they have given me. As a result I have found it has made my relationships with those people stronger.Thinking back on my life, I do not know how often I have actually thanked people for the “lollipop moments”. If we treat every relationship in our lives with such appreciation just imagine how much value it would add to our lives. Give it a try!

You don’t need Valentine’s Day to show your appreciation.

Thanks for reading!

peace&love.