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Thank you all for your replies. After spending yet another holiday with my family, (which I don't care for most of those people, by the way) I realized of course, it is nice to get together with those I do care for, and for my child to be with them as well.
However, for me, I wish we could change the holiday in some way or another to make amends in some way to those who we have taken from and killed to steal their land. That was my original point. I don't know how that could be done at this point, but it is something I think about for sure.
Hope everyone has good health and happiness always.
Julie
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quote:
That is a loaded question for me Julie.Since I am Native American , I fluctuate between wanting to vomit [no offense]and loving the time with family and friends.What I mean is,The Thanksgiving most people think of,NEVER HAPPENED!
Someone famous once said that all written history is,is agreed upon lies.My culture is oral for a reason,the "event" never happened.Yes,my people taught the white eyes how to grow food and such,but we never sat down and ate with them.We didn't eat turkey because it is a sacred bird,like the eagle.In fact the turkey would have been our national bird if Franklin had his say.But the idea for this holiday came after some white eyes watched ceremonies ,we would hold annually for thanks;and wanted to ease their guilt by creating the tale we know today.It is kinda like the lie we were told that Betsy Ross sewed the flag;when it was her son who started the rumor.The best publisist wins.Further,every tribe is different as to how they would give thanks.In Comanche ,it is the buffalo tongue dance.And giving thanks was /is a very serious matter.We are detailed in the process.Thanking the Mother Earth,our brothers and sisters of the two legged,of the wing,of the four-legged,of the scale,and thanks for the fire to cook food and to the wood.All these things have spirit and it is the day to remember that and to be thankful.So,in that context,I enjoy the holiday and wish everyone the warmest,cheerful and fulfilling holiday ever.I do really mean that.I love to spend time time with my family and friends, and giving thanks;something I try to do everyday.Okay,now that I have told you more than you wanted to know,I am signing out to go enjoy the holiday,eat too much and nap.
No offense could be taken by wanting to vomit, if you hadn't figured that out by my original question. It makes me very uncomfortable, particularly since my family is very conservative and uneducated or perhaps the word should be ignorant about what could be negative about it. It makes me want to vomit too, and I am not a Native American (although this also angers me--the term Native American. Meaning, Native means born and American means just that, so if I am born in America, but am not a member of one of the tribes, what am I?)
I also think similarly with regards to "African American" as there are whites born in Africa (particularly South Africa) so what are they called?
It is all confusing to me.
Anyway, back to what you said-I agree that written HIS storey is just that. Written by a man or men, and usually white men always end up smelling like roses, no matter what murder, or theft occured. So, as I get older, wizer, and more conscience about what truely happened in the past vs. the stories I have been told all of my life, I am starting to make different choices. It is so difficult to explain to my child these choices, as I am alone in my family with regards to being enlightened to these truths.
Particularly, I have recently become an atheist, and no longer celebrate any holidays that we once did. My child is upset and doesn't get it. He has other family to still celebrate holidays with, so I am not totally depriving him of the fun aspects of it, I just can't pretend anymore to believe in things I don't.
Have a great day, Julie
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We should give thanks everyday. If not to our akua; then to our friends and family.
As far as shopping goes; Like food, gifts produced locally keep the local economy healthy, give less support to the oil war, and contain more "mana".
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Thunderfoot, even though we celebrate Thanksgiving as we do, the real Thanksgiving was on September 8, 1845(?) when a Spanish explorer landed in Florida and the native Indians gave him beans soup. (I believe he established St. Augustine.)
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
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My great grandfather came from Ireland and fell in love with a full-blooded Seneca Indian from the Seneca Nation. They shunned my great grandmother Rose Carpenter. They shunned my great-grandfather. My Mother is 1/4 Seneca and so I am 1/8. The Seneca Nation will not recognize us. They are afraid we want a stipend. We never knew this until about 10 years ago. It was never discussed through the years.
We are all from somewhere via our ancestors. Humans no matter where they are do things that are unsavory. Can we be blamed in this day and age for the sins of our fathers? Sometimes I think it's good to look down and see where our feet are and just follow where they lead us.
Carrie
http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~Dalai Lama
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Yesterday, I had the great fortune to spend an afternoon with some good friends, their auntie and her daughter. The food was incredible, the stories and laughter phenomenal and the time very well-spent. I hope they get to enjoy that wine from the Volcano Winery that I gave them sometime soon and that it serves as a reminder of the importance of friendship. It was a great day and reminds me to value my friends every day.
John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com
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I carry no guilt about the historical past. We are all just a chance of our births. I too Carrie am 1/8 native american unregistered also!
I try to live my life keeping in mind those things I find offensive in our historical past, and the historical instances and individuals which I am enamored with and live accordingly within my abilities. To celebrate my fellow man, to cherish friends and family, appreciate the land and the animals, to leave a positive personal path while on my journey leading on up to the spirit in the sky.
My sentiments about Thanksgiving
"OH I'm STILL stuffed!! Hope you all had a wonderful gathering yesterday, full of hope, full of grateful sentiments for our obvious and not so obvious blessings, and full of good will to last the year and that will be revisited shared and renewed with each sunrise"!
Aloha,
mella l
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
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Thanksgiving was nice...low key just Tony, Mom and I for a yummy bird and all the trimmings. It was a nice prayer too before we ate.
Spent the evening with some friends and talked story and ate dessert...just making more memories on the Big Island.
Carrie
http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~Dalai Lama
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quote:
from Julie:
However, for me, I wish we could change the holiday in some way or another to make amends in some way to those who we have taken from and killed to steal their land. That was my original point. I don't know how that could be done at this point, but it is something I think about for sure.
Hope everyone has good health and happiness always.
Julie
relpy from Thunderfoot:
julie,we can not change the past,what has been done,has been done.It is what we do from here that counts.And yes,everyone,family and friends and enjoyment are wonderful,but let us not forget we need at least one day a year where people take the time to stop and be thankful.To be thankful for everything,not just the ordinary mundane train of thought.Problem is,many people like living in fairy worlds where there is no ugliness.That is unrealalistic.We are here to experience many things in this journey of life;some will be pleasureable,some will be painful,and all those in between.The depth of thanking I am talking about,very few ever ponder.So,Thanks Julie for bringing forth the opportunity to teach and learn.And there is discussion on the wind that Thanksgiving might be turned into Native American day.And yes,I know the symantics of that phrase,Native American.I mean a day for recognition and honoring of the indigenous people of the Great Turtle Island(America).Turlte Island is what my people called it before America.Okay,I have gone on long enough about that,probably more than u wanted to know again.
Yes,we should enjoy ourselves at holidays,but let us never forget the deeper spiritual meaning you are celebrating in the first place.I wish not to offend,but am very passionate about depth in my life.As far as you helping,well,that is easily fixed.Come donate your time here at the Native American Center,968-1111,or come learn.There are even small things like dropping your recycleables off to any Arc of Hilo site and tell it is a donation for the Native American Center.People can buy alfalfa cubes and leave em at Miranda's feed store to help feed the buffalo;or whatever.Pick a real non-profit to help out of your choice.Creative volunteerism and education is where we can help ourselves,our brothers and sisters,the planet and our future.
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quote:
Creative volunteerism and education is where we can help ourselves,our brothers and sisters,the planet and our future.
Don't forget the animal welfare organizations. Animals are totally helpless and depend on us more than anybody else.
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"
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