Thanksgiving: An American Indian Perspective

[One Voice Among Many1]

I looked it up. It means 'coyote' or a shady or sneaky character.

You know what I think about this...

 

[Aelred of Rievaulx]

I've listened to this my entire life. I didn't wrong the natives. My parents didn't wrong the natives. Their parents didn't wrong the natives. And probably their parents didn't wrong the natives. Nobody living today wrong the natives. I'm sick and tired of being guilt-tripped about something I had nothing to do with. No offense to OVAM but there you have it.

I think much of the "pilgrim" discourse sadly enforces this sort of mentality. The early colonials were invaders but it's better to view them as religious refugees fleeing Europe's instabilities...

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

I think much of the "pilgrim" discourse sadly enforces this sort of mentality. The early colonials were invaders but it's better to view them as religious refugees fleeing Europe's instabilities...

Did you know Native American religious ceremonies were illegal in this country and punishable by imprisonment until the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978?

 

[Aelred of Rievaulx]

Did you know Native American religious ceremonies were illegal in this country and punishable by imprisonment until the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978?

I did not but it doesn't surprise me. The USA is renowned for it's religious liberty with the qualification that one is a Protestant.

 

[tadoflamb]

Due to the Animas River spill (Aug 5) 750 Dine farmers from the Shiprock area who depend on the San Juan River to irrigate their crops, are unable to water their crops due to the contamination. Despite the Navajo Nation's State of Emergency, the Obama administration still has not contacted the Navajo Nation regarding the spill. (Aug 19th 2015)

 

[S.ilvio]

Due to the Animas River spill (Aug 5) 750 Dine farmers from the Shiprock area who depend on the San Juan River to irrigate their crops, are unable to water their crops due to the contamination. Despite the Navajo Nation's State of Emergency, the Obama administration still has not contacted the Navajo Nation regarding the spill. (Aug 19th 2015)

What a scandal...

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

Due to the Animas River spill (Aug 5) 750 Dine farmers from the Shiprock area who depend on the San Juan River to irrigate their crops, are unable to water their crops due to the contamination. Despite the Navajo Nation's State of Emergency, the Obama administration still has not contacted the Navajo Nation regarding the spill. (Aug 19th 2015)

I would have loved to watch that go down. Just saying....

 

[tadoflamb]

I would have loved to watch that go down. Just saying....

That's an intense video. The first few minutes were really enlightening. I didn't realize McCain's record was that bad and he's the longest serving member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Ma'ii indeed.

 

[Steve Petersen]

I am sorry for the things that happened to the native American peoples, but I think they may take some small comfort in the knowledge that their land has become a destination for other oppressed and destitute peoples from across the globe, seeking a better life.

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

That's an intense video. The first few minutes were really enlightening. I didn't realize McCain's record was that bad and he's the longest serving member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Ma'ii indeed.

The video is very clear what happened to him but he has denied it ever happened. Go figure. A politician that is caught lying. What a shock.

 

[brinny]

Yes most associate it with harvest and celebrating family and blessings. Hardly anyone looks at it through a political lense anymore or with any sense of history.

i agree. It is a time to focus on God and gather with our loved ones, and to give Him thanks and to be genuinely Thankful for all He has done and to share His bounty with others.

 

[brinny]

My family and I are celebrating the goodness of God in sustaining our families throughout the year. That's it.

same here.

 

[brinny]

In order for there to be healing and reconciliation in any situation, there must first be compassion and understanding. There must also be respect and self control. There is no time for accusations or insults. And as for hatred, it is like drinking poison and wishing for your enemy to die. I speak from personal experience on this matter.

i agree about hatred being like drinking poison.

That's why we are admonished by God. to forgive. Otherwise the hate festers until that is all one is filled with, and it effects the one filled with the hatred, their loved ones, their households, and taints ev'ry word that comes outta the mouth of the one hating.

It's like a cancer.

 

[Hank77]

I did not but it doesn't surprise me. The USA is renowned for it's religious liberty with the qualification that one is a Protestant.

Catholics were denied religious freedom in the colonies or in the US?

 

[tadoflamb]

I wonder when someone will mention the millions of American Indian slaughtered by other American Indians. Does each tribe have a National day of mourning for that? Or is the mourning just for what was done by the white man.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com...-native-americans-before-europeans-showed-up/

I enjoyed the article:

The friendliness of the Wampanoag was extraordinary, because they had recently been ravaged by diseases caught from previous European explorers. Europeans had also killed, kidnapped and enslaved Native Americans in the region. The Plymouth settlers, during their desperate first year, had even stolen grain and other goods from the Wampanoag, according to Wikipedia's entry on Plymouth Colony.

The good vibes of that 1621 feast soon dissipated. As more English settlers arrived in New England, they seized more and more land from the Wampanoag and other tribes, who eventually resisted with violence—in vain. We all know how this story ended. "The Indian population of 10 million that lived north of Mexico when Columbus came would ultimately be reduced to less than a million," Zinn wrote.

The Arawak and Wampanoag were kind to us—and by us I mean people of European descent. We showed our thanks by sickening, subjugating and slaughtering them. And we have the gall to call them more savage than us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[FreeinChrist]

MOD HAT

This thread had a small clean up.

Folks, if you do not like the topic then do not post in it. It is not okay to post insults or off topic posts.

 

[Aelred of Rievaulx]

Catholics were denied religious freedom in the colonies or in the US?

Catholics were discriminated against within the USA for quite a long time.

 

[Hank77]

What a scandal...

The Navajo Nation should not feel that they are being discriminated against. There are many ranchers, farmers, and others in several states who use the same river water for irrigating their crops, watering their livestock, and for drinking water. They have not been contacted directly by the Obama admin. either. The US EPA and the Navajo Nation EPA tested the surface water and said that it was safe to use for irrigation. The tests were done within 10 days of the contamination.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/2...-use-san-juan-river-for-irrigation-following/
http://wate.com/2015/08/16/utah-new...ver-for-drinking-water-irrigation-recreation/

 

[Hank77]

Catholics were discriminated against within the USA for quite a long time.

Yes, discriminated against but I did not know to what extent. After your post I did a little more reading and was surprised at the extent of the persecution and in some colonies it was even dangerous to life and limb to practice Catholicism. I learned something new. Thank you.

 

[GoingByzantine]

MOD HAT

This thread had a small clean up.

Folks, if you do not like the topic then do not post in it. It is not okay to post insults or off topic posts.

Thank you for keeping our community a safe environment for all.