My friend is arguing about the TRUE history of Thanksgiving - Help!

Mark226 · #1 11-27-2003, 01:31 PM

My friend says that the Indians and the people who came from Europe (mainly english) sat down and had a big turkey feast together on Thanksgiving day.

I don't believe any of that. I think it's what they teach little kids in school so that people don't know the gloomy parts about our history and how we committ genocide on all of the native americans.

Can someone tell me AND/OR link me to a site that tells the TRUE story about thanksgiving. Did they really have a big feast together or is that crap they teach little kids.

What really happened? What is thanksgiving?

RobertBasil · #2 11-27-2003, 01:38 PM

Sure, show him a story on the Internet. Because we ALL know everything on the Internet is 100% true.

Just about anyones opinion can be backed up with a story on the Internet. So just quit arguing, enjoy the day with your relatives and eat your damn food.

Xshare · #3 11-27-2003, 01:46 PM

They did exchange gifts... Indians gave the settlers stuff to survive the long winter and the settlers gave the indians blankets infested with smallpox

123 Logo Design · #4 11-27-2003, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobertBasil
Sure, show him a story on the Internet. Because we ALL know everything on the Internet is 100% true.

Sure is!

sasha · #5 11-27-2003, 01:48 PM

Google say this is it.

http://www.drwnet.com/wings/jwthanks.htm

JWise · #6 11-27-2003, 06:00 PM

I believe it was the big feast after the Settlers killed off all the Indians. Alot of stories always leave out the real important parts.

CLucich · #7 11-27-2003, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobertBasil
Sure, show him a story on the Internet. Because we ALL know everything on the Internet is 100% true.

Just about anyones opinion can be backed up with a story on the Internet. So just quit arguing, enjoy the day with your relatives and eat your damn food.

Wow, I sure hope noone else catches this ugliness. He was asking a legitimate question. All he is seeking is truth about Thanksgiving. It's not like it's a bad thing. Sheesh, lighten up a little.

CactusCounty · #8 11-27-2003, 10:54 PM

I'm not sure I want to get into the debate over the first Thanksgiving, but as far as it being a legal holiday:

From the Massacheusetts Centinel
Wednesday, October 14th, 1789

General Thanksgiving
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , A PROCLAMATION

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God---to obey His will---to be grateful for His benefits---and humbly to implore His protection and favor: And whereas both Houses have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States, a DAY of PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be: That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His Providence in the course and conclusion of the late war;---for the great degree of tranquility, union and plenty, which we have since enjoyed;---for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of Government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;---for the civil and religious Liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;---and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, That we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;---to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine."
________________________________________

On September 25th, 1789, the House of Representatives passed the following resolution, introduced by Mr. Elias Boudinot of New Jersey. The Senate concurred on the 28th.

"Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States, to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a constitution of government for their safety and happiness."

Webdude · #9 11-28-2003, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JWise
I believe it was the big feast after the Settlers killed off all the Indians. Alot of stories always leave out the real important parts.

No, the settlers had a big feast with Indians, learned all their survival skills....then showed the Indians a trick and stuck them on reservations..

***anon-e-mouse*** · #10 11-28-2003, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by azo313
What is thanksgiving?

You know, my first year on the internet I asked many American friends what Thanksgiving was, what are you giving thanks for? Not one could tell me

Webdude · #11 11-28-2003, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
You know, my first year on the internet I asked many American friends what Thanksgiving was, what are you giving thanks for? Not one could tell me

It's when we give thanks that we arent in a giant British penal colony

JustinH · #12 11-28-2003, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
You know, my first year on the internet I asked many American friends what Thanksgiving was, what are you giving thanks for? Not one could tell me

This is a curious thing about many Americans I agree... most people have no clue what the "first" thanksgiving was. Most people thing the meeting between the Indians and Settlers was the first holiday in 1691, however, that was actually a harvest festival. A few years later (can't remember when) the Calvinists marked the first "Thanksgiving" and if I understand, it wasn't a feast, but a day of prayer.

Regardless, it was originally intended as a thanks to God for what he gave Americans. Today, I celebrate thanks giving as a non-Christian, by giving thanks for my family.