And we’re educated in America that the puritans came to America seeking religious freedom, without any real discussion of - say - who the puritans were, what was up with the Cavaliers and Roundheads, who Cromwell was, or what Calvinism was.

But that was only ONE section of what became the united states. While Virgina was busy importing black slaves, Georgia was busy importing white ones (it was a penal colony after all). And Pennsylvania was founded on religious freedom because the Quakers had to leave England because they were accused of (I love this) TOO MUCH SEX. Yup, their idea that all people should love all others where made into bawdy tunes (I have several from the period) which told how Quaker preachers would practice their “free love” by having sex with multiple people on their way to market (pretty racy stuff for 1600).

I am certainly not excusing the US whose entire history seems to be made from exploiting one group after another and then trying different forms of genocide (and then usually electing the person best at that Genocide as President).

My memories of thanksgiving involved being forced to eat Yams. Which I really don’t see enough people protesting against. AND brussel sprouts! Another evil, evil act which actually still makes me throw up in my mouth around the smell of brussel sprouts - our house was an “Eat your plate….or else!” - so sort of a day off from school but also…Yams, and Brussel Spouts.

What is missing from thanksgiving feasts - well since they were puritians, I am guessing sex. I think if there had been a LOT of sex at those first thanksgiving, things would have gone a lot better and the US would be a whole different place. That’s what the governor of BC did and it chilled him out.

If you go to one of his posts, like this one and look right above the comments, and click on the sixth red symbol from the left, you should get a low-bandwidth version, and that setting will stick, so you can go to the main page or whatever.

(and BTW, I can’t actually read Nezua’s blog very often as I am on dial-up with accelerator and his site is so … I don’t know, graphics-heavy? or something like that … that loading it is really hard. I keep having these points where I’m like “nah, it can’t be that bad! I must be remembering it wrong!” when people mention him, and then I try again and it’s like ARGH!!! )

so anyway, I’m glad to hear about what he’s doing :)

Anyway, yeah, there’s a lot of stuff people should know about Thanksgiving, and what really happened during those typically romanticized feasts.

NOT SO FAST!

Because the other day I looked up this article right here on Thanksgiving for my white co-worker following a discussion in which I bitched for a moment about the happy thoughtless half-sheet “Thanksgiving Fun Facts” in my inbox at work, from the also-white manager. And my co-worker and I had a little conversation in which she advised me to understand that the manager is a sweet person and means well (which she is and I’m sure she does) — but still to me, well, the way this holiday feels is like blood-drenched violence and a sort of ritual in which white people implicitly but truly affirm our loyalty to the beast so to speak

so — fluff post? I myself personally? feel no fluff here :)

(the fact that I am being this direct is a mark of my respect for you, as I hope you know)