Thanksgiving??

[highlans]

Being from the uk I do not understand your thanksgiving could some one please explain the history behind it thankyou.:thumbup:

[DianaB]

I'll try and give you a brief (?) history lesson. If I leave anything out maybe someone can help out.

The Pilgrims were the first to arrive in America, I can't remember the year. When they arrived it was a very hard time for them because they had to build housing and grow gardens with winter coming soon after they arrived here. They became sick and lost many people during the winter and provisions were extremely low. When spring arrived the people who were left began their gardens and plowed and planted their fields with help from the Indians. They were able to build better housing and became more prepared for the next winter. In the fall, after everything was harvested, the Indians and the Pilgrims got together and had a huge feast. It is called Thanksgiving because they were giving thanks to God.

[RLC12345678]

Here....read this. It tells the Thanksgiving Story in detail. It is basically the same thing Diana said, but gives more detail.

http://wilstar.com/holidays/thankstr.htm

[Janet]

WOW!!! You guys are good. I always knew of course why we celebrated, but it was nice for all the details to be refreshed. A really nice history lesson. If we had small children in the house, it would be a great article to read before the meal. huh, I just may do it anyway....

Thanks ladies,

[Lindsey]

Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Canada, but for different reasons. The first Canadian "Thanksgiving" was when an English explorer was trying to find a passage to the Orient but instead landed on what is now Newfoundland. He gave thanks for being safe after a long journey. After that, it was also a celebration for other explorers, settlers, etc. Finally it became that Thanksgiving was a day to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. Since we are further north, our harvest season is much earlier and Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second weekend of October every year.

[Lindsey]

I'm going to add something here, although I don't want to start anything up... The way I was taught about Canadian/American history in high school outlined the source of the American Thanksgiving history as quite different than is taught in American schools... This (http://www.americanindiansource.com/mourningday.html) site shows the history from the Indian point of view, which is how much of our history courses were taught. I feel that it's a case of history being re-written which has been done thousands of times in history.

[DianaB]

I sure that the Indians did have a different view point. There's always 2 sides to every story. I've never thought about how the Indians viewed Thanksgiving.

[highlans]

Thankyou all for that have learnt something today, being 51 never done well at school will start puting my questions to you all and perhaps will educate myself a little better. Thanks all.

[Marilyn]

The history of man, wherever he has been is wrought with sadness and bloodshed. There is nothing that we today can do to change what happened in the past, though we do need to understand it, and learn from it. We also need to look to the future and try to be a peaceful people, respectful of our friends and ever watchful of our enemies, even though we must attempt to love all men (and women). Let's all wherever we are enjoy our day of Thanksgiving mindful of all that we have to be thankful for and remembering the sacrifices that got us where we are.

Have a blessed Thursday, wherever you are and whatever you are doing!!

[Shannon]

I always thought that it was neat that both my Mother and I had our birthdays on Thanksgiving in different months. She is an early October baby and I am a late November baby. She's Canadian and I'm American.:)

[Tink]

Years ago I saw a teeshirt that had a gorgeous silhouette of a brave on his horse in front of a sunset with a crossbow in his raised hand. The caption below was "What if?" I found that to be SO profound. If the natives had had the wherewithal to protect themselves, this country might have a very different history.

It's because most of us are the spawn of immigrants that I find it SO ironic now when I hear Americans complain about the current immigration situation. I personally can't begrudge anyone for wanting to come here when my own great grandparents did the same about 100 years ago. At least they aren't coming here trying to kill us all off to take what we have like the Europeans did to the natives!

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE. :D I hope we DO learn from history so we never repeat it.

[Shannon]

Years ago I saw a teeshirt that had a gorgeous silhouette of a brave on his horse in front of a sunset with a crossbow in his raised hand. The caption below was "What if?" I found that to be SO profound. If the natives had had the wherewithal to protect themselves, this country might have a very different history.

It's because most of us are the spawn of immigrants that I find it SO ironic now when I hear Americans complain about the current immigration situation. I personally can't begrudge anyone for wanting to come here when my own great grandparents did the same about 100 years ago. At least they aren't coming here trying to kill us all off to take what we have like the Europeans did to the natives!

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE. :D I hope we DO learn from history so we never repeat it.

Well Said!!!!

[Gina]

Years ago I saw a teeshirt that had a gorgeous silhouette of a brave on his horse in front of a sunset with a crossbow in his raised hand. The caption below was "What if?" I found that to be SO profound. If the natives had had the wherewithal to protect themselves, this country might have a very different history.

It's because most of us are the spawn of immigrants that I find it SO ironic now when I hear Americans complain about the current immigration situation. I personally can't begrudge anyone for wanting to come here when my own great grandparents did the same about 100 years ago. At least they aren't coming here trying to kill us all off to take what we have like the Europeans did to the natives!

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE. :D I hope we DO learn from history so we never repeat it.


I have to disagree to an extent, the Americans are not complaining about the immigrants coming into our country. Yes we have all had family coming to the USA but they came in legally. There is a big difference, your ancestors went through the proper channels. They did not get a free ride they had to become citzens and learn the language and culture. Today we have to comform to the immigrants wants and needs we have become the minority. The immigrants are welcomed as all have been in the past but they must do it legally.. Think about it....

[Janet]

I have to disagree to an extent, the Americans are not complaining about the immigrants coming into our country. Yes we have all had family coming to the USA but they came in legally. There is a big difference, your ancestors went through the proper channels. They did not get a free ride they had to become citzens and learn the language and culture. Today we have to comform to the immigrants wants and needs we have become the minority. The immigrants are welcomed as all have been in the past but they must do it legally.. Think about it....


You have hit the nail on the head with this one. I agree 100%!!!


:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

At least they aren't coming here trying to kill us all off to take what we have like the Europeans did to the natives! How do we know that for sure? With all the terrorist crap going on? It's a little unnerving at times.

[Janet]

Sorry, I hope my last reply doesn't cause any kind of bad debate...but our little town is not what it use to be. So sad and becoming very dangerous!

[khardy57]

I have to disagree to an extent, the Americans are not complaining about the immigrants coming into our country. Yes we have all had family coming to the USA but they came in legally. There is a big difference, your ancestors went through the proper channels. They did not get a free ride they had to become citzens and learn the language and culture. Today we have to comform to the immigrants wants and needs we have become the minority. The immigrants are welcomed as all have been in the past but they must do it legally.. Think about it....


BINGO!!!!!!

[Tink]

Gina and Janet, I understand what you're saying. I don't like that anyone gets a free ride since I have always had to work for every penny I've gotten. What I think has happened, is that the bleeding hearts have decided to go overboard to welcome immigrants. EQUAL treatment is what I want for them.... Not freebies that citizens can't have.

While they're going to extremes, they're alienating our own people and causing a lot of problems in the process. We have many Mexican immigrants in our area who came to find work at Ashley Furniture and Golden Plump... our 2 biggest local industries. Quite a few of them do their banking at the bank where I work, and I have yet to have any problems with any of them. They're struggling to learn the language, deposit their checks to pay their bills and celebrate the same things we do. One man came in today beaming because his wife is expecting. I seriously don't see that they've done any harm to our community.

We do have an increase in drug and alcohol abuse, with other crimes rising as well; but any time you have an increase in population you see that. The majority of people in the county jail are still young caucasian males. I think for the most part, people act like you expect them to. My ancestors learned to fit in, and these immigrants are working toward that too. If we can befriend them and treat them as we would like to be treated, we both win.

As far as the mention of terrorists, I believe that's a whole different issue. The religious extremists don't want to take over our country... they want nothing but to see us dead. In their minds, we are the evil nation and it's their duty to wipe us off the earth.

I'm not looking to fight about this or any other issue, 'cause I truly like both of you.
I'm glad we can have a civil discussion on this and so many other topics without acting like nutcases over it. I respect your viewpoints and appreciate that you do the same for me. HUGS

[Janet]

I agree with a lot of what you posted. They do want a better life..and who doesn't. In our town...most all the arrests are illegal immigrants and so many don't have a driver's license and driving. They are coming here illigally and continue breaking the laws. Our town is small and the crime is rising. Drive by shootings, a police officer was shot at, drugs and it is mostly the illegals. I know this because we have a few friends in the police and sheriffs department. They have their hands full and most don't speak our language.

I've lived here my whole life and it's scary now. If they would just try to fit in a little bit more and obey the laws I think it would help the general population of our town. But when you see 15-20 living in one house so they can save and send money back home it's upsetting. I personally would just like them to try and adjust more.

Other than that I don't really have a problem. I just stay home or shop in another more diversified city.

[Tink]

Janet, if my town were being affected like yours is, I imagine I would feel as you do! I was just thinking about it, and since the Mexicans I deal with are able to get accounts with our bank, they most likely aren't illegals. They have to show proof of identity in order to open anything with us. If they don't have a picture ID such as a drivers license, they have to show 2 other forms such as a passport or national ID.

[Janet]

Janet, if my town were being affected like yours is, I imagine I would feel as you do! I was just thinking about it, and since the Mexicans I deal with are able to get accounts with our bank, they most likely aren't illegals. They have to show proof of identity in order to open anything with us. If they don't have a picture ID such as a drivers license, they have to show 2 other forms such as a passport or national ID.

I just go by what our friends in the departments have told me. I just wish our little town was safe again. No drugs, shootings, latin gangs...etc. I think when it is more diversified, with many different races like a nearby city...it is better than just two. I want everyone to get along, that's all. There is even a website now for our town that some (what I would call a ) jerk put together to basically stir up trouble against them. I like peace with everyone. I think our small town will never be the same, but everything changes good or bad. We all just have to strive to make it better.