I'm just here for the turkey and the Macy's Parade. I had no idea that Thanksgiving had become such a source for debate. But apparently, I have it all wrong, no matter whose propaganda I read — because when it comes to Thanksgiving, everyone has a soapbox. Even the turkeys.One side argues for the memories of Native Americans slaughtered by the Pilgrims. "Grey Wolf and Willow" call the Pilgrims "practicers of human sacrifice," and include rather bloody excerpts from Mayflower member William Bradford's diary in their tirade against the celebration of the holiday at http://members.fortunecity.com/gwolf2/thanksgiving.html. A more moderate view is taken at www.inglewoodcare centre.com/history/thanksgiving.htm, where the writer, Herbert Stoch, admits that some "thanksgivings" were celebrated in honor of a bounty of Indian scalps or an especially large harvest of slaves.
But the real entertainment lies in the diatribes against the "revisionist history" that allows the holiday to be celebrated as anything other than an act of Puritan deference to God (http://christsbride-min.org/Cbm% 20-%20nubalues-act12.htm). They think that any mention of the Indians is missing the point, and they quote from William Bradford as well — though they choose slightly more reverential passages. Organizations like Focus on the Family (http://www.family.org/cforum/ citizenmag/features/a0018302.html) weigh in with columns lamenting the loss of pride modern Americans have for our Puritanical (sorry, "separatist") Pilgrim heritage. My favorite from this side of the fence is a vitriolic little snippet found at http://www.newsmax.com/ commentarchive.shtml?a=1998/11/27/ 085051, which makes some truly outrageous claims relating the current wave of anti-Thanksgiving sentiment to the downfall of American society. You really have to read the entire piece to appreciate its, um, power (one gem predicts that future generations will equate Turkey-eaters with members of the KKK).
I hope this has made all of you sincerely re-think your plans for the holiday, no matter where your loyalties lie. And my apologies to the vegetarians, who are no doubt protesting the annual poultry slaughter.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 3, 2002.