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Originally posted by Shada:
I hope Pakistanis in Pakistan don't celebrate thanksgiving - the reason for the original celebration was to give thanks because the american lands were free from the earlier inhabitants - or some similar completely politically incorrect reason
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Actually Shada it was a celebration of survival, with the help of the Wampanoag Indian tribe the destitute and dying Pilgrims were taught how to provide for themselves by these people. When conditions got better they decided to have a feast to celebrate their good fortune which they called "Thanksgiving." And they celebrated together with the Indian Tribe who taught them to survive.
On the dark side friendship with the Indians
did not last once more people came to the New World and distrust developed between them. Many of the Indians died from imported European diseases.
Within 50 years there was war.
But there are still Wampanoag Indians in Massachusetts today.
Also, much of the original US constitution was modeled after the Algonquin and Iroquois tribal laws.
On the lighter side...when I was having Thanksgiving dinner with my little newphew I was telling him about how the Indians helped the pilgrims survive and this is what we celebrate. He says, "Aunt AvgGirl they aren't called Indians! They are called Naked Americans! (meaning Native Americans!) My teacher said so!
God Bless
Girl