American Mythology 101 by wysiwig
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Description
Today’s lesson, class, is all about the first Thanksgiving.
The people we now call Pilgrims first came to North America in 1620. They had been called ‘Separatists’ by their English neighbors since they rejected the authority and teachings of both the Catholic Church and the Church of England.
The pilgrims in Massachusetts were far from friendly. Soon after arriving in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Pilgrims went into Indians’ dwellings and cornfields and took whatever they wanted. They felt no shame in opening the graves of native peoples in order to steal what they found and so profit from their desecration.
As more and more English settled in Massachusetts more and more pressure was put on the native tribes. The colonists never recognized the rights of these people to property or land and had no problem settling on native land, raiding their food stores and selling those they captured into slavery.
In 1636, a murdered white man was found in his boat and the Pequot were blamed. In retaliation settlers burned Pequot villages.
Additionally, English Major John Mason rallied his troops to further burn Pequot wigwams and then attacked and killed hundreds more men, women and children. According to Mason’s reports of the massacre, “We must burn them! Such a dreadful terror let the Almighty fall upon their spirits that they would flee from us and run into the very flames. Thus did the Lord judge the heathen, filling the place with dead bodies.”
The Governor of Plymouth William Bradford wrote: “Those that escaped the fire were slain with the sword; some hewed to pieces, others run through with their rapiers, so that they were quickly dispatched and very few escaped. It was conceived they thus destroyed about 400 at this time. It was a fearful sight to see them thus frying in the fire…horrible was the stink and scent thereof, but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice, and they gave the prayers thereof to God, who had wrought so wonderfully for them.” This is what Cotton Mather said, "It was supposed that no less than 600 souls were brought down to Hell that day".
Ironically, the first official "Day of Thanksgiving" was proclaimed in 1637 by Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop. He did so to celebrate the safe return of English colony men from Mystic, Connecticut. They massacred 600 Pequots that had laid down their weapons and accepted Christianity. They were rewarded with a vicious and cowardly slaughter by their new "brothers in Christ”. For the next 100 years, every Thanksgiving Day ordained by a Governor was in honor of the bloody victory, thanking God that the battle had been won.
So that’s the story of Thanksgiving.
If you feel the need to atone invite a Native American to dinner.
But not on Thanksgiving.
They tend to get a little cranky on that day.
Comments (15)
blankfrancine
Powerful and sad commentary.
Faemike55
let's hear it for Christian good will and love of the fellow man
alida
no comments on this
durleybeachbum
First they fell upon their knees Then on the aborigines....
It was ever thus
anahata.c
You have, once again, enlightened us with your many tales, histories and reflections. I didn't know thanksgiving's history in any detail...I did know about Native American experience over all, but this horrific story is stunning, and it makes the formation of "Thanksgiving" so much more stunning than I'd realized. When you think you've seen how bad racial hatred can get, it can always get worse...
I get the feeling you've known some Native Americans. (I mean, you've met so many people around the world, it wouldn't surprise me.) Long ago, I had the privilege of studying under a Native American woman, who was a biologist who became a Medicine Woman. So she had science and Native learning all in one. But she told me so many stories of her upbringing in the Reservation system, the beatings, the horrible treatment from whites, the bleaching away of all her heritage---she was Ojibway---and the endless uncaring of the rest of white america who, because they hadn't done anything 'personally' to her, felt they didn't need to know about her experience, even though we're all inheritors of her experience. I mean, usurpation may be as old as the hills, but this one's ours, and we have to know it, learn it, and make it shake us to the core. That's why I'm so grateful you gave detail, in this. I'm sure you could've written more, but space beckoned. And of course your writing skills make all such uploads touch us. There's an old Kiowa tale of a young girl who sees all the buffalo rushing into a huge cave in a mountain; they're glorious and majestic, and their stampede is incredibly thunderous. And she's breath-taken...but when the last buffalo enters the cave, they are no more...and the silence is deafening...She says that they're like her people: soon to be swallowed in the mountains, never to be seen again. It's a heart-wrenching story, a holocaust of terrible dimensions. (The version I heard is 100 years old.) And yes, we too have poured wine, during the Seder, for the soldiers and citizens of Pharaoh: We should pour vats of it for Native America...You know the famous talmudic cry (you've probably heard it at Seders if not elsewhere)---as the Egyptians are drowning in the Red Sea, Moses and his people rejoice; and God cries out: "My children are drowning, and you dare to sing???" What one writer called "the greatest call to order in all of Talmud". (We asked the question, ok God: If you think we shouldn't 'sing', then why didn't YOU do something to stop it!") Another Nat. American, Lame Deer, said that Moses was an Indian: He went to the mountain, had a vision, and came back with his wisdom...How in the world do religions turn around and do so much damage? We should have embraced the Natives, asked their forgiveness for landing here, and asked their grace and offered fellowship. I'm really grateful for uploads like this, from you, Mark, you have the background to know these things, the drive to find and flesh them out for us, and the passion and depth of conviction to bring them alive for us. I have a feeling you have a lot more where this comes from. Share anytime you please. It's all very valuable and essential.
Richardphotos
"history" is more often than not, fabricated lies. the Europeans that came to North America often treated the people already here as they were treated in Europe and even more worse.
wysiwig
There is a saying among historians which, I think, states the obvious, "History is written by the winners."
Jollyself
Thank you on 2 fronts.... for pointing out that "Thanksgiving" is NOT a day of family and rejoicing for those who were here long before us and for the wonderful comment you made on my last image The Doll Maker. :)
wysiwig
Thank you, Jazzy. I calls'em as I sees'em.
anitalee
Excellent
bodo_56
I bet your Prez would call this "fake news" 8=(
wysiwig
LOL. Bigly!
nikolais
What a terrible story and a great illustration, Mark! Thank you for sharing.
Cyve
Marvelous image my friend !!!
giulband
Very interesting document !!
Glendaw
Thanks for sharing the heartbreaking narrative and painting.
Deva3D
Great job!
bmac62
Hi Mark, Great piece. Eighteen months ago I could have read this and not only agreed with you but felt quite removed. Today, I can't feel quite so removed. I have been working for years on my family tree. Until 18 months ago I had nothing on my maternal grandfather beyond his name (he died when I was ten). I finally broke down that brick wall and found his line took me right back through Massachusetts and Plymouth to the Mayflower and two passengers, John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. But more to the point here, one of my numerous 8th Great Grandfathers is Major John Mason. He arrived in Duxbury, MA from Duxbury, EN in 1632. Shortly after stepping off the boat he was put in charge of protecting the early settlers at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Over time he lead them north up the river to a safer place and established what today is the city of Norwalk, Connecticut. I know of the slaughter of the Pequot Indians (they had slaughtered colonists too). Now you've inspired me to find out more. I have a book written by him that I have not read yet. There were countless atrocities perpetrated by both colonists and Indians during the colonial period. I know there are two sides to every story...and that the winners do get to write history. I am not concerned about defending John Mason...I just want to find out more and this may take awhile. Life gets very interesting when you have the opportunity to open up the last 500 years of your family history (there are certainly the good, the bad and the ugly in every family). Are we still friends after my great reveal? Hope so:-)
wysiwig
Not a problem, Bill. Every family has secrets. I have never believed we should be held accountable for the actions of our ancestors either good or bad. I myself am descended from a synagogue deacon and a green grocer. My mother's father was a virulent racist but his daughter became a left-leaning adult who judged everyone on the content of their character. I just wish we as a people could own up to the things we've done.