Thanks-Giving? 2011

There is a lot I could say on the topic of today's Holiday. However I will keep it short and simple, because I can.

Although the Pilgrims, (Puritans and others), who came over on the Mayflower, Mayflower II and some other successive boats in the mid to late 1600's, prior to the blood-shed they did trade with the North-Eastern Native American tribes, while there was no real sit down for what we now call 'Thanksgiving'.

The Native Americans tribes... some of them at least initially did teach some of those settlers what was good to plant and eat, that would harvest before winter came and would store well through those cold months, for this we can be thankful.

The fact that successive generations of certain American families might possibly not be here if it was not for the generosity of some Native Americans, those New England winters can be brutal. For this we can be thankful.

Even though the Holiday known as 'Thanskgiving' was founded on and based on deception and slight of hand, it is a good reminder to all of us to celebrate Family and Friends, giving and sharing amongst our fellow Human Beings no matter Color, Race, or Creed. As well as to celebrate our good fortune of being born into a Country where we still have the right of choice and voice. For this we are thankful.

To the Native Americans who were cheated, lied to, forcibly removed from their homes, killed, hunted and given disease and practically wiped off the earth that gives us so much love, and allows us to be were we are today. We should count our blessings and pray that we will be ever vigilante that such evil will never happen again on our watch.

Happy Thanksgiving.

R. William Holzkopf Jr.