The Two Stories of Thanksgiving

Image via WikipediaStory one: Pilgrims sit down to eat with Native Americans, or Story two, Pilgrims sit down and eat Native Americans on "Thanksgiving". The question posed is, which is the real story? And how should you view and interact with the holiday thanksgiving?

In School, I learned that the Pilgrims had black hats and gold shinny buckles and sat down and had a wonderful meal with their friends the Native Americans in 1621. I thought this was the way things looked, because this is what my teachers and parents told me. This is not like Christmas, they wouldn't lie about this would they?

I was in middle age, before I learned that this was not the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help my teacher’s God. I would not say they “lied”, however, the Europeans that were invading Turtle Island did not have cloths as described. They whore much less flamboyant plain everyday work cloths. In addition, most Native Americans would tell you that these were not the friendliest folks that ever landed on Turtle Island.

Historians Joel A. Rogers, Dr. Rev. Ishakamusa Barashango and others report that 44 of the Pilgrims died in their first winter in America due to laziness and mental illness. Further, they report that not only did they fail to take the advice of the Native Americans regarding planting and providing for themselves. They actually stole corn from, killed and would eat the Native Americans and each other.


John Smith's Map of the Powhatan Nation he "renamed" Virginia - Larger Map

See the following quote from Captain John Smith (1580-1631) "So great was our famine that a savage we slew and buried, the poorer sort took him up again and ate him; and so did divers ones another boiled and stewed with herbs. And one amongst the rest did kill his wife, powdered her and had eaten part of her."

The General History of Virginia Fourth Book Page 294 (1606-1625)

So what is the real story of Thanksgiving? Did European Americans eat with Native Americans or did European Americans eat Native Americans?

In Closing, let me point out that the reason for informing you about the "The Two Stories of Thanksgiving", is to cause all Americans to think more deeply about this important American holiday. Should we stop celebrating Thanksgiving, No! Thanksgiving should and can be a Culturally Healthy event. As a general proposition families getting together to celebrate family unity, and the harvests of family and friends for the year, is a good thing.

However, we must have an accurate picture of the past, if Ma'at (Truth, balance) is to be served in the present and the future. So the bigger question is, what stories do we tell our children, regarding early American relationships to Native Americans. This holiday is a time to ask ( or re-ask) ourselves, What is, and what ought to be, our political, social and spiritual relationship to Native Americans?

See the Cultural Literacy Minutes below.

1. Who were the good and bad guys in American Cowboy and "Indian" movies of the 1960's and earlier?
Note: your answer to the above question will tell you something about your cultural orientation to Native Americans.

2. "Indian" = DoubleSpeak (Cultural Poisoning) - Antidote = Native American, Indigenous People, Mohawk, Chippewa, etc.

3. There are also Black Indians among us. This is the Third Story of Thanksgiving, click here.

To view a discussion with Native Americans and other Americans that has been going on for many years visit this link. WARNING This is the old Wild West of the Internet before spell check and before I knew anything about writing.


Our (Americans) relationship to our Native American brothers and sisters has not been Culturally Healthy. I have reactivated your ancestral memory about three of the stories, there are many more, learn about them. It is the Twenty First century, Obama is the President, God is in her heaven and we now have the tools to cure this dis-ease of telling less then the full historical truth to our children and each other.


It starts with you. So what are you going to do about it?

CULTURAL HEALTH, REQUIRES ACTION TO GAIN TRACTION!

To participate in my Thanksgiving Poll go to Newsvine

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Ted Kennedy Watches over Senate as Health Care Bill Leaps forward.

Saturday was a proud day for the American Senate, as they pass a resolution to 60/39, bringing the Great Kennedy Health Care Debate to the floor.



I think the great American ancestors, including the whole Kennedy Clan, is watching over our historic President, our congress, and especially smiling on the Senate. As we approach Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day (The Friday after Thanksgiving), We in America have much to be thankful for and Health Care is at the top of the list.

All praise to the great Senator Harry Reid for leading the Democrat HCR to the floor for debate. In some ways his job has been harder then the house leadership. I am proud of both. In fact, it seems that the Senate astonishingly, came up with a Bill equal to or better then the house bill. The bill saves lives, money and medicare. I went to his web site, followed him on twitter and sent him this tweet.

@SenatorReid Tnx for getting HCR to the Senate floor. You are about to go down as one of the all time great Senators.

I emailed (Iphone) a thank you to both my senators, as I watched them stand in the well and vote for my health. I luckily have the VA Health Care and I am about to get Medicare, so I am OK for now. But this will help 31 million of my fellow Americans not so fortunate. It will protect my children and grand children from the MediPlex Insurance company's dirty tricks departments. And it will start to clean up and protect my future Medicare.

Yes, this first vote was cast strictly on party lines however, I think the Senators will be freed up to vote their conscious on the final bill. Yes, their will be a tough fight but I think the final Senate vote on Kennedy Health Care Reform will be more bipartisan then most of the pundits expect. Kennedy had many life long Republican friends that will not let him down in this hour of reaching his life long pursuit.

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2009 Veterans Day, My Dad, Health Care and Me

Veterans day came this week and it reminded me of my dad and my time in the service. We both needed health care while serving and we got the best the Army had to offer. Shouldn't all citizens have access to quality health care?

My Dad on the left WWII and Aunk Vietnam

Did you know that most veterans don't get Veterans Administration health care unless they have a service related illness/injury or meet means test requirements? This means many "middle class" Vets don't have VA or any other health care. 25% of the nation's homeless are veterans. Somehow these realities don't seem to me like we are remembering our veterans like we should.

Health Care Reform just passed the House and is moving through the Senate, did you notice that there are no provisions in these bills for "no cost health care" for all veterans? It strikes me today, that on these days of remembrance, we can and should do more for our vets and their families.

Veterans day and Memoral day are both special to me. They are days to remember and honor our country's serving, served and fallen and our Culture's serving, served and fallen. On these days I especially remember my dad Marlin in World War II, and his fathers in World War Zero (WW0).

Every Holy Day (holiday) is a Cultural Literacy opportunity. To learn more about World War Zero, hit the link and tell me what you think. Newsvine - Memorial Day - My Dad and My Culture

If you are one of the 2+ Billion Black people in the world you should know about WW0. All human beings should know about all the major wars, for it is our best defense against having them happen again. If you are an African American in the military you have a duty to know about WW0, WWI and WWII, not just the last two.

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Republican Micheal Steele says he is a cow?

No, I didn't make it up, Steele describes himself as leader of his party as a cow. What does one call the leader of a herd of cows. What is a Health Care Cow? (Video)



See, I did not make this up. How does a cow get onto rail road tracks? He does not get their because of a plan or trying to solve a problem for the herd. He wonders onto the tracks aimlessly. In fact, when he sees the train coming he has no idea what he is looking at.

It is interesting to note, that a Cultural Traitor in a multi-ethnic society is not only a danger to his/her own community but a danger to all communities who hold humanism in high regard.

Steel said, White Republicans Are Scared Of Me, I say, Black People are scared of you, and your party should be too.

Now this is not Micheal Steele on the tracks. However, you will understand the resemblance when you see the video.

Steele: White Republicans Are Scared Of Me

Truth is stranger then fiction, You have to see this for yourself, live up close, and in person. (Video)



Sometimes the best way to understand the behavior of a Cultural Traitor is to watch him/her at work.

Punish any Democratic Senator who does not support Health Care Reform

Joe Lieberman and any other Democratic Senator who does not support Health Care Reform must be punished, sign the partition (Video)



This is not a time to sit on our hands. I signed the petition and tweeted it. We need millions on this petition. We need you. If not you then who?

Pelosi Passes Health Care Reform 220-215 (Video)

Tonight was a historic night for the Democrats and the American people. Nancy Pelosi will go down in history as one of the greatest Speakers of the House.

I watched this most remarkable process. I get CNN who had odd spotty coverage. But I was luckily able to get MSNBC on the net and they had a live video stream (uninterrupted) on the floor of the house which was the way to see this historic vote.

Let me first thank my senators and congressman and the Democratic congress in general for the moral courage to do what they were elected to do. And let me thank all the people who made those calls and sent those Emails and protested at the insurance companies. Let me thank Michael Moore’s SickO for helping us compare “Health” Care in civilized nations vs. the Sick Care for profit we have here in America. The Movie John Q was also helpful in showing the dirty tricks departments of hospitals, employers and insurance companies against the working American.

Let me thank Dr. Linda Peeno for her testimony before congress regarding being hired to cause the death of insurance company customers. Thank you to all the Americans who came forward to talk about their personal stories and the impact they want reform to have on the lives of their fellow citizens. Olbermann’s show where he talks about his parents and friends health challenges, and health reform as a right to life, is a good example of the people coming forward and telling their own stories.

I was not happy when Pelosi refused to bring Bush and the forty thieves to trial. I was not happy when she took Single Payer off the table. But if this is what it took to win this close vote then all is forgiven.




Thanks to the one Republican, Ahn “Joseph” Cao of Louisiana, with the courage to vote for human rights over profit rights. This was not just a physical health victory for America, it was another national Cultural Health victory that keeps our ship of state on a proper heading toward the moral high ground of that distant port.

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How Will Republicans Help you get Affordable Health Care

Time has run out and it is time to vote on Health Care Reform this week end. How will Republicans help you and your family? (Video)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

After watching this it is remarkable that this is what the Republicans are offering me. No Republican should be elected for 100 years.


Join in Newsvine/MSNBC Poll on the week end vote

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African American Wins NYC Marathon

AA Meb Keflezighi wins the big race in my home town. The New York City Marathon is the most famous of the big five World marathon majors, which are Boston, New York City, Chicago, London, and Berlin.

I always remember watching the race. The race is at the halfway point when it enters my borough Queens and they pass my home on the Queens borough bridge as the go into Manhattan. The race is limited to 37,000 runners who are cheered on by more then 2 million of my neighbors who line the streets and another 315 million who watch on TV.

In case you never saw the New York Marathon here is a overview of what it is like. It is a fun day for all.



When I was younger I loved riding my bike and would run as part of playing sports football, baseball and fencing. "AA fencing?", yeah yeah I know give me a break, we fence too. When I was older and started playing tennis I would run 2 miles or so when I felt like it to stay in shape.
However, it wasn't until my second life (I passed 60 a wile back) when I got my Ipod and talking sneakers that I got serious about running. I used the Nike+/Ipod fee personal trainer to get me in shape for my first 10k in 2008.

I ran the Nike + 10k for the second time this year. The bad news is, I did not set a new land speed record, the good news is, I wasn't last either. My country rank is 8,358th. My world rank is 19,396. I would not have been happy if I was #86,332 (Last place). I was beat at the end of my 10k, I don't 'see how these good folks run 26 miles. Props to all the NYC runners.

P.S. Now that they have a virtual ING NYC Marathon you and I might try it yet.

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1st Lady - Health Care is a Woman's Issue

Wow, woman discriminated against by the insurance company's. It is an American disgrace and we must reform the system now. How can we allow this to be done to women. (Video)



Did you know that a woman can be denied Health insurance because she was the victim of domestic violence, I didn't Click Here for details. I don't know about you, but I have a daughter and this won't do.

The immoral, unjust insurance company rules that the First Lady brings to our attention would shame a nation of savages. We can, and must, do better.

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