RSS Feed for This PostCurrent Article

the political correctness of it all

By American Girl in Italy on November 27, 2008 at 1:15 AM in Current Affairs, Political Correctness

(bumped up by nasuS)

So, I saw this story yesterday about the kindergarten class that dressed up for Thanksgiving. One parent was outraged, and the school has now put a stop to the practice of dressing up and celebrating the holiday.

Now, I agree that (at a certain age – not in kindergarten) the real story of Thanksgiving should be taught. And when you read the *real* accounts, as written by some, it does leave a bad taste. But the politicization of this holiday, on a group of 5 year olds is, in my opinion, obnoxious.

“After a handful of parents complained that the Native American headdresses and vests were demeaning, cartoonish stereotypes, the Claremont Unified School District eliminated the costumes from this year’s festivities, but allowed the turkey feast to go forward.”

Stereotypes? What did Indians wear 400 years ago? They didn’t wear feathers and leather skinned vests? This picture is of Massasoit, the name used by early English colonists for the principal leader of the Wampanoag tribe. When I go to the Indian reservations in WA, I still see Indians wearing feathers. And when I have been to museums, they have had headdresses and costumes from Indians in the PNW. These are web sites for the Wampanoag Tribes here and here, and these images from the early 1900′s show Indians in feathers and skins. Obviously they don’t run around in those outfits anymore, but there aren’t a lot of Pilgrims running around either. And yes, kids in construction paper costumes can look a little cartoonish, but it is construction paper, on five year olds….

So anyway, the school put a stop to the costumes, and I am sure it will spread to other schools. So, this coupled with the conversion of Christmas to Holiday, I think we need to examine all of our holidays.

Let’s start in December
Christmas. There has been a push to remove the Christ from Christmas, and convert to *Holiday*, so as not to offend those who are not Christian, or that don’t celebrate Christmas. So, if we do away with Christmas, we need to remove Hanukah (12/22) and Kwanza (12/26) from the calendar as well. We can just just call it Holiday week.

And, thinking about it, if we are concerned with those being subjected to the word *Christ* in Christmas, perhaps we should eliminate other words that contain the name *christ*. People named Christina, Christy, Christian, Christopher, need to change. Perhaps X-ina, X-y, X-ian, X-opher will work. And of course we need to eliminate those with the name Jesus (hey soos). Hmmm…and while we are at it, we should also change anyone with the name Peter, Paul, John, Mathew, Luke, Mark, Adam and Eve? Perhaps any biblical name, just to be safe? Crap, there goes my name…

We then of course, need to eliminate all public broadcasting of Christmas Carols – no White Christmas, Blue Christmas, Silent Night, Joy to the World, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, nada. Well, maybe Jingle Bells. I think Jingle Bells is ok. we can get that on a loop.

And what about Candy Canes? Do we need to get rid of those? Aren’t they modeled after a shepherd’s staff? And Christmas cake and pudding need to be changed. Chocolate bells? They are pretty controversial…they represent Christmas bells, and all. OK, they have to go too. And no more Chocolate Angels, or Santa Clauses.

And, I guess we need to eliminate personal public religious displays – no more cross necklaces or yamakas or head scarves.

And no more wreaths in public. They represent the crown that Jesus wore, so those MUST go. Even the ones covered with fruit or teddy bears, or candy. Gotta go. Now, Christmas trees, in my opinion are safe, because they started in Germany, and had nothing to do with Christmas but… they are too controversial, even called Holiday trees, so better safe than sorry.

Now, for street decorations, we need to probably do away with those as well. The lights represent stars, and since when Jesus was born, the Star of Bethlehem lit up the manger, so, we need to get rid of the little twinkling lights, too. Hmmm, and speaking of the Wise Men, we should probably be very careful about advertising Gold sales during Holiday week. And frankincense and myrrh, too.

Gift giving? Well, that has to go. That tradition is rooted in the act of the Three Wise Men giving gifts to baby Jesus.

We might want to send out notices to farmers to cover up their mangers during the holiday season to…

I think eggnog is safe, although it is typically only served for Christmas, so I guess we just need to be sure to not call it a Christmas drink.

Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly? While rooted in pagen tradition, they have become symbols of Christmas, and they are green and red, so they should probably go too. And holly has become a symbol for Jesus’s crown as well.

What about the Salvation Army donation booths, with the people who ring the bells? Those should probably go as well… That falls under gift giving, and goodwill towards men, which is from the bible, so gotta go. I guess that applies to soup kitchens too.

And, now that we remove all those things, it seems silly to just have a week dedicated to consumer shopping and crowds and commercialism. So, maybe we just get rid of Holiday Week too? With birthdays and anniversaries, it seems silly to have a week just dedicated to shopping.

November
Thanksgiving – How to make it PC? That is a pretty difficult task, unless we remove any reference to the Indians. And, if we remove the Indians, then what are the Pilgrims celebrating, since they couldn’t have survived without Squanto, who taught them to grow corn and fish, and the Wampanoag Indians? So, perhaps we just need to do away with the holiday all together. Or else, just make it a day of Thanks, but eliminate the tradition of it. We can just give thanks now to family, and the iPod.

Veterans Day. Now that is an iffy one too. We are celebrating Veterans who are serving our country. But, what about those who oppose the Iraq war, or any war. Hmmm… I don’t know. This holiday seems too controversial. Don’t want to offend those who are anti-war, and anti-military. It better go too.

October
Halloween – this is founded on the belief that ghosts returned to earth. In 800, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints’, All Saints’, and All Souls’, were called Hallowmas, so this too has ties to religion. Plus, we have seen controversy like the kid who went to school dressed as Jesus for Halloween, and was sent home. So, we are better off eliminating Halloween and not risk offending anyone, again.

Boss’s Day – What about people who don’t have bosses, or jobs? Better do away with this one.

Columbus Day – Indigenous groups in particular have opposed the holiday as celebrating the man who initiated the European colonization of the new world. Opposition often focuses on the cruel treatment indigenous peoples faced at the hands of Columbus and later European settlers and the fact that the European conquest directly and indirectly caused a massive decline in population among the indigenous peoples. Need I say more? It’s gotta go.

September
Labor Day – This could be too insulting to those who are unemployed. It is very insensitive to have a day off celebrating workers, when there are too many people without jobs. Maybe workers should still work on Labor day, and give thanks that they have a job, and work for free, and donate the money to those without jobs? I think we need to rethink or eliminate this holiday as well.

Also in September we have Grandparents day – too insensitive to those who have lost a grandparent or those who can’t bear children. Take it off the calendar. And Patriot Day? This is again controversial for those who believe our Chickens came home to roost on 9/11. And Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur obviously need to come off the calendar.

July
Independence Day – Considering the Declaration of Independence wasn’t really signed on the 4th, but in August, it is a holiday based on misinformation. Also, it only talks about men – all men are created equal, governments are instituted among Men, mankind are more disposed to suffer… and not one woman signed it. It is a sexist document. Also, we need to be allies with Great Brittan so to continue to celebrate an occasion when we succeeded from GB might send the wrong signal to our allies, as well as out British Americans. And we celebrate with fireworks and hot dogs. Fireworks can be very disturbing to some people’s pets, so we need to be more considerate. And hotdogs are very offensive to vegetarians. I think we need to scratch Independence Day as well.

June
Fathers Day – again, inconsiderate holiday to those who have lost their father, never knew their father, or don’t have a father but two mommies’, or those who can’t bear children. Best to do away with this. And what dad needs another tie, anyway?

Flag Day – this is an insult to those American who prefer to burn or stomp on the flag. We don’t want to offend the radical left. Best eliminate this holiday as well.

May
Memorial Day – Now that is an iffy one too. We are celebrating Veterans who have died serving our country, in any military action. But, do we need to specify which wars/battles are PC enough to be a member of the *Veterans Group*? Like, the Veterans of Vietnam….should they count, since some Americans protested Vietnam? Or the Civil War Veterans? Or what about WWII veterans… I mean, we did bomb Japan, and fought Germany and Italy, and we have people from all three nations living in America. We also interred Japanese Americans, so maybe the veterans of WWII shouldn’t be included. I guess it goes without saying that the armies that fought the Indians shouldn’t be counted. Hmmm… I don’t know. This holiday seems too controversial. It better go too. same with Armed Forces Day.

Mothers Day – see Fathers Day.

April
Administrative Professionals Day – I think this is unfair to every other work group out there. Why are admin assistants singled out? Too non-inclusive, and unfair. Gotta go.

Passover – too religious. It’s gotta come off the calendar.

Easter – see Passover.

April Fools Day – This is offensive and not PC. We shouldn’t call people fools. It offends those of lesser intelligence and those without a sense of humor.

March
St. Patrick’s Day – celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland and a national holiday of Ireland. It became a feast day in the Roman Catholic Church due to the influence of the Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding in the early part of the 17th century, and is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland. Too religious, and if we are going to celebrate a national holiday of one country, we need to have a holiday from every country. It is also unfair to alcoholics and vegetarians and people who don’t like the smell of cabbage.

Palm Sunday and Good Friday – see Passover

February
Ash Wednesday – religious, needs to go. Also Fat Tuesday.

President’s Day – This is controversial. What about people who don’t like certain presidents? Should they be included in this day? This is also a sexist holiday, since all Presidents are men. I think it needs to go.

Valentines Day – This holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines. There are too many things wrong with this holiday – it is rooted in religion, is discriminatory against those who are not in loving relationships, is not environmentally correct (all those cards!) and is sexist. Women purchase 85% of the gifts on Valentines Day? This holiday has GOT to go.

January
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – It is one of four holidays that celebrates a person – Jesus, Washington/Lincoln, and Christopher Columbus. Since we have eliminated the others, we need to eliminate this one as well. Also, it is sexist. They are all men. Also, he is a minority, and if we represent one minority group we should represent all minority groups, including women. It’s gotta go.

New Years Day – Well, hell. Not even this day is safe. This calendar, the Gregorian, was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, and decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582 by papal bull Inter gravissimas. It is a reform of the Julian calendar. Years in the reformed calendar continue the numbering system of the Julian calendar, which are numbered from the traditional Incarnation year of Jesus, which has been labeled the “anno Domini” (AD) era, and is sometimes labeled the “common era”, otherwise known as the “Christian Era”. So, New Year’s Day is only really the first day of the new year if you believe the Christian version of the calendar, and the whole BC/AD thing. So, this too, is perhaps too controversial. Also, it excludes our Chinese Americans, who celebrate another calendar.

So, that leaves us with….what?

Happy Thanksgiving ya’ll!

  • Just_Saying

    We’ll have to remove all those holidays as “paid days off”, eh, since they can’t really represent anything? Well, that’d be a net savings…..
    .

  • Pat Racimora

    LOL! Whew, what a well-researched rant that really does have a lot of say about messing with all our fun and tradition.

    Good job!

    • HARP

      They can all go to Hell.

      I`ll say Merry Christmas if I want.

      The crazy liberal`s right to swing their fist ENDS at the tip of my nose.

      • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

        it’s the most wonderful time of the year! :O)

    • Galt

      As seems to be a lot I fall in the middle of things. I’ve had some direct communications with native Americans. I know some of them protest Thanksgiving and Columbus day. I respect their right to protest but also respect the holiday which for most people is a time once a year that family and friends gather. I recall protesting the holiday a couple of times because of the suffering that has occurred in our history as a nation and those whose ancestors predated the Pilgrims and even Columbus. I think we can be respectful of both “sides” in this with a bit of thought and understanding. Maybe I really am an extraterrestrial, I sure feel like it a lot! :shock: Or maybe I just try my best to at least look at what it must feel like to walk in another’s shoes.

      • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

        yes, it is hard when you have traditions that mean a lot to one group, and are horrific to others…. kind of like the whale killing traditions.

        where does it stop, where does it end? how do you conserve cherished traditions without offending ANYONE?

        • http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Basic-Parenting-Styles&id=744499 Northwest rain

          What SHOULD be done — is to teach REAL history. The fact is that the Pilgrims murdered the Indians, using poison, and burning them. In fact this was when the Pilgrims gathered together the Indians to poison them and then to burn the house in order to finish them off. (I had a history professor who read the original records of the events. The Pilgrims were damned proud of their vermin extermination skills. Indians were considered vermin by many European immigrants.)

          However, the history lessons should be part of American history — and then have the mythology of Thanksgiving as a holiday.

          Problem is that real American history is NOT taught in school. And kids really believe that the Pilgrims and Indians sat down together in peace. So perhaps this needs to be seen as a Peace holiday (mythology)?

          At what age do children need to before they learn what really happened at the first Thanksgiving?

          Anyway this holiday was taken over by merchants and the ad people to create the day after (black Friday — for stores being in the black due to cash flow from customers).

          The problem remains — as school kids we were lied to — the pilgrims and early settlers were really rather racist (not all, thankfully — there were the Quakers and others who respected others).

          My ancestors survived the trail of Tears — and that little holocaust of a DEM President doesn’t rate inclusion in US History books. Knowing that about the Dem party made it rather easy to leave the party.

          What is PC and what is teaching the REAL history of this country? There are many adults who still will not, or cannot believe that Indians were slaughtered, massacred, poisoned, starved by European Americans. (Last century, Indian children were removed from their parents and sent away to school.)

          I don’t have children (I’m Thankful) — but when I learned about what really happened at Thanksgiving in college — I was very angry about being lied to by adults when I was a child. High School American history is when the subject of ethnocentrism of whites against Native Americans should be taught.

          Children should be allowed a few illusions — like Santa and the Pilgrims.

          • andrew191

            A history professor taught you that drivel? Why am I not surprised.

            Here’s some history you might want to cram in your brain. For thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, this continent was inhabited by tribes of people that were in a constant state of war with each other. There were no laws, no legal controlling authority as Al Gore might say, no moral code, and no restraints on the level of brutality that was rampant. Because the natives weren’t well known to keep written records of events we can’t know the full history, but based upon an oral tradition that may have extended back several hundred years, we can extrapolate all the way back and fill in the blanks. The natives on this continent were bloodthirsty beyond your worst nightmare. Tribes constantly displaced other tribes, and quite often eliminated them. They didn’t do that with agreements, contracts, or peaceful resolutions. When one tribe destroyed another there was no deferential treatment for women and children, they had no concept of guilt or remorse. Just the opposite, they kept trophies of the people they slaughtered, scalps, hands, heads, whatever. Killing another person was as ordinary as killing a fly, except that you would have been held in higher esteem by killing as many people as possible. The accounts of the multitude of tortures that they devised would make a sane person vomit. While horrible atrocities have occured in all cultures, advanced cultures at least acknowlege and condemn them, that is not true with the pre-Columbian people of the New World.

            I’m highly skeptical of your accounts of murdering Pilgrims, it sounds like 9/11 conspiracy gibberish, and I know enough about the way history can be distorted to cry bullshit. But even if it were true, from an objective historical position, shouldn’t that be considered to be one more time a stronger tribe (Europeans) displaced a weeker one? There are few if any countries on this planet that are currently inhabited by the origional inhabitants. It’s a simple fact of the diaspora of humans. If you don’t like it, tough, get over it!

            • http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Basic-Parenting-Styles&id=744499 Northwest rain

              What a racist pig you are.

              That’s the problem with Thanksgiving — the racists like yourselves want us to continue the mythology.

              I suggest you read the documents of the first settlers — how they robbed graves etc. Go to the original sources.

              As for murder and extermination and fighting — the Europeans were just as blood thirsty toward each other.

              History as taught in High School is a myth. It would be better called mythology than History. Thankfully some teachers see the wisdom of teaching real history from historical documents.

              WOW you are very strange.

              I supposed you are also in denial about the millions of women murdered during the middle ages for the supposed crime of being a witch.

              • andrew191

                Why is it racist to merely state historical facts? I could just as easily call you racist for your apparent hatred of the white race.

                And I did NOT ignore the fact that atrocities have occured in all cultures, the Holocaust is a good example. The difference is that enlightened people strongly condemn such acts, and often fight to the death against them.

                I could name many examples of the conscienceless attitude of pre-Columbian races, but I’ll just describe the Mayans for now. They had perfected the art of human sacrifice, slicing out the still beating hearts of victims with obsidian knives, that lines of people captured in raids moved at walking pace toward the altar. It’s a fact, and the Mayans recorded those events because they were more advanced in many ways than your average New World native. If you want to classify them as cultured and refined that’s your dilusion.

                Find me your evidence that “millions of women” were murdered during the witch craze. I took a 400 level college course that that dealt specifically with the history of the witch craze, and while many died, (men and women) no sane historian would put the number in the millions. This sounds similar to the claims of a black congressman who stated that over 200 million Africans died en-route to the new world. There is no credible evidence to support that claim, the actual figure (although there is a significant range for the number) is far, far less than 200 million.

                It is dishonest of you to make many of the claims you’ve made and brush off any challenge by simply stating “read the statements, or go to the origional sources.” My professors would have laughed their asses off if I handed in a research paper fillied with claims, that were footnoted with the statement “If you don’t believe me, go look it up somewhere.”

                You want accurate history taught in high school? Fine, I agree, historical accuracy is crucial. However, your claims about history sound more like myth and hyperbole than the history you dispute.

                And when you throw out names like “racist”, you merely demonstrate your fear of entering into a rational, and reasonable debate. One of the cheapest, cowardly, and most vile form of trashing the messenger, and ignoring the message.

            • C.S.

              The natives on this continent were bloodthirsty beyond your worst nightmare. Tribes constantly displaced other tribes, and quite often eliminated them.

              There were wars among the Native American tribes but just like Europeans, they also made peace with each other. The Cherokee Nation was the only sovereign country within the boundaries of the USA and look how they were treated.

              And “Indians” certainly aren’t any more “bloodthirsty” than than the explorers that settled here. You have only to read the history that is available through records and documents kept by the Spanish Conquistadors to realize that little has changed since the days of locking Native American leaders in meeting buildings and setting them on fire and Obama’s cousin Odinga setting fire to a Church where women and children had sought safety.

              You can’t call Native Americans “bloodthirsty” and “your worst nightmare” without recalling Europe’s bloody past. The U.S. had the Salem Witch Trials, and the French introduced scalping as a method of proof for payment. And who can forget the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades for “bloodthirsty; both done in the name of religion. And no, a “history professor” didn’t “teach it to me”; it’s called research and requires going beyond regurgitating what a professor says.

              Native Americans, Europeans, Asians, and Arabs have all had violent histories but that has nothing to do with taking our traditional holidays away because a few will find fault with every holiday we celebrate and we’ll be left with a Russian and Chinese style parade celebrating the weapons of war.

          • bert

            I think you may have over learned some lessons
            Northwest rain. Or maybe you are exaggerating some or giving more credence to and fixating on some things that happened than to others.

            Below is a link to an article that deals with some of the myths about Thanksgiving. It is certainly not comprehensive, but it is a start to further historical scholarly study. History is (almost??) always open to debate. The article does deal with some of the issues you raise.

            http://hnn.us/articles/15002.html

            The thing is though, and I taught 1st grade, is that I am not going to tell 1st graders (6-7 year olds) that we killed Indians. In fact, I am not going to raise those issues in the depth you seem to want with elementary grades (K-6) school children in any detail; maybe in broad generalities. I will (and did) tell them that our history with Indians, as with African-Americans and other groups, was not always as it should have been. In other words, an age appropriate curriculum.

            The purpose of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for all we have, to live in gratefulness.

            So with that, let me say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone at NQ. One of the things I am thankful and grateful for this year that I found a blog back in late January I can truly feel ay home at and learn much and have fun doing it, too.

            • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

              And Happy Thanksgiving to you Bert! :OD

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      Thanks Pat! :OD

  • bob

    If Obama lets Malia and Sasha dress up as pilgrims and indians then it’s okay. But is Sasha the pilgrim or Malia? Come on CNN. I await this news with baited breath.

    • Pennsylvania Red

      bob, your posts are hilarious today.

      I will get the answers to your questions from my SO and pass them on to you.

  • Pennsylvania Red

    One of the mothers from that school was interviewed on a local radio program last night. She said that she and quite a few other moms sent their kids to school wearing the banned costumes.

    “Thank God for turkey, trains, and crayons”.:

    Last night I was at a church run kindergarten, they had this display of what each child was thankful for this year. It was a breath of fresh air in the midst of all this PC madness. This Thanksgiving, I thank God for the 57 million or so who voted country first, and I am especially thankful to those who make this online community possible.

    I’ve enjoyed reading the commentary, and have been entertained and enlightened (as well as outraged) in the process. Thanks to all of you NQ writers and fellow commenters, I offer my wishes for a great Thanksgiving holiday!

    • wodiej

      Amen, I second that

      • Ellen D

        I third that. This site is great. It lets everyone speak. I am grateful for N.Q.
        The U.S. should keep its traditions. Other countries keep theirs unapologetically and every country has had a bloodthirsty past – no exceptions – except perhaps the Inuit.
        Lets celebrate in a spirit of tolerance for everyone’s cherished traditions and eliminate all victimhood. Your ancestors killed my ancestors. My ancestors killed someone else’s ancestors. So what? I refuse to act the victim! TOLERANCE FOR EVERYONE! and HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all you terrific people!

    • beebop

      I give thanks for the First Amendment. All others flow through and because of it. I may not always like what others say, but banning anyone for reasons other than cruel vulgarity goes against the grain.

      • lark

        Banning for vulgarity seems fair to me because one can always learn to speak in a good way and find a way to apologize or change. But what do we do with people who constantly lie as they always misrepresent what is true?

        Does the First Amendment gives the right for the speaker to lie and misrepresent the truth as he speaks? It seems so, doesn’t it. But then what constitute a grievance and what creates one? Aren’t lies what constitute and creates grievances in the first place? Is abridging the act of requiring someone to acknowledge the lie within the issue?

        People think that the First Amendment gives them the right to speak lies and misrepresent the truth. Once that happens then we know there are consequences. I know that each and every lie brings consequences. Once trust is abridged then fairness is difficult to realize.

      • bert

        Actually, I think the 1st Amendment would even allow for cruel vulgarity. The Supreme Court has given wide latitude to free speech over the years. Only limitation I have ever read of is speech that would fall under the, ‘can’t yell fire in a crowded theater when there is no fire’ test or rule.

  • Choo Choo Magoo

    fun post Thanks.

  • HC

    LOL nice post.

    Anyone remember Festivus?

    Or maybe XMas from Futurama?

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      festivus! yes! hahaha and how about Chrismukah?

  • http://noliinsipientiuminiuriaspati.blogspot.com/ adagioforstrings

    re: Pennsylvania Red: This Thanksgiving, I thank God for the 57

    I thought that you were going to be sily & say that you thanked God for all 57 states…

  • http://www.wewillnotbesilenced2008.com OBAMA IS A FRAUD

    Can someone tell me when the left will stop destroying America? And what they think they will leave in the wake of their destruction? I guess Kwanzaa will be allowed but no Christmas? This country is gone. Thanks to the left. Well, I for one will fight these morons tooth and nail. I can’t WAIT for the backlash. Once the left has destroyed anything that resembles American values, people will be so desperate for anything that resembles this country to make a comeback that finally the lefties will be banished. If some lunatic Earth Shoe wearing wing nut teacher pulled this shit on my kids I would work to get them fired, picket the school, etc. Where the HELL do these freaks get off? This is MADDENING.

    • bob

      Happy Thanksgiving, OIAF! You got your jaunty Santa hat on? I got mine.

    • wodiej

      Well I can still proudly fly my American flag on my porch and say Merry Christmas to anyone I like whether they like it or not. The stores say “Happy Holidays” I respond, “Merry Christmas and God Bless You’. Don’t give me that happy holidays shit.

      • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

        “Don’t give me that happy holidays shit.” is that part of your reply to them? heheh ;O)

        • wodiej

          LOL, no, not unless they got nasty then I might say it!

          • Athena the Warrior

            That would be a super funny card to send out,

            MERRY CHRISTMAS!

            (Don’t give me any of that happy holidays shit!)

            Little pissed off elves on the front with that Don’t-f-with-me look on their faces.

  • wodiej

    apparently white people are just not politically correct period. In our city a school is called the Northside Redskins. People were complaining that was offensive to Indians and they should make the school change it’s name.

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      i take offense to being called white. are you calling me a marshmallow? and if you are, then you must be calling me fat! are you calling me a big fat white marshmallow?

      hahahahah JK!

      • wodiej

        omg…LOL

        • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

          i am in a feisty mood, can you tell? haha

      • Obama: Dubya 2-Electric Boogaloo

        Crackers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose except your melanin!

    • beebop

      The Cleveland Indians get more grief about their name than how they play baseball year after year after year. It is unbelievable.

      • bert

        Remember when the Atlanta Braves were in the playoffs and/or World Series some years back and some folks were complaining it was racist to give a war yelp and carry a tomahawk?

  • wodiej

    I say the people who don’t believe or like our American holidays can all work or if the office is closed, not get paid for it. If they get paid for it, it would be considered a holiday pay.

    • Brendy

      I worked with a guy from India – although he never believed in our holidays, he still got the days off WITH PAY – just like everyone else. But when HIS holidays rolled around, he was able to take those holidays off, too (with pay) while the rest of us who didn’t celebrate those holidays HAD TO WORK! Fair? Yeah! He wasn’t even a citizen – he was here legally, though. America has become TOO politically correct!

      • andySF

        What’s the problem for people of different culture celebrate their holidays?

        I am not a christian, but have no problem enjoying the holiday with people who are. It’s the spirit that counts. It good to have days where everyone is nice to everyone. OK, almost everyone. So long as people don’t try to look down on me or try to convert me (I had that experience in my Navy days).

        I am also tire of the PC s**t. Freedom of expressing yourself is the foundation of the country.

  • KintheNorthwest

    I am so tired of America bending over backswards protecting the rights of everyone else but White Christians.
    Enough said

    • Brendy

      I agree ONE BILLION percent with you, KintheNorthwest! There are ALL kinds of protections, rights, provisions made for gays, lesbians, Jewish, Hindu, Budda, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, athiests, Africans, Indians (the country) communists, illegal immigrants (they have more rights than American citizens). Anyone who is Christian, Caucasion and hetrosexual are viewed as freaks of nature and therefore deserve no rights. Just wait – one day, these people will be gnashing their teeth.

      • Ferd Berfle

        illegal immigrants (they have more rights than American citizens).

        The native Americans agree with you whole-heartedly. They alllowed white christians into this country, much to their eternal chagrin. It all depends on your frame of reference.

        • Galt

          Hey Ferd! Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate, respect to you if you protest. I’m doing a half protest this year, protesting the carnivore end of things and going vegetarian. Its a Galt thing. Maybe next year I will join the indigenous peoples in protest, as I have before. That is a Galt thing as well. :shock:

          • Ferd Berfle

            Happy Thanksgiving, Galt. Good luck with the vegetarian thing-I’m also trying to eat less meat but am having a difficult time with it.

            Katmoon and I normally celebrate Thanksgiving by inviting people over who don’t have family nearby. This year, however, since her son is in Iraq, we are celebrating alone in a somewhat non-traditional way.

        • Brendy

          Fred Berfle: We’re talking about LAWS now. Back then, there were NO immigration laws. Today, THERE ARE laws and it’s getting TOTALLY out of hand. If YOU want to support these millions of illegals and their millions of kids with YOUR tax dollars – go right ahead, I don’t want to! You want to pay their hospital/medical bills? Just call all those hospitals in Texas and California that had to go bankrupt because of the free help they HAD to give to illegals (you don’t think WE end up paying for it? HA!!)

          Yes, the American Indians got a bum rap! So, why doesn’t this stupid government help THEM out and deport all of the ‘current’ illegal aliens! The American Indians ARE the first Americans AND they speak English! I think it’s SINFUL the way our gov’t treats the Indians yet bends over backwards to help the lying/cheating/stealing/forging illegal aliens who break our CURRENT immigration laws (along with lying, cheating and stealing – another set a laws, altogether) who sneak into our country. Hope YOU never get your ID/Social security number stolen – it ain’t fun!!!

          • Ferd Berfle

            If YOU want to support these millions of illegals and their millions of kids with YOUR tax dollars – go right ahead, I don’t want to!

            I said nothing of the kind and you know it. I do think, however that statements to the effect that Christians are being deprived of their rights is way overboard. It all depends on your frame of reference, as I stated before.

            • Brendy

              I do think, however that statements to the effect that Christians are being deprived of their rights is way overboard. It all depends on your frame of reference, as I stated before.

              **

              Oh, really? How come – for as long as our country was founded, Christians were free to speak of their faith on the streets without them being sued by someone who was ‘offended’, SAY PRAYER IN SCHOOL, display the Ten Commandments in public buildings – can we do THAT now? Prayer is no longer ‘accepted’ in school; schools have to get ‘permission’ from the courts to say a prayer at graduation (lest someone complain – oh my!!!) and some places have to go to court in order to keep the Ten Commandments plaque/sign/whatever displayed on their lawns. Uh, YES – Christians’ rights ARE being deprived, slowly but surely.

          • Katmoon

            Speaking as a “first” American, an Abenaki, I have to mention, my first language was not English, it was french, then English was taught alongside latin. The tribes all have different dialects and languages, English being the most recent, which in turn dilluted much of the native stories and history, as most were told in oral tradition, often there were no english words to translate to.
            You can keep your government help, we all recall still how well they helped, and what they helped themselves to. Imagine in order to be what culture you are, the government has to quantify your legitimacy; wow. The deal is this, in each native culture, they are unique to themselves; many have christian/catholic ties, and not all depictions were of bad mixing between the groups. Our history, my family goes back 600 documented years on this continent, when the missionaries came, to where my grandfather was, it was a mutual set of life and death circumstances for both groups; which in order to survive , had to befriend one another, as well as french coeur du bois’s; we don’t have the bad history from the “black robe” (jesuits), as some tribes did. We did not suffer from the disease being brought and we were not starved out( as many central tribes were, the two greatest causes of death were, disease and starvation).

            The tribes in the states bordering both sides north and south of our country, bled over into the places we call certain states; Spanish was the first language of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to name a few, that was part of the indigenous language.

            I think we need a baseline common language recognized in our country for ease in elections, court, and school, I also feel our children must be taught a second language, to be on equal footing with the rest of the world, it will not harm them, it will only cause them to grow.
            Finally, I am polytheistic, and can welcome many “foods” to my banquet of spirituality. I embrace what works from each faith, taking a page from Joseph Campbell, in understanding all faith has much more in common, than it does differences. I require both female and male representation in my worship; Jesus has remained at the top of the list for a wonderful representation of great spirit for me; so when I act, toward others, even if I feel they do not have a right, I was taught always to act and speak as if I was always in the presence of great mother and father, they would witness how I treat my fellow human being and animals, and earth. People, need food, and medicine, and care, and consideration, if I can offer it I will, I will not allow it to be taken from me, therefore I do not perpetuate a circumstance, my own ancestors came from. Being denied common humanity; the rest is political, and people are being used on both sides of any border, by their government as bargaining tools, no longer human, simply agendas, being furthered by fear based bias.

        • lark

          I think illegal immigrants today have the right to violate any and all laws (mostly) and then send back to the country of origin when they get confronted by law enforcement. Citizens get arrested, go to jail, pay a fine, fulfill probation and deal with the crime record for the rest of their lives. So there are differences.

          • Brendy

            Thank you, lark. What you said is absolutely correct.

          • Ferd Berfle

            We don’t need to be filling our already overcrowded prisons with people looking for work. The real problem is American companies that hire these illegals. If there were no jobs for the illegals, most would not come.

            Instead of invading countries that never attacked us and instead of deconstructing the Constitution with such chicanery as the Patriot Act, we should seal the borders. And I’m not taking here about some half-ass, hastily thrown up chickenwire fence or some silly-ass virtual fence–I mean a real barrier to crossing. Would it be expensive? Yes. Would Americans be willing to pay for it? I don’t know.

            The next step is to heavily fine any company hiring illegals and making corporate officials and/or owners do hard time in a real prison making actual little rocks out of actual large rocks. Perhaps making an example out of a few lawbreakers would go a long way towards stopping this nonsense. Would Americans go for this? Probably not since white collar crime is not considered serious enough to warrant actual punishment.

            Of course we would then have to find Americans to do the work the illegals currently do. I don’t know about anyone on this thread but I walked beans in Nebraska during college for extra money and it was not easy work.

            A final note. Although the paternal side of my family has been in this country for over 300 years, I am still the son of immigrants.

      • okasha skatsi

        Right. That’s why California just prohibited marriage for heterosexuals.

  • Sassy

    Humorous piece, as well as true.
    I am amazed at the things people get bent out of shape over…there are enough real problems in our culture.
    I do tend to sign my cards “Happy Holidays”, just to play it safe with acquaintances, but close friends and family get the real deal. Merry Christmas!
    My birthday is July 29th…so hands off that one…and I do accept gifts! LOL!

    • ScottVA

      LOL I think “bent out of shape” is an understatement…. I WILL NOT change the way I do things because of a bunch of left wing liberal nut jobs trying to be PC! I’m not religious at all but I have no issue, whatsoever, with the way things have been done here for 2 Centuries now! It’s amazing how so many want to forget history just because they don’t llke the way it panned out in the USA! OH, and hands off Santa liberals! LOL HAPPY THANKSGIVING and MERRY CHRISTMAS! :-)

    • bert

      I think that the use of ‘happy holdidays,’ did not start because of religion, as O’Reilly would want you to believe. It is that there are two (2) holidays close together – Christmas and New Years. So to save time and space on cards, and instaead of writing out Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, some folk took to saying Happy Holidays. It is innocuous. Or SHOULD be. Let each person decide how they want to say it. It is the spirit behind the words – Love and Peace.

  • Steve_in_KC

    Entertaining piece, Sara! And I agree it’s pretty silly to keep children from dressing up to celebrate holidays, provided some common-sense care is taken that other cultures or races are not portrayed in negative ways.

    Not to argue the point, but I am one who prefers Happy Holidays as a general greeting for the simple reason that it is all-inclusive. So many different religious Holy-Days coincide this time of year. It is, in fact, the holiday season in general. Christianity is not the only religion observed in America, and many people who enjoy our holiday traditions aren’t exactly religious, and if they are not religious, they aren’t Christians either. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Happy Holidays motif in general, especially in business.

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      I like it all! And if someone says Merry Christmas, you can reply happy holidays, or Happy Hanakuh or Kwanza, or Happy New Year, or whatever. To me, it is about the warmth of the season, and the good cheer and the twinkly lights, and carols, and eggnog. I love Christmas time! It is a time of good cheer! I usually say, in cards, *Happy Holly Days!*

      Last april I was visiting my dad in the SF bay area. My stepmom said to the nurse at the plastic surgeon’s office (we were picking up her friend who had some work done) “do you have any plans for the weekend?” and the nurse replied, “I’m jewish, i don’t celebrate Easter!” all nasty like. And my stepmom said “I just asked if you had any weekend plans.” (which she phrased that way, as not to assume everyone celebrated Easter. The lady was so rude I wanted to smack her. hahaha And all my stepmom was doing was making chit chat as we waited for our friend.

  • Brendy

    Sen. Reid wants to LEGALIZE millions MORE of illegal aliens. In addition to not worrying about AMERICANS and our ability to get jobs, etc. – he’s more concerned with legalizing illegals so they can LEGALLY keep their low paying jobs (and LOWER other wages for Americans – and SUCK our welfare system dry, OUR tax dollars).

    The ‘new’ citizens will also join the mix of ‘complaining’ people who criticize our AMERICAN holidays and want ‘fair’ treatment with ‘their’ holidays/beliefs/cultures. This has GOT to stop!!

    If you’re concerned about our country, OUR traditions and our future, please click on (or type in) the below link and sign the petition and PASS ON to EVERYONE you know:

    http://www.numbersusa.com/news?ID=10767

    • Rico

      Yes, we must stop fair treatment.

      • Brendy

        Rico – I guess your idea of ‘fair treatment’ is to legalize criminal, foreign lawbreakers who enter our country ILLEGALLY, and steal ID’s, forge (STEAL, LIE) documents, take/lower job wages from American CITZENS? If so, then I hope you get the ‘fair’ treatment that YOU deserve – by the influx of ‘new’ legalized citizens, they will CONTINUE to accept low wages and maybe – just maybe – YOUR employer may decide he can hire a ‘new’ citizen at a much lower rate and FIRE you!

        • Strawberrybitch

          Oh shut it Brendy. Why not go after the bastards who hire the illegal aliens? They are the ones who are in fact encouraging the illegal immigration in the first place. Ya see, no jobs means no money which means no illegal immigration. Besides you’re telling me you lost your job picking fruit or cleaning hotel rooms to an illegal immigrant?

          • Brendy

            Strawberrybitch – your name is very fitting. First of all, those ‘bastards’ who encourage illegal immigration file lawsuits as do the illegals themselves for ‘discrimination’, so there’s no way these ‘bastards’ can be stopped. I guess you don’t read the reports were Americans’ job wages have been stagnant for years – I wonder why? And who said anything about illegals only ‘picking fruit’ or ‘cleaning hotel rooms’? They are in ALL positions – from the lowest paid to executive positions.

            BTW, you are NOT funny. I read stories all the time where business owners – esp. in the building trade – are closed down because illegals who work for competitors work so cheaply that the businesses had to close down,thus laying off their AMERICAN workers. Oh well, I guess as long as the illegals don’t affect YOU personally you could care less. Well, actually THEY do affect you and everyone in this country – but that’s a different story and I’m sure you wouldn’t understand.

            • andySF

              So tell me again who the Original American were? Remember who almost wiped out the native American and took all of their land and pretty much everything else? Would you call those illegal immigrants? I would think they fit the bill.

              The illegals you are talking about used to own California and Nevada, Arizona, etc, until the United States instigated the war and force them to sell half of their country. So get off your high horses. The same congress person who hired those illegals sounded just like you.

              • Brendy

                The illegals you are talking about used to own California and Nevada, Arizona, etc, until the United States instigated the war and force them to sell half of their country

                **
                And who may those illegals be that ‘I’m talking about’? They come from all over the world – Kenya (Obama’s aunt is here illegally), India, Canada, Guatemala. Did ALL of these illegals ‘used to own California, Nevada..’? You must be talking about Mexico; you sound like one p*ssed off Hispanic who holds a grudge against the USA.

                Usually, one follows laws AFTER they’re enacted/established (except for illegal aliens and American criminals). Back in the day, when the American Indians “were almost wiped out”, I don’t recollect there being immigration laws.

                YOU get off YOUR high horse; I’m an American citizen who expects the rule of law to be followed – I follow them; why should illegal foreigners be given a pass? I drive with a license – many illegals don’t; they just do it! They also live 2-3+ families in a house/apt. It’s a violation of the law if AMERICANS do it!

                “The same congress person who hired those illegals sounded just like you.” What in the world does THAT mean? You make no sense!

                Since you’re pro-illegal immigration, you don’t need to get all riled up or respond to my posts because since Obama was elected president – and has the illegal alien aunt living here (probably along with many other relatives), he’ll grant them all amnesty.

                • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

                  My take on the undocumented workers: If I knew that I could send my kids to school, get healthcare, and get a job, and earn WAY more then I could in my own country, I would be running across highways in the middle of the night, too. I don’t fault the undocs from Mexico at all. The majority are doing what they can to survive and care for their families. Unlike many Americans, they don’t have a problem with moving to find work or care for their family.

                  Most Mexicans that I have ever met are very loving warm people. A friend of my brothers was making $200 a month in Cabo and has a wife and kid.

                  I have also had discussions with employers down in the south who say that they can’t find ANY workers besides Mexicans. One builder I talked to said he would love to hire Americans, but they never show up for the job announcements. He was down in Louisiana. He pays $12/hr. He also said that they work harder, show up on time and don’t complain. He said he would LOVE to hire legals, because he is scared about getting in trouble, but they never show up.

                  People also say that *illegals* take the 12 million jobs that no one wants. So, my take is we need to stop welfare then. If no one wants those jobs, then we don’t need to pay welfare/unemployement.

                  Also, many say that the low wages keep food costs down – so if people don’t want low waged undocs picking fruit, then food will cost higher.

                  I don’t think it is productive to be angry at undocumented workers. Many are just trying to care for their families. And they are allowed healthcare and schools, and they get hired.

                  They aren’t the problem. And, like I said, if they are *taking* 12 M jobs, we either need to fill those jobs with americans, and get people off welfare/unemployment (even if they have to move) – 12M is a lot of jobs! And if people don’t accept a job from one of these 12M, then…no financial assistance.

                  and send those back to Mexico/wherever (if they are undoc.)and don’t have jobs. OR we need to create some laws that give them partial residencey/work visas or something, and get them paying taxes and contributing to the schools and roads, etc. – and get them insured and driving legally.

                  But we can’t dangle the carrot and expect them to not take it. *They* aren’t the problem. (yes, obvioulsy there are bad people who come across our borders, but having lived in SD, and worked with many, they just want work, and they are good people).

                  • Idiocracy08

                    I don’t want people to suffer anywhere. And if they can find a better life else where, I would say go! But I couldn’t imagine me sneaking into another country illegally, and sometimes take my kids illegally. Then demanding rights and higer wages and for them to speak my language.

                    There are also people who come here while they are pregnant or come here to get pregnant and have their kids here. I can understand that, I don’t knock em for it. But they run the risk of being deported themselves.

                    I’m have an inner struggle with it. There is so much that Mexico can and does offer. I wish the people would demand their rights there and build up the communities there. Not for my sake, but for the sake of their future and their kids future.

                • andySF

                  Who told you that I am Hispanic? You are knocking on all immigrants and “new” citizens in general.

                  I never said that I was for illegals. I am just stating the facts of oppression by the same white christian you said were being oppressed today.

                  As Sara said below, that the illegals are taking jobs that aren’t pay well and hard labor that nobody wants. Its not like they get high paying jobs. When they use false SS to work, they pay taxes that sustain social security(which they can’t claim). They can’t file tax for a refund either. It actually help revenue for the government.

                  The immigrant had always been the scapegoat in every economic downturn. What people fail to see is that during economic booms, they will exploit immigrant to sustain their life style. But they will turn around to put the blame on immigrant when economy turn south. It’s the immigrant’s fault if American charge their credit card to the limit and paid 21% interest to live a life style they can’t afford. It’s the immigrant’s fault if people rather live on welfare instead of work. Everything are the immigrant’s fault. Had it ever cross your mind that this same immigrant spend to keep this economy going and kept some of the job that may be shifted oversea here?

                  Being an immigrant who serve in the US military, I had not use one dime of welfare all my life. Can every native born American say the same?

                  I love the USA, why else you think I am here and served in it’s military? The only difference between me and you is that I am not close minded like you are. For this country to remain great, people need to stop the blaming game and look hard at themselves. They need to be achievers instead of whiners. With every opportunity of education and language advantage, unskilled low wage immigrant worker is nothing to fear.

              • workingclass artist

                The oldest skeletal remains est. 10,000 + years old found in Conn. were those of a European ( who is the spittin image of Patrick Stewart of Star Trek Fame ) and was found with clovis point indicative of those we now call the French…Folks are still sqaubbling over him and the Native Americans don’t want further research done on him…

                • Ferd Berfle

                  There is also the Kennewick man, in the Tri-Cities area in Washington State, where the Columbia, Yakima, and Snake rivers meet. His remains do not appear to be of native extraction.

                  They have also found the remains of a red-headed people in Mongolia.

                  Early humans got a round, so it would seem.

                  • Ferd Berfle

                    That should read, “got around”.

                    • workingclass artist

                      Yes indeed Ferd….Those pesky Europeans just refused to stay landlocked. There is an interesting British site where you can trace migrations of names at least to Elizabethan times…
                      The simple truth is that Empires being what they are spread. Some Revisionists would like to rewrite history to favor a current political ideology. Recently a prominant
                      Atheist gave a large donation to Catholic Schools in NYC. His reasoning?
                      That although he was an Atheist…He felt grateful as a Worldly citizen for the contributions ( Universities ) that the RCC had made over the centuries to Western Civilization and wanted to express it…I guess it’s all based on your perspective…The Romans were Brutal as most empires are and yet We still have sewers and roads…chuckle…Some Purists prefer Grass Huts….
                      BTW…BBC had a story on Muslims and Christians uniting in Oxford because the city wants to abolish Christian references in Christmas…Which is middle english for Christmass…which used to be Michaelmass ( St. Michael )
                      Strange bedfellows indeed….

                    • Ferd Berfle

                      The Europeans were quite the explorers, indeed.

                      Christian references in Christmas…Which is middle english for Christmass…which used to be Michaelmass ( St. Michael )

                      The word Easter comes from the Celtic Ostara, a time for spring worship. Nothing gets doen in a vacuum.

                      Another instersting historical note is that the Moslems weren’t always a bad lot. They did maintain a lot of early Western thought for the ages. And Moorish Spain was not too disagreeable to the Celts and Jews among them.

                    • workingclass artist

                      Agreed…Although the Iberians might have had a few quibbles now and then with the Moors…And so did more than a few Popes…chuckle…The Crusades continue….

                • andySF

                  The origin of the Native American had always been a debate. We are all descendant of African, at least I think. That’s why I have problem with the term African American applied only to black people (foolish PC). Human had been every corner of the world and it’s not surprising the remain of our ancestors were found around the world.

                  I am just trying to remind Brendy of the historic facts. This is a country of immigrants build by immigrants, slaves, indenture servants, poor white farmers, immigrant labors. For her to bash immigrant and “new”citizen in general is just unsettling for me.

                  I had never said I support illegal immigration. I am just pros on top of the cons of illegal immigrant. I hate to see illegal immigrant get citizenship at the cost of legal immigrant who obey the law personally. It’s also funny that I was just called a Obot.

            • Ferd Berfle

              First of all, those ‘bastards’ who encourage illegal immigration file lawsuits as do the illegals themselves for ‘discrimination’, so there’s no way these ‘bastards’ can be stopped.

              So why are you bitching, then? You’ve already said it couldn’t be stopped so that is the end of it. Either you’re just whining or you’re a troll. Which is it?

              The answer isn’t with the illegals–it’s with us. We can seal the borders and fine and jail the CEOs or like you, continue to tilt at irrelevant windmills.

    • NomNomNom

      feliz navidad

  • Rico

    Almost nobody cares if you say Christmas. It’s a fake issue. I say Christmas most of the time, but then I also say “holiday” if I’m uncertain about the other person’s faith tradition. When I lived in New Jersey, for instance, about 1/3 of the local populatino was Jewish, so I hedged a little.

    It’s all fine, but it seems like there is now a war on “holiday”, as if that word is somehow offensive.

    I don’t work in the stores, but I do work for a retailer. We advise our employees to say whatever they think is appropriate to the customer at hand. Most of the time “Christmas” is appropriate, but we know that “holiday” is appropriate almost ALL of the time. It give you a greater chance of hitting the mark.

    We’re okay if our employees say either. We’re also okay with them saying Happy Channuka or whatever.

  • bert

    All I can say is that I am glad I no longer teach.

    I taught 1st grade. And yes, we celebrated Thanksgiving by dressing up as people who celebrated the first Thanksgiving: Pilgrims and Indians. It was a culmination of five weeks of history and geography lessons about American Indians and Pilgrims. We studied four different Indian tribes, yesterday and today, and we studied how and why the Pilgrims came to America. This was a precursor to Christmas Around the World and to American governemnt.

    The kids loved it all. How sad for our children that so called adults can ruin both learning and fun. Sad day in America, the land of the free.

    • beebop

      and the home of the Atlanta brave?

      • bert

        Right beebop

  • hootnannie

    Great article! Of course, the thanks being given was to God, so…BAN THE NAME!
    These people who complain about every imagined slight to non-European ethnics are, IMO, the most bigoted, racist folks around. Some whites are leery of even uttering the word “black” for fear that someone will think the very word is offensive. HUH?! That’s what African-Americans established as a better term when “Negro” or “colored” was in common, polite usage. And so every reference to blacks or Native Americans or Latinos is dangerous to someone’s sensibilites? There was certainly nothing demeaning in the representations of “Indians” by these little children. Much of the Pilgrim attire appears to have also had a younster’s hand in the making. Besides, the natives had the upper hand in the Thanksgiving deal, didn’t they? They showed the ignorant Europeans how to survive. I told my husband if this is objectionable, then so should be any dance where the man leads or the women are obliged to wear different, glamorous attire while men just don the same old tux.
    I’m a hillbilly who lives in a region where we quite often make fun of ourselves with people dressed in tattered, slouch hats and droopy overalls, smoking a corncob pipe and chugging from a jug of moonshine. But since our culture is of European origin, maybe the PC police will leave us alone.

  • POdVet

    Sometimes I think rather than trying to be so PC, it may be easier to be equally obnoxious to everyone. So how about we give the far right and far left loons a gift, and start a new holiday. A day we go out of our way to offend everyone who doesn’t agree with everything exactly as we do. Which is naturally everyone in the world. We could even start customs for this new holiday…you walk into a crowd and just start pissing on everyone. Now I know this might be a little unfair to women, having difficulty getting a properly aimed stream and all, so they can use special squirt guns that will keep the piss warm for them.

    Oh well…piss on it. Piss on you, piss on them and everyone else, oh and have a pissy ass night!

  • JozefAL

    Um, AmericanGirl, I usually enjoy your posts, but you’ve made a grievous error about Native costuming. Yes, the pictures you offered in your “defense” show Native Americans with feathers, but those don’t necessarily reflect an accurate picture of the Wampanoag tribes that lived in the region when the English landed. According to http://www.pokanoket.org/index_files/AncientLodgeofSachems.htm (the site represents the current Pokanoket tribe), feathers are reserved for certain tribal members, not for all members.
    Other Native tribes had different traditions but by the time that the image of the Native American became a part of “pop culture”, the widespread variations had become blended into a single identity. (About the only real common bond among all the tribes was the “Three Sisters”–corn, beans and squash.) To a degree, the Native Americans were as varied in their habits and practices as the Europeans. They spoke different languages, although many had common historic bonds (English and Spanish, while wildly different, share many similarities as both have roots in Latin but no one would think of lumping them together as being the same people).
    The main problem is that most of these little Thanksgiving school “pageants” (or whatever they may be called) is they’re based NOT on historical accuracy but decades of pop culture brainwashing.
    Incidentally, most historians note that standard Puritan attire was NOT “black and white” as we’ve all been “taught”. Real Puritans dressed in what we would think of as “conservative” colors. Yes, there was black but there was also dark blue, brown, gray, even dark green. (Even dark red–such as a dark crimson or burgundy–was acceptable, although the color was generally viewed as more acceptable for women. Women also favored lighter shades of blue, even as light as sky blue, but on the whole, light shades were typically reserved for children and young adults. As one grew older, one–whether male or female–tended to dress in darker colors.)
    Just because it’s “traditional” doesn’t mean we should have to keep instilling lies in children’s heads about the first Thanksgiving.
    Also, I’d point out that waaaay too many of our current right-wingers seem to hold the “Pilgrims” and T’giving in too high a regard with this country’s history and heritage. The English had been in this country for well over a decade before the “Pilgrims” landed at Plymouth. The Mayflower travellers were headed for Virginia when a storm put them off course–a fact that is routinely overlooked or ignored in teaching about Thanksgiving. The history of the “Pilgrims” is also ignored–such as their hostility to people who didn’t practice their stringent form of religion (they were so strict that they rejected the stern Calvinism they found in Holland, to which they’d emigrated a decade before the famous Mayflower voyage; the Church of England viewed the Puritans as extremists). The very term “Pilgrim” is a misnomer; it implies a sense of nobility that they didn’t deserve. They were Puritans, who sought to “purify” the Church of its excesses. They opposed the rigid hierarchy and ceremonies of the Church (not simply the Roman Church, but the Church of England–which the Puritans saw as no less evil than the very “whore of Babylon”, the Pope); they even saw the celebration of Christmas as a blasphemy (which led to Puritan-dominated colonies banning the holiday, an ironic point which Bill O’Reilly seems to miss in his annual battle on the “War Against Christmas”). Why would they want to be known as “Pilgrims”? Because they wanted to establish a “New Jerusalem”, a land that was ruled by God through His “elect”, and anyone who chose not to follow the Law would be punished according to Biblical dictates. (If that reminds you of a certain group of people living halfway ’round the world, I accept full responsibility for causing that connection.)
    The real problem is that far too many people want to maintain these “traditional” Thanksgiving programs while ignoring the “dark side” of the day, especially when it leads to some continued demeaning cultural stereotypes while heaping praise on people who truly didn’t deserve it. (Remember, the “Pilgrims” would have died without the help from the Native Americans. Their own contribution to the first Thanksgiving feast came only from the help that the Natives had provided over the previous year in teaching methods of hunting game and farming that differed from their homeland.)

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      Sorry, but I don’t think it was a grievous error. I am not saying that the photos I linked to are exact replicas of what Indians wore 400 years ago. We don’t have photos from that time. The only images I have seen of Indians and pilgrims are paintings, that depict them with loin cloths and feathers. My point was that it didn’t seem to be stereotyping of Indians to show them in leather and feathers, when most of the photos and museum artifacts I have seen, and the ones I linked to, are of just that. (also, if we are going to go after the five year olds then we should probably go after hollywood, and every book and painting ever created depicting images of Thanksgiving, and Indians.)

      The five year olds created their costumes and yes, the indians looked as cartoonish as the pilgrims. And I said that the real story should be taught. But these kids had already created their costumes and were excited to wear them, and they ended up in the middle of a PC war. And as you said, the pilgrim costumes aren’t accurate either.

      And I believe I said, “And, if we remove the Indians, then what are the Pilgrims celebrating, since they couldn’t have survived without Squanto, who taught them to grow corn and fish, and the Wampanoag Indians?”

      You said – “The real problem is that far too many people want to maintain these “traditional” Thanksgiving programs while ignoring the “dark side” of the day.”
      And I understand it can be difficult when one group wants to maintain their honored traditions that another group finds despicable – as I said in another comment – like the traditional whale hunts.

      I dont think that teachers, when teaching little children about Thanksgiving, and how the indians taught the pilgrims to farm, and survive, and at the end, they shared a big feast, is lying. We learned about the real version in middle or high school. Not kindergarten.

      You said – “leads to some continued demeaning cultural stereotypes while heaping praise on people who truly didn’t deserve it”
      What is the demeaning stereotype of five year olds dressing up like pilgrims and indians? Are kids not allowed to dress up as indians for Halloween? You said only certain tribal members wear feathers – so that must mean that some do?

      Heaping praise on people who didn’t truly deserve it? When I celebrate Thanksgiving we give thanks. And we reflect on our history, the good and the bad.

      So, as my post said, if people want to ban Thanksgiving, why stop there?

      • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

        The two sites that I checked on for Wampanoag Indians both have images of Indians in loin clothes and feathers.

        http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com/

        http://www.wampanoagtribe.net/Pages/index

        And this one talks about the Indians at the time.
        http://www.bigorrin.org/wampanoag_kids.htm

        “The Wampanoags didn’t wear long headdresses like the Sioux. Usually they wore a beaded headband with a feather or two in it. A Wampanoag chief might wear a headdress made of feathers pointing straight up from a headband. Wampanoag women had long hair, but a man would often wore his hair in the Mohawk style or shave his head completely except for a scalplock (one long lock of hair on top of his head.) Wampanoag warriors also painted their faces, and sometimes decorated their bodies with tribal tattoos.

        Today, some Wampanoag people still have a traditional headband or moccasins, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths… and they only wear feathers in their hair on special occasions like a dance.”

        So, I guess I don’t know why all the fuss over the depiction of Indians, wrt the costumes from the first Thanksgiving.

      • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

        I updated the image and links, so I don’t have the wrong Indian tribes represented.

      • bert

        Well said, sarainitaly

  • Cubs in 09

    …a handful of parents complained that the Native American headdresses and vests were demeaning, cartoonish stereotypes…

    What did they expect? He’s a five-year-old not a professional costume designer.

    BTW… Read the original diaries of the Pilgrims not books by revisionist historians.

  • karen for Clinton 2012

    Happy Groundhog’s Day!!!!!

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      Hmmm. that might be considered cruelty to animals. If the groundhog sees his shadow he gets scared. He might develop panic attacks and night sweats. Better get rid of that one too. ;O)

      Happy Thanksgiving!

    • bert

      And it is also a slight to chipmunks. I am appalled.

  • marley

    Dressing up in school as a pilgrim was one of my clearest memories. It was cool.

    As for the “real” story, the founders were not just cold murderers & bad meanies. Our current values should not be pushed on people who lived 400 years ago.

    First, the colonies were not homonogous (sp). Some treated Indians well and some did not. Same for the Indians. Read about King Philip’s War. It is quite fascinating. It will likely give you a different perspective.

    Plymouth:

    According to William Bradford, the pilgrims “stole” buried corn when they landed because they were starving. They ran into the Indians the next year and paid them back.

    They generally got along and it was good for a long while. Thanksgiving WAS A GOOD PERIOD IN HISTORY despite what followed several decades later.

    No land transactions with Indians unless approved by the courts. (Yes, I know the Indians did not have the same idea of property ownership- but they did like having copper and later guns. They were not enslaved- they agreed to the exchanges.)

    Two English/Americans tried and hung for killing two Indians.

    ARGH! I have no memory of making fun of the Indians or the Pilgrims. That school memory was great and now it is being replaced by just a TURKEY?? I do not even think they served turkey then.

    LET THE KIDS FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES AND ABOUT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS-IT IS OK. Plus, it is just fun to dress up.

  • marley

    OK- the Mayflower carried 1/2 Puritans and half “Strangers.” The Strangers were English people who did NOT share the Puritan beliefs- yet they sailed and helped to finance the trip.

    The Puritans AND the Strangers all agreed to be ruled in a Civil Body Politic. ALL men signed before leaving the ship and before agreeing to anchor and abandon Virginia- even those who were not Freemen.

    Below is WHY what happened back then was so special. Below is the innovative framework for our current United States.

    “In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620.”

    By the way, women property owners could vote in Plymouth. Further, their survival was not just based on the contribution of farming by the Indians.

    Under William Bradford, the Pilgrims abandoned Socialism (community farming and store) that destroyed Jamestown. Unlike Jamestown, the Pilgrims and Strangers were labor and trade while Jamestown had mostly gentry. Bradford thought communial living was not productive and it led to land waste. He was right.

    • Cubs in 09

      I know this is way later than the posts, but I must correct something. The Pilgrims were not the Puritans. The Puritans came much later and were of a different mindset. It’s too late, and I’m too tired to go upstairs and get my history books so that I can add details, but I know that the two groups were different.

      • bert

        The Boston and Plymouth colonies were distinct political and religious entities (at least until the English government combined them in the late 1680′s) and, while relations between them were generally friendly, members of both groups were crystal clear on the differences between them.

        “Puritans” wanted to remain as part of the English establishment, working for biblical reform from within. Even as they emigrated to New England, they affirmed their “Englishness” and saw the main purpose of their new colony as being that of a biblical witness, a “city on a hill” which would set an example of biblical righteousness in church and state for Old England and the entire world to see. As deeply committed covenant theologians, they emphasized especially strongly the corporate righteousness of their entire community before God.

        “Pilgrims” wanted to achieve “reformation without tarrying,” even if it meant separating from their church and their nation. While they continued to think of themselves as English, their emphasis was on their new political identity and spiritual identity. Because of their passionate commitment to the necessity of reformation immediate and without compromise, they emphasized especially strongly individual righteousness before God.

        From this web site:

        http://www.puritansermons.com/banner/logan1.htm

  • marley

    I do like your article American Girl. :) Really good writing, story and topic.

    However, I am curious about “Pilgrims committed atrocities against them.”

    I am not sure what atrocities the “Pilgrims” did. As far as I know, the Pilgrims killed one Indian from a waring tribe of the Pilgrim’s Indian friends after a failed ambush. The PIlgrims also executed two white people for killing one or two Indians in a robbery) They lived together decades and decades and those in Plymouth AVOIDED the skirmishes that other colonies got into with other Indian factions. (except for King Philip’s War)

    (These different tribes also were fighting each other)

    I think that the history of the Pilgrims and Plymouth are getting mushed into 400 years of other history.

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

      I made an edit. You are right. It wasn’t a good sentace. I was trying to say that the *white man* commited atrocities against the Indians. I read so many different accounts of Thanksgiving yesterday, and the history around it, that it was getting muddled together. Thanks!

  • marley

    (Sorry for the rants- I am hopped up- I do get the point of the story and it is excellent)

    SAVE THANKSGIVING

    Also, the Pilgrims were extremely unique in that they separated Church from State. While they did not celebrate Christmas because it is not in the Bible, the did not rule people by God’s laws. They kept government separate from God. This is also one of the great ideals adopted by the Framers.

  • imustprotest

    I teach kindergarten. We just learned about the pilgrims and native americans and yes we dressed up in costumes (like those above) and had our feast. It was a lot of work. The kids loved it and it gave them a very basic framework of the history, which is what they’re supposed to get……I am tired from all of the work so no one better dare try and tell me that I shouldn’t have done it!! Got it!?!

  • Sammie

    In truth, the Pilgrim costumes aren’t historically correct either, and the foods they served over three days of feasting probably didn’t look much like our standard holiday meal. I believe goose, seal, eel, venison and various other birds (such as gasp … eagles) were served.

    My kids love history, and we’ve read some really good books such as the Scholastic If You Lived When Series that have proven to be real eye openers (much of what the average person believes about various times in our history is incorrect, and living conditions were often much tougher than we could ever imagine …. I think more than half of the Mayflower passengers died, both while on board and during the first winter). Sometimes the truth is very harsh, such as the very fact that the Pilgrims found unoccupied land because the native people living in that area had been decimated by diseases carried a few year earlier on trading ships.

    We still celebrate Thanksgiving though, although I can understand why some native Americans may choose not to, or may be offended by terms (which I don’t think they use in schools anymore) such as Squanto the “friendly” Indian. I try to make sure my children are informed and respectful of people of different backgrounds and cultures without instilling a hatred for this country or our customs.

    History is full of tragedies, unfairness, wars and oppression. I don’t support sanitizing history, but also believe it is unhealthy to teach a generation of children that this country sucks and that all of our traditions should be abandoned (many other countries share the burden of oppressing others too, and history is filled with oppressors and the oppressed, and with elites who pit oppressed groups against each other).

    Granted we as a country should do more to alleviate the poverty stricken conditions of some native Americans (such as those living on reservations in the Dakota area), but I’m not sure if taking paper costumes out of Kindergarten classes will really accomplish anything (other than taking the fun out of learning). I do believe that although the costumes may look like those many of us wore growing up, the curriculum has changed, and the students are truly provided with a more balanced interpretation of the first Thanksgiving (of course some of the balance needs to factor in age appropriateness, as there is only so much information a Kindergartener can process).

    I know that my ancestors didn’t come to this country intending to oppress anyone, most if not all of them were essentially subsistence farmers or peasants, and they came here to avoid early deaths and starvation. They had no opportunities and no formal education, and didn’t have the capacity to understand that their opportunities might be coming at the expense of others.

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

      i am so on board with your commment!

  • Ashy1

    I think the administrator at that school should have petitioned the parents of those children who were participating in this little play to see how THEY felt about it. I’m guessing they thought it was just fine. The administrator should have displayed a little backbone rather than cave in and spoil the enjoyment of the majority of those (children and parents) involved over the complaints of a highly vocal minority? For the parents that didn’t approve, their children need not have participated. This is political correctness taken to the point of absurdity.

  • okasha skatsi

    That “picture of Massassoit” shows a man of the Plains nations, regardless of whose name they slapped on the damn statue. Its the full-out stereotype modelled on the cinematic versions of the “Sioux.”

    Continuing to insist that this represents all Native Americans is ridiculous. It’s the equivalent of showing a Scot in kilt and Balmoral and calling it an accurate portrayal of an Italian because they’re both European.

  • http://www.wewillnotbesilenced2008.com OBAMA IS A FRAUD

    Are you people REALLY arguing about this crap? OMG. Well, it’s the decline of civilization. Little kids are trying to have an innocent childhood, which they deserve, and everyone’s arguing about this nonsense. People, there are things called history classes, which is where this BS belongs. Not when little babies are dressing up and enjoying a holiday. God forbid this is happening to us. When I grew up, I never had to go to school and be told how to be gay, how to use a condom, how to enjoy “fisting,” how to abort a live baby, etc. I guess the lefties think that once you’re out of the womb you should be programmed with their very disturbed left wing agenda. The bottom line is no one here has one damned bit of business telling people what they should teach their own children. Fraudbama will make sure Christmas is long gone soon too. Before you call me hyperbolic, look at the title of this thread and the fact that it was started over a bunch of little kids dressing like Pilgrims. I actually am thrilled the wing nuts are pulling this crap. Once and for all people with values will stand up and tell them to stop indoctrinating their kids with this crap.

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

      did you read my post?

  • Ani

    President’s Day – This is controversial. What about people who don’t like certain presidents? Should they be included in this day? This is also a sexist holiday, since all Presidents are men. I think it needs to go.

    AGII — great post!! Particularly the above — I’m ready to start a-protestin’!!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    • http://americanpumainitaly.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

      Thanks Ani – back at ya! :OD

      Happy Thanksgiving!

    • http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Basic-Parenting-Styles&id=744499 Northwest rain

      Ah gee — President’s day — Ani!! Thanks.

      It is the celebration of the rule of the penis — you said it differently, but right now I prefer the stark truth.

      Many very chauvinistic countries have had female leaders — Pakistan, India, Israel, etc. Yet the US continues to celebrate Prez day — male rule — no matter how inept and clueless — gotta have a male on the throne, ah whatever.

      • andrew191

        “Celebration of the rule of the penis”??????
        Up thread you called me “strange” and “racist pig”. Look in a mirror.

        The more you post, the more it is apparent that YOU have some serious issues with paranoia and feelings of persecution and inadequacy.

        Sarah Palin is a fine example of how it is possible to rise above such self indulgent pity parties and reflexive resentment, and I deeply amire her for not bawling about the unfairness of it all.

  • C.S.

    Our only “pure” holidays created by the USA are Thanksgiving, Fourth of July and the two holidays for Presidents Washington and Lincoln (no longer celebrated). The rest are an amalgamation of holidays brought from immigrants’ native countries and “Americanized”and that includes everything from Christmas trees to candles to Santa Clause.

    Memorial Day comes from a tradition that began from a community gathering to take care of the cemeteries in the spring before it ever became an official holiday. The church congregation or community, would gather and work all day and end it with a “pot luck” dinner.

    Most people know that Halloween was a pagan holiday but few realize that Christmas is celebrated on December 25 because the Christian religion could not stop the pagan party that took place on the Winter Solstice so they tried to wipe it out by moving Christ’s birthday and celebrating it.

    Certainly didn’t work, though, because the winter parties are still going on today. Some very religious people see every holiday as an invasion of their religious doctrine while most of us, just like our European ancestors, see holidays as a day off from the grind to have some much needed fun in our lives. The spirit of Thanksgiving is still worth a day of reflection, to reassess our lives and come together with friends and family to say “I care”. So call it what you will, but don’t take it away from us in this drab new existence we now find ourselves living in. As we’ve recently learned from the Japanese work ethic: All work and no play makes Jack and Jill a dead employee; to update that old proverb.