Thanksgiving in 1987 is where it all started. It was my first year of school, and I was learning all about the world. There was no PC culture. It was straight up pilgrims and indians. It was all turkeys and feathers.
Once I was an adult I started to learn a bit more about what happened. It wasn't as simple as the indians helped the pilgrims celebrate with a harvest meal. There was alot more "reality" applied. I can't even imagine what it was actually like. I mean, once you start to think about how the english came in stealing and killing for no reason.
Now days that narrative is completely gone. Indians are now referred to as Native Americans or First Nation. There is no real talk about what actually happened, and the focus has been shifted to the meal and being thankful.
Thanksgiving in 1987 was the first time I was exposed to propaganda. When a long standing story was being pushed to children as facts. Now, looking back I can see it more clear. Think about the other holidays.
Christmas for me means to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Even though there isn't an exactly birth day, it is still a date that can be shared and agreed on. Along with Jesus there is the Christmas tree and the yule log and many other bits and bobs that were picked up along the way. Christmas in the 80's was a commercial extravaganza. There were bright lights and toys, and don't forget the shiny tinsel on the tree.
It wasn't until I was an adult that I learned what was really happening with Christmas. It was being adulterated and watered down for money. Not only Christmas, but what about Easter and Columbus day. The things we are taught seem to always come with strings attached.
We can see that the history books are always written by those that won the war, and it is only through families passing down their culture that we even see the other sides of a story.
It is our right to know what really happened if we are being taught something. It seems like history was written by Wikipedia, and anyone can edit and say anything.
If we focus on today and the information we have, we can still enjoy each and everyday. Sure the holidays may be different, and sure we are all older, but that shouldn't stop us from having a good time.
Let's remember a couple of things as we head into the holiday season.
First, we may not share the same beliefs or opinions as others, but that doesn't mean they everyone else is wrong. Let's show kindness and patience as others celebrate for whatever reason they choose, and not treat everyone else like they are ignorant.
Second. we are adults. We should be able to handle the first one.
Be well
~The Yeti
https://steemit.com/@freedompoint https://twitter.com/the_alpha_yeti
https://www.instagram.com/thealphayeti/
