Comments on: The Lies History Tells Part 1: Happy Thanksgiving?

By: Men in Black 2

Men in Black 2 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:37:14 +0000

Thanks from sweden for this post

By: Ashley Edem

Ashley Edem — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:34:33 +0000

It’s definitely going to be a great event with the kickoff

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:12:35 +0000

Carrie Thanks for your comment. History is a difficult story to tell sometimes. But the truth should always be told. I appreciate you bringing your truth to the byp website.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:05:03 +0000

Hey Jonathan … thanks for your post about “Thanksgiving”.

I have only been aware of the ‘truth’ behind this fabricated festive occasion for a few short years … probably about ten.

It has taken many years for these truths to become public knowledge … even amongst indigenous peoples themselves. The barbaric reserve system, the allotment system, the indian removal act, the residential / boarding school system, etc etc, have all contributed to the hidden histories of the many nations who peopled this land before the Europeans.

Another not-so-well-known story of “Thanksgiving” has to do with good ol’ Abe Lincoln … the great emancipator! In 1863, on Dec 26, Lincoln issued the execution of 38 Santee Sioux men … who’s ‘crime’ only crime was … well, because of starvation, they were said to have raided white settler farms for food, eggs, etc, and some were even found to be killing deer … off their reservation land … without permission, which of course, was an illegal act.

Lincoln and his cronies had swindled the Sioux to sign a treaty, selling off over 1 million acres of land, for about $1.4 million, and monthly rations of food … but the money never made it to their hands … nor did the food … until it was too rotten for even the white settlers to purchase.

The original number of men to be hanged was 303, but Lincoln thought that a hanging this large would be sure to attract the unwanted attention of the Europeans, and they might then join forces against him in his war against the South.

My interest in this, besides wanting to better understand history of the Americas / world history … now that I am older / middle-aged … is that I am also trying to piece my own family history together …

I am of mixed heritage … Bearfoot Onondaga / Mohawk of the Six Nations Confederacy of the Grand River – Haudenosaunee – Onkwehonwe on my mother’s side and her mother’s side, both matrilineally and patrilineally … and British on my father’s side, and mother’s father’s side.

By: tamara

tamara — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:02:38 +0000

i’ve always found it funny that a country that is so entrenched in Christian ideals of gratitude and work ethic find it necessary to push this idea of thankfulness on one single day. it should be something that is as ingrained in the minds of children psyches as…the pledge. i too am excited about the series. an old saying goes: until the lion has a historian of his own, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.

thank you for telling the story of the hunted. too often we take history as it is told to us. memorizing “facts” rather than analyzing and criticizing it. if any subject needs a critical eye, it is history.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:25:52 +0000

Thank you brandon. I believe we all do need to take a more active role in making sure the aggressor is not allowed to monopolize the history books.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:11:45 +0000

We all have to be diligent in learning accurate accounts of history. We must all keep in mind that history-(his)story is always shaped by the person who tells the story–and whether we hear it from the perspective of the aggressor or the just and humane is up to who we bend our ear to.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:07:59 +0000

This looks like a great blog jonathan. I look forward to reading more of it.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:47:24 +0000

Summer: You had me cracking up on the Lauryn Hill allusion. Thanks I really do appreciate it.

Johnae: I love your comparison of history to sex. I know you also have a passion of fighting against these half truths that fill our world in all the wrong ways. Thank you for your thoughts.

By: Johnae Strong

Johnae Strong — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:42:33 +0000

This is a great post! As we come to learn, at one point or another, history is written by those who “win” more specifically those wielding the greater power and influence. Thus, we have our diluted half-truths. I remember how greatly heart broken I was when I discovered the true story of Pocohontas! All I could think of was my canopy bed i used to have as a child with her face on it & my poorly but painstakingly put together native american costume with my two pigtails! With this anecdote, I mean to convey the disillusionment that you spoke of and I felt. While it is said “if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all” I think our “valiant” history writers ammended it to say “…don’t say anything at all OR even better MAKE UP SOMETHING NICE” This will not suffice; although I do not advocate introducing children to brutal details, I do believe in honesty at any age. History is comparable to sex: if you are miseducated you will make miseducated decisions (in this case statements/arguments/judgments as well). Keep shining the light Jonathan!!!