What do the Native Americans think about Columbus day, Thanksgiving, etc.?

Question

Americans like to celebrate and honor a man who took a wrong turn,landed on the wrong beach,and slaughtered and enslaved many of its indiginous inhabatance.On the 1st day we had defeated the English after many bloody years of losing to them we declared a day of thanks thus the first Thanksgivings Day was born. We chose the pilgrams as a symbol of our forefathers, the natives as a symbol of the original place of origin and the food as a symbol of the times and season this occured yet we teach our children that the pilgrams were friendly to the natives and had a big pot luck together.The puritans were exciled from England and you could be sure that their ideals and views imposed on the natives met with a little resistance as well.What's wrong with telling the truth about thanksgiving and that columbus was a murderer and a halfassed sailor?Do you acknowledge these holidays?What Native history could you show us and how can we get it into our childrens schools?It should matter.

Answer 1

I think it does matter, but Amerindians are still discriminated against, children are being taught that George Custer was a hero, when he was a poor military strategist and a coward! And that "Indians" are murderers! In my opinion Crazy Horse should be celebrated as a hero! The books that are in the schools are full of misinformation, not just regarding the Natives, but a lot of the other history as well. But it is easier to sweep facts under the carpet than to make the changes that should be made. All the history books in the schools need to be evaluated and completely re-written.
As for Columbus day, hell, he did not even land in the country we call the United States! But I still sort of celebrate the day, but I refer to it as Amerindian appreciation day!
And as far as I am concerned the "Founding Fathers" are a joke! The founding fathers of this land were not white men!
One thing you must keep in mind is that most people do not even connect the events to the holidays The holidays are just another excuse to get out of school or off work for a day or 2, and to eat ones self silly! So it would not matter if changes were made to the history books or not. If you ask the average person to explain the reason for either of those holidays most would be at a loss.
Speaking to you as a person who proudly has Comanche blood flowing thru her veins.

Answer 2

Basic premise is flawed. "Native Americans" don't think anything, particularly, any more than white people all think something, or black people, Asians, whomever, all think alike.

Vocal NAs frequently express the sorts of generalizations you've lovingly repeated, but no Native American can speak for anyone other than himself.

However, as to the litany of falsehoods and misstatements you've made, it isn't worthy of a reply.

Answer 3

Still flunking history too, right?