One of my neighbors in the next town over was trying to recruit volunteers to help out at the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth on Thanksgiving.
From his posting:
“Since 1970, Native Americans and our supporters have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US thanksgiving holiday. Many Native Americans do not celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims and other European settlers. Thanksgiving day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience.”
The guy’s white, in his sixties and lives in a 600K house.
What’s wrong with these people? They’re never happy unless they’re raining on someone else’s parade. Sure bad things were done to the Indians, but it was hundreds of years ago and none of us had anything to do with it. Conquering and displacing others has happened throughout history. It may not be right, but it’s the way the world works.
If he really wanted to signal his commitment to the cause, he could start by selling his house and donating it to the native peoples to make up of the theft of Native lands.
Happily, no ones seems to have volunteered to help him on his mission. Unhappily, given past history, it’s more likely that people didn’t want to give up their Thanksgiving instead of people thinking the guy is just crazy.
