History and race.

[RICHARD]

Yesterday I saw a segment on the local news about a protest that some Amerinds were lodging against two schools in Claremont, CA.

There are two elementary schools involved-Condit and Mountain View.

The reason for the protest?

The kindergarteners contruct pilgrim hats, indian headbands and vests for an activity that involves visiting the host school-I don't know how that is determined, it may alternate each year- for a program and some kind of party.

The parents walk with the children and everyone puts on a hat, headband or a vest-Some of the effort put into the 'costumes' was really cool and creative.

The tradition has gone on for almost 40 years!

Now people are protesting the event, on woman even wrote a letter to the district saying that it was akin to celebrating slavery and the problems between the Germans and people of Jewish descent during WWII.

I found a link to a story in a local fish wrapper.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_1107...ce=most_viewed

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Everytime I see a story like this I laugh and roll my eyes so much I probably have the worlds's strongest optic nerves.

Now, I don't mind a good protest, demonstration or march for a good TIMELY topic or problem.

My whole pain in the brain is the fact that people protest things that happened frigging centuries ago!

Here's the deal-What was the wrong stereotype about the Indians and the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving?

Yeah, there were problems with the Spainards and the locals, the settlers and locals, But didn't the Indians-Where have you gone, Squanto?-save the settlers by showing them how to plant corn-remember the dead fish trick?

IF anything it's something to celebrate. It's probably one of the few times that people have actually worked together to help each other out.

I refuse to even take anyone seriously when they pull out some kind of "History done done us wrong!" arguements.

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One of the common BS ideas that I hear here in Cah Lee Fuh Nee Ah is the Mexican arguement about the Southwest being part of Mexico and the work being done and the stupidity taught in high schools, colleges and universities that someday the Mexicans will rise up and take what their g-fathers lost during war or sold to the U.S.

Morons-I turned a cheek-yes THAT CHEEK- towards all these skeezy ideas and groups that advocate some kind of uprising and 'taking back what is ours(theirs)' attitudes.

There are other groups that are looking towards some kind of reparation for things-like slavery and human right violations that while have not been forgotten- are still being dredged up by people who really think that people living in the 21st century have to pay for. If there is a payment it should be at the standards set or the value of currency at the time these problems exsisted.

I am all for people being able to live freely and participate in the wonderful country we have today.....But I sour on the stupidity and the thoughtlessness that these morons who protest small children gathering to celebrate a date in our history where people were actually getting along....

Chime in, this should be interesting!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

My problem is I have two native American ansertors and one who was a Puritan who was kidnapped by Indians. I don't know who to be offended for!

[Husky_mom]

I really can´t say about native americans stuff... but either way it all happened long time ago...

what I can say about the southwest US once being part of Mexico... LOL.. no, we are not rising up.. LOL... yes, it was a dumb thing to "sell" that part of what was once part of Mexico.. but what´s done is done... besides we live at peace.. I mean we do depend on each other for certain things.. more us than you.. haha...so it´s not smart to rise up...

and it looks like not only mexicans but southamericans as well have taken that land already.. LOL :P... whenever I travel to El Paso, TX... I barely barely see/hear a US person.. many of them if not all are mexicans or latins that moved/work there ...

[lizbud]

I think Native Americans have a legitiment cripe with the way early
Ameican History has been portrayed in the U.S. History books. Most of
what is written about Native Americans is biased in favorite of White
settlers. But, protesting at a children's event is not a good idea & only
creates bad feelings.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Richard how could you put such a sweet pic of Eddie on your avatar and call him the face of evil? I'm sure it's just your imagination!!!

[RICHARD]

Richard how could you put such a sweet pic of Eddie on your avatar and call him the face of evil? I'm sure it's just your imagination!!!

Send my your address.

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Liz,

I didn't say that the Amerinds were given a fair shake as far as the history books goes-

My only point was to say that the first thanksgiving was a great story about people getting together - why should anyone have a problem with with the celebration that has a great teaching point and is a starting point for a tradition?

I am gonna get down and dirty for a second here, I mean no offense to any side of the arguement.

A bunch of white folks go camping with little or no preparation. They are looking to get away from some other dude that wants to tell them who god is.

They end up in a place where they have to struggle to survive and some locals come around and tell them how to get their shiat together. Everyone decides to have a pot luck They gather around the table, grab a bite. They have a good time, everyone watches the football games, passes out on the couch and the next day they think,

"That was fun, let's do it again next year!"

So why are a few pilgrims taking the heat for the other morons that followed?

I think that the 'movement' should come out with a with a little promotion that celebrates the holiday, maybe?

How's about-

"If it wasn't for the American Indian, you wouldn't be here today?"
or
"We helped you out once, How's about helping us get the story straight!"

Instead of being ticked off about the SITTING BULL HIGH SCHOOL WARRIORS or the Washington Redskins, let's soothe the pain! Ban all mention of the Amerinds in American History!

If the mention of native Americans in history is such a touchy subject, let's remove all mention of the shameful way that they were treated after the Pilgrim Buffet. Wounded Knee, the Trail of Tears, reservations and all the John Wayne movies.

We cannot allow such a shameful part of our history to made known.

So, we can forget all the help that the Pilgrims were given by the local indiges? Take all the mention of them out of the equation and we can 'write' history the way it should be done.

With more lies and stupid ideas.

If the organizers of the protest were intelligent and realized the important contribution their people made at that point in time, they would find a way to exploit the idea and the holiday in a way that would benefit everyone.