[kj] ot - giving thanks
gathering@misera.net
gathering@misera.net
Fri, 28 Nov 2003 10:43:45 +0100
Very interesting=2E
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Od=3A fluw =3Cfluwdot=40earthlink=2Enet=3E
Datum=3A p=E1tek=2C 28=2E listopadu 2003 v 2=3A44 dop
P=F8edm=ECt=3A =5Bkj=5D ot - giving thanks
=3E The first official Thanksgiving wasn=27t a =
=3E festive gathering of Indians
=3E and Pilgrims=2C but rather a celebration of =
=3E the massacre of 700 Pequot
=3E men=2C women and children=2C an anthropologist =
=3E says=2E Due to age and illness
=3E his voice cracks as he talks about the =
=3E holiday=2C but William B=2E Newell=2C
=3E 84=2C talks with force as he discusses =
=3E Thanksgiving=2E Newell=2C a Penobscot=2C
=3E has degrees from two universities=2C and was =
=3E the former chairman of the
=3E anthropology department at the University of =
=3E Connecticut=2E
=3E =22Thanksgiving Day was first officially =
=3E proclaimed by the Governor of the
=3E Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637 to =
=3E commemorate the massacre of 700 men=2C =
=3E women and children who were celebrating =
=3E their annual green corn
=3E dance-Thanksgiving Day to them-in their own =
=3E house=2C=22 Newell said=2E
=3E =
=3E =22Gathered in this place of meeting they were =
=3E attacked by mercenaries and
=3E Dutch and English=2E The Indians were ordered =
=3E from the building and as
=3E they came forth they were shot down=2E The =
=3E rest were burned alive in the
=3E building=2C=22 he said=2E
=3E =
=3E Newell based his research on studies of =
=3E Holland Documents and the 13
=3E volume Colonial Documentary History=2C both =
=3E thick sets of letters and
=3E reports from colonial officials to their =
=3E superiors and the king in
=3E England=2C and the private papers of Sir =
=3E William Johnson=2C British Indian
=3E agent for the New York colony for 30 years =
=3E in the mid-1600s=2E
=3E =
=3E =22My research is authentic because it is =
=3E documentary=2C=22 Newell said=2E =22You
=3E can=27t get anything more accurate than that =
=3E because it is first hand=2E It
=3E is not hearsay=2E=22
=3E =
=3E Newell said the next 100 Thanksgivings =
=3E commemorated the killing of the
=3E Indians at what is now Groton=2C Ct=2E =5Bhome of =
=3E a nuclear submarine base=5D
=3E rather than a celebration with them=2E He said =
=3E the image of Indians and
=3E Pilgrims sitting around a large table to =
=3E celebrate Thanksgiving Day was
=3E =22fictitious=22 although Indians did share food =
=3E with the first settlers=2E =
=3E =
=3E -------------
=3E as W makes a stop in iraq today=2C it is good =
=3E to see the tradition is reaching new horizons