Linda Chavez: Schools are distorting Thanksgiving: "In Maryland, the Capital News Service recently reported, 'students are free to thank anyone they want while learning about the 17th-century celebration of Thanksgiving -- as long as it isn't God.'
George Washington had no such qualms when he proclaimed the first day of thanksgiving in 1789: 'It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.' In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of 'Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.' In the midst of civil war, President Lincoln thought the day should be used to 'fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.' And even President George W. Bush soberly reminded guests who came to the White House last week to witness the mock pardoning of the 'First Turkey' that 'in this nation of many faiths, we ask that the Almighty God continue to bless us and to watch over us.'"
Read Lincoln's Address
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Speaking as someone that is partially Native American, the thought of thanking God for Thanksgiving offends me. The Native Americans never worshipped the Christian God, and thanking Him for the holiday forgets a very specific part of the first dinner.
Additionally, Ms. Chavez seems to have failed her history. The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 (you know, that thing with the whole Plymouth colony and Wampanonag Indians), celebrating the colonists arrival and peace between them and the tribes. I doubt the Wampanonag, who practiced ancestor and spirit worship, thanked God for the smallpox they carried back with them. There were several New England Thanksgivings after that.
The first National Thanksgiving was in 1777, scheduled by the Continental Congress to celebrate the defeat of General Saratoga. While God may be mentioned in Washington's proclaimation (for a one-time holiday of Thanksgiving) the celebration was for the implimentation of a new Constitution.
Thanksgiving as we know it began in 1863, and again while God may have been mentioned, it was a celebration of peace (pushed through government by one Mrs. Hale, who wanted to see peace throughout the Civil War). God is often used by the early government in a element of metaphor that shows the omnipotence of some subject. Even when not used in metaphor, we should remember that many Americans are not part of the Judeo/Christian institution that stole this country from the natives. We are multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-theological.
If that doesn't sell you as to why Thanksgiving has nothing to do with God, realize that for a time Thanksgiving fell on the third Thursday of every November is because FDR felt he could improve the economy if he gave retailers more time to prepare for the Christmas rush. Congress eventually moved it to the fourth Thursday because of an overwhelming outcry of Republicans calling for tradition (and partially centered around a certain sports schedule).
God and government don't mix. I'm getting pretty sick of the fact that so many individuals seem to want them to. It's a democracy, not a theocracy. You have to recognize the variety of religions (and lack thereof) that the citizens have and respect their beliefs, even if you don't hold them yourself.
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