by SkyHawk
It is T-day soon and it doesn't really mean much of a holiday event like in America over here in Euro. Kind of ironic in a way when I think about the Euro people making an exodus to the promised land and maybe, they might have brought the practice back with them from the New World. Maybe that was wishful thinking on my part cuz I'm gonna miss all those NFL games (Does SF 49ers and Miami count as a game?). The people over here in Euro seem to practice "thanksgiving day" by remembering the people who gave their lives in WWI and WWII--beginning of the month in Nov. That's Cool. Me, I remember lots of food while going from friends' homes and finally ending up at a church with a whole bunch of Indians and a "give-away" of tiny milky white free turkeys by White people to us poor needy Indians. And lots of beets. A year's supply of purple square cut beets. A lot of Skins today don't care for the Thanksgiving holiday. I can understand. A symbolic day of remembering the slaughter of millions of Indians which was to come is not too tasteful, enit?!?! -- But, I for one have usually had great memories of spending time with Indian friends and White people who meant well in their giving. Maybe, it might not seem like enough for making up for the terrible past of our Peoples and the White Europeans since the first T-day. But, memories of terrible purple square cut beets are also memories of friends, some who are gone now, who made me feel welcome at their tables. As time went by I spent many winters being asked to say a simple prayer for the meal offered by my friends. Always it was with dread that I went over and over in my mind, wondering what prayer I was going to offer up to the Creator for my friends on this day. A father's friend of a large family of his children and grand children and great grand children all gathered in a Chicago artist's loft with a grand spread of food and drink fit for a grand feast. And before I could speak a word the father stood up and asked if he could say a few words first. He thanked all for having come and for good health to share with his family. And he asked for my forgiveness for what had happened to all the Native Peoples of the past by his people. Everyone raised a glass and he gave a toast -- "TO FORGIVENESS." |
