Left-wing groups, including the mainstream media, have been increasing their attacks against Thanksgiving in recent years, with some accusing the holiday of commemorating violence and racism.
The feast that the Pilgrims held after they first arrived in America in 1620 is regarded as a significant event in the history of the country. It was also a time when the Native Americans and the Pilgrims were able to come together and enjoy the abundant resources that the country had to offer. Thanksgiving is a holiday that Americans observe each year to express their gratitude and appreciation for various blessings in their lives.
According to Fox News, far-left activists and commentators have been using the media to attack the concept of Thanksgiving. In 2018, for instance, activist Gyasi Ross claimed that instead of providing food, the settlers brought violence and genocide. In 2020, Jason Johnson, a guest on "Morning Joy," said that some people refer to Thanksgiving as "Colonizer Christmas."
In 2019, The New Yorker magazine published an article that claimed that Thanksgiving was linked to the segregation era and Jim Crow, even though these incidents happened hundreds of years after the holiday. The article also claimed that focusing on the endurance of white Pilgrims obscured the historical significance of African slavery.
Last year, "Grey's Anatomy" took a shot at Thanksgiving. In the show, a character stated that Thanksgiving isn't a holiday that people should celebrate. There has been no evidence indicating that the Native Americans were invited to a feast, and the character claimed that they cared more about their land being stolen than the mashed potatoes. However, there has been evidence of a peaceful gathering between the Natives and the Pilgrims.
According to Geoffrey Dickens, the Media Research Center's director of media analysis, the vitriolic attacks against Thanksgiving might be the result of Left-wing anti-Christian sentiment.
He noted that the holiday also has a religious component. It is important for Americans to express their gratitude for their blessings, such as being able to live in a free country. Unfortunately, the secular media doesn't typically discuss this aspect of the holiday.
According to Mel Kirkpatrick, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, there are outright lies being taught in public schools about Thanksgiving. She noted that elementary schools are actually teaching the holiday well. She said that the Native Americans were instrumental in the 1621 feast, and the Pilgrims might not have been able to survive without their help.
In high schools, however, the concept of Thanksgiving is often misrepresented. For instance, a student claimed that the holiday's roots can be traced back to the actions of English settlers, who killed the Native Americans during the settlement.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on AMERICAN GREATNESS.
