Thanks to Roxy Loves for the awesome PHOTO!For years PETA and like-minded freak outs have championed the cause of stopping the wholesale slaughter of turkeys on Thanksgiving. SNL even did a skit where a woman sings a song called "Basted in Blood". Being a sensitive, fair-minded conservative I have given these people a nod or two in the form of "I understand what they are thinking." They believe that turkeys are living breathing creatures with feelings and what not and must be protected. I believe that animals are living breathing creatures that taste good with gravy and stuffing. But I do understand their feelings on this score.But I'm not going to blog about Turkey's today, Today I want to talk about the Indians, no not the guys running the Kwik E Mart, the so called "Native Americans" that are all in a huff over there in California. Two elementary schools in Claremont California are trying to continue a 40-year tradition of dressing up as Pilgrims and Indians and having a Thanksgiving parade, and the Injuns don't like it one d*mn bit.I guess it started with one Indian mom (sorry ladies, but I can't help but notice that it is NEVER a man that has a problem, it's ALWAYS a woman - I don't know why, and I'm not saying anything on that score, it just seems to be the case - maybe men are just too d*mn lazy to get off their fat lazy asses and do something about the injustices in the world, ya, I'm sure that's it). Wow, I got off topic there, sorry.OK, so this one Indian mom got all concerned over this tradition where one elementary school would dress up as Pilgrims, and the other would dress up as Indians and then parade back and forth to each other's school and have a big feast. The costumes are all hand made out of paper and crayon, and yes there were many paper headbands with paper feathers sticking up in back. This woman bitched about it and the schools took immediate action by sending a letter to all the parents saying that the parades would continue but that wearing costumes was discouraged. God bless the parents that chose (in large numbers) to ignore this letter. Kids turned out in droves wearing their pilgrim hats and belt buckles, and Indian vests and head bands with the feathers.Now we're talking 5-year olds for the most part here, but yes there was a group of Indians out front with banners and signs with slogans these children could not read because, well, they just can't read yet. I tried like crazy to embed the video but seemed to be having a problem embedding CNN video, but just Google search "Claremont Costume Controversy" and you'll find it. I don't understand this at all. I really don't. The Indians were complaining that this is promoting a stereotype of Native Americans that just isn't true and is insulting to them and their culture.Would they prefer that the kids dress up in wrangler jeans and stumble around with half empty bottles of Wild Turkey Whiskey in their hands? Is that the culture they're trying to protect? Do they want them to dress up as cocktail waitress and black jack dealers with poker chips in their hands? Is that the heritage they're trying to protect? Don't these dumb mother f*ckers understand that the Indians as depicted in the Thanksgiving tradition is the best image they've got?I'm sure I don't know.We (the white man) could have been nicer to the Indians I guess. We could have tried to co-exist with them and help them maintain their culture and such, but we didn't. We drove them out and butchered and raped and introduced disease. We perverted their ways and shoved them into the worse parcels of lands in the U.S.A. I'm not going to apologize for that. I didn't do it. I had nothing to do with it. But white-guilt prevails. We are paying them reparations in the from of government subsidies. We apologize every chance we get. We even minted a coin and are going to mint lots and lots of other coins in their honor.Do we really have to give up the paper headband and feathers? Did the Native Americans wear suits and ties back then or did they weather animal hide for clothes with feathers on their head. I'm confused. Perhaps the Indians could also be a little thankful. I mean, we didn't wipe them out completely, which we easily could have done. They have the right to get married and vote. They can even run casinos in states where gambling is illegal for heaven's sake. We invented the Ford pick-up truck, the Remington Rifle and Whiskey which they seem to love like crazy. I think a little less piss'n and moan'n and little more gratitude is in order.I for one am going to keep the tradition of the Pilgrim-era Indian alive. The image of a primitive yet peaceful and industrious people, willing to share their land and their food and help out the poor out-of-their-element white man as they struggled to establish themselves in a foreign land. My family are going to continue to make paper headbands and feathers, and at dinner today, I'm going to personally thank the Native Americans for their hospitality that first Thanksgiving Day so many years ago.I expressed a lot of hate and hostility in this post which was offensive to some of you. For those of you who are offended, please try to understand it was to make a point. There is far too much hate and misunderstanding in this world. Today of all days we need to put that horsesh*t aside and be thankful for the things we have. We need to be grateful for the progress we've made towards being a more tolerant and enlightened people. We need to pray that we are able to continue at our own pace and ability along this journey in life to becoming better people.Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you.
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