Progressive Democrat Issue 53: THOUGHTS

Last year I wrote a special note regarding Thanksgiving. I want to continue and extend that tradition. First off, it has to be admitted that Thanksgiving is an ambiguous holiday when viewed objectively. As I noted last year, I’ve always liked Thanksgiving because it is such a food-oriented holiday. But there is more to Thanksgiving than just stuffing yourself to the gills until your pants burst.

Thanksgiving, like Columbus Day, has two basic messages. The first, and most commonly recognized, meaning is a celebration of key events that led to our nation’s founding. We celebrate those who made our life today possible. Many of us have particular reason to celebrate these holidays because without the founding of the United States, our families would not exist. I come from a family whose roots go back to Jewish communities in Germany and Lativia. We came to the United States early in the 1900’s, escaping one of many waves of anti-Jewish attacks in Europe. We came to the US and succeeded. Those of my family who remained in Germany or Latvia would almost certainly not have survived World War II. German and Latvian Jews were largely exterminated in the Holocaust. So in a very real way, I owe my life to the events celebrated (in almost mythical form) on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving. Without these events, the United States may never have been founded and my family may have had no place to go and we would have been exterminated. These holidays represent the opportunity given many of our families to find better, safer lives apart from the Old World prejudices.

But there is another side to the events celebrated on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving. For those descended from slaves or from Native Americans, these days represent the beginning and continuation of one of the most horrible series of events in World History. The spread and elaboration of slavery and the decimation of the Native American populations were also outcomes of the events celebrated on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving. These holidays represent BOTH the opportunities offered many of our families to survive and better our conditions, AND the horrors of slavery and genocide. We cannot deny either side of these holidays. Both sides are factual and are important.

It is right and proper for any nation to celebrate its foundation myths, and it is particularly appropriate to celebrate the opportunities offered to us by America at its best. But I also want to acknowledge what was lost when our American culture was founded and spread. In this light I simply want to point people’s attention to a few ways to help the surviving Native Americans should you find that this makes your Thanksgiving even more special. I will mention the American Indian College Fund, which provides scholarships to American Indian students and helps Tribal Colleges. Education is part of the secret of my family’s success. Can we give the same kind of opportunity to those whose homes and rights were lost when this nation was founded? If you think we can, please donate to the American Indian College Fund.

I want to also mention the Native Energy Wind Farm project, which addresses alternative energy and Native American economies at the same time. They help build wind power generation projects in areas ideal for wind power and in many cases these projects are Native American-owned and operated. This project is a way to energy independence for America, to create new jobs right here in America (rather than in Saudi Arabia) and to create a solid economy in the Native American nations that co-exist within the borders of the United States.

Finally, I want to emphasize political rights for Native Americans. Education, economy and political power are what Native Americans need to survive. I cover education and economy above (as I did a year ago). For political power I want to introduce you to a brand new project started to help Native Americans who run for office as Democrats. This project is the Indigenous Democratic Network. From their website:

The Indigenous Democratic Network is the only grassroots political organization devoted to recruiting and electing Native American candidates and mobilizing the Indian Vote throughout America on behalf of those candidates. We are dedicated to making a unified Indian voice heard at the local, state and national levels by helping Indians build and run effective campaign organizations and to win elected offices across America.

In order to do so, we will be supporting a select group of Indian candidates for state and local offices across this land in 2006. This will be the first step in training a new generation of Indian leaders at the national level. The Indigenous Democratic Network identifies Democratic Indian candidates running for state and local office and recommends them to our members. INDN’s List will also keep members informed of political events and news headlines via, newsletters, e-mail alerts, direct mail, and our website.

In addition, as a member you will receive invitations to meet with other members, candidates and office-holders across the country. Your membership is what you make it. See “How to Help.”

Helping the Indigenous Democratic Network helps both the political power of Native Americans, AND helps the Democratic Party. Here is their website.

So if you want to celebrate our founding myths AND want to show your appreciation for the cultures we replaced/absorbed, donations to these groups may be a good addition to your Thanksgiving traditions. I urge you to give a little bit to one of these groups this year and every year from now on at Thanksgiving. That way your Thanksgiving celebration can celebrate BOTH the founding of the nation that has given most of us new opportunities AND the cultures that were hurt most by that process.