Post by dracojesi on Jul 4, 2013 11:39:49 GMT -5
I will not be celebrating 4th of July; I will however be reflecting on how this event forever changed history. I do understand that many people see this as the celebration of their freedom or at least the coming into more freedom. However, it was the day that natives began to loose their freedoms in an official manner paving the way for stateist oppression of native peoples in what, through theft, continued to become the united states.
If the settlers had asked for help defending their will they would have had it but they had alienated themselves prior through their actions. Likewise thanksgiving is not a day of thanks for natives but a day of mourning. If there is any thanks it is that the traditions we have today have survived. That is something to be thankful for. That's what I tell people on thanksgiving. To honor the traditions of their people, to be a part of that because it may not be around tomorrow. For me, and many others that is the lesson of thanksgiving- but it is a dark place for us.
This isn't about failing to honor veterans either. I see veterans as being manipulated by their nation- and consequently natives are by ratio are more likely to serve than any other ethnicity according to statistics- though I wouldn't without good reason and as a last resort. Point being it's not about that- i'll celebrate memorial day- not by going to the race but by contemplating the paths of my ancestors- biological and of those groups that have become part of my journey.
I don't acknowledge all the customs though. I don't own an American flag an dI wont stand for the pledge. This is a personal choice- and it just does not feel right for me to do so.
Though i do think there is some danger in the 4th for everyone. It often creates a misguided sense national pride as if our country can do no wrong. It blinds us to the actual issues at hand and degrades us evermore into a nation of consumers.
If the settlers had asked for help defending their will they would have had it but they had alienated themselves prior through their actions. Likewise thanksgiving is not a day of thanks for natives but a day of mourning. If there is any thanks it is that the traditions we have today have survived. That is something to be thankful for. That's what I tell people on thanksgiving. To honor the traditions of their people, to be a part of that because it may not be around tomorrow. For me, and many others that is the lesson of thanksgiving- but it is a dark place for us.
This isn't about failing to honor veterans either. I see veterans as being manipulated by their nation- and consequently natives are by ratio are more likely to serve than any other ethnicity according to statistics- though I wouldn't without good reason and as a last resort. Point being it's not about that- i'll celebrate memorial day- not by going to the race but by contemplating the paths of my ancestors- biological and of those groups that have become part of my journey.
I don't acknowledge all the customs though. I don't own an American flag an dI wont stand for the pledge. This is a personal choice- and it just does not feel right for me to do so.
Though i do think there is some danger in the 4th for everyone. It often creates a misguided sense national pride as if our country can do no wrong. It blinds us to the actual issues at hand and degrades us evermore into a nation of consumers.
