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Thursday, November 28, 2013

The Take on the Story

Happy 4th Thursday of Novenber 
and to Americans, Happy Thanksgiving.
Yesterday I drove to Bozeman to be with my family.

What is your take on the Thanksgiving story?  Here are the facts I just
looked up. The first Thanksgiving was ordered by the Pilgrim church to
give thanks because they had survived the gruesome winter.

William Bradford, who had been chosen leader, designed a communal
farming system, where everyone worked and had an equal share in
the land and the food. But it didn't work. Some people, knowing they
would receive their share if they worked or not, became lazy and put
a burden on those who did work. It just simply failed and they
almost starved.

Then Bradford divided up the land and gave each person their own
piece of land so they might farm for only their family and do with it
as they wished. Ahhh, privatized farming. Huge success. Each person
took pride in ownership and no one was lazy if they wanted to eat.

 July 20, 1623, a 2nd Thanksgiving took place but this time it
was to celebrate and give thanks for their abundant prosperity.

That story certainly brings a message at this particular time.

43 comments:

  1. Interesting. I get the message, Manzanita, but I don't think that private is always perfect. You know what I mean, right?
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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    Replies
    1. Julia
      I also get your message. I don't think there is anything that is always perfect. Perfection is illusive. One day we think we have come close to it and the next day it's out the window.
      Thanks for commenting

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    2. I agree, Manzanita.
      Well, I wrote that because I was thinking of big corporations like Monsanto.

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  2. My husband just retold this same exact story at dinner last night...of course he was tying it to a political discussion (please don't get him started) but it was cool to hear the story. :) Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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    1. Rosey
      I didn't know it either. I had to look it up or rather it popped out at me when I was reading. I guess we better listen to your husband. He knows. Hope you are having a beautiful family celebration today.

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    2. We did have a really wonderful day. :) I'm not telling my husband you said any such thing. :) hehe

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  3. Sure private they would eat better and many around them would too that they sell to. But lazy is the way across every bay

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    1. Pat
      Yes, every country that has tried socialism has failed. It didnt even work with the Pilgrims. Where's the incentive wthout personal ownership?

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  4. Dear Manzanita,

    Your story reminds me of something sort of similar in Britain. You can get a small portion of land, at a minimal cost, to grow sustenance to share. Allotments is the name.

    And may the hungry be thought of on Thanksgiving Day and everyday. Wishing you a peaceful American Thanksgiving, dear friend.

    Gary :)

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    Replies
    1. Gary
      I believe they have something like that here too. In fact there is one huge garden where I walk cody and each person has their own spot. They have some beautiful produce in the summer.
      Thank you for the good wishes.

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    2. They have similar gardens here too in many major cities. They're called Community Gardens and you grow whatever you like in your plot, you can share or trade what you grow, but you don't have to. If you're growing to feed your own family you keep everything you grow if that's what you choose to do. some people grow vegetables, some have a fruit tree or two, others grow flowers or herbs.

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  5. Hope you're having a happy time with your family. Living as I do in the Uk, this was very interesting to me.y daughter was asking me what it meant only the other day. Don't knew if you knew that the Pilgrim FAthers set sail for America from the Mayflowr Steps on the historic Barbican here in Plymouth!

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    1. Thisisme
      You know, I join in with my family on this Holiday but I had really forgotten the details of the whole purpose behind it. I'm ashamed to say that, me especially, who really loves history. So I was reading about it again and there was more detail then I recall from school books. It's so good to refresh one's history every once in a while. Now you are telling me something I never knew before too. Thank you Diane. It's fun to learn the new things.... especially the things I should know. Haha

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  6. I guess you really DO learn something new every day!!

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    1. Fishducky
      OMG... I really do. And things that I thought I knew or learned in school books are all wrong. It's a little test for my brain to keep learning. LOL

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  7. lol. i didn't know that! but then again i am not american so it is to be expected :D but yeah, you want food you have to work for it. seems quite fair.

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    1. George
      Of course, how would you know? I know very little about world history and I'm still reading about the American presidents. I don't know when I'll get to world history while on my quest. Haha You are very wise. Thanks for commenting.

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  8. I saw a political cartoon about that just yesterday. I had to chuckle--because humanity is the same, no matter the age, eh? ;)

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    1. Crystal
      How right you are. It takes much time to keep abreast of everything. I often fall short. Enjoy your holiday.

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  9. Happy Thanksgiving, Manzanita.Blessings and Bear hugs, too!

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    1. Thanks Rob-Bear and I know you are snug and happy in your new digs under the winter skies.

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  10. Replies
    1. Holy
      It's been tried again and again and always failed because we are dealing with human feelings and one can certainly be greed.

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving! the rich will never let it happen

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    1. John
      Hope you are having a great thanksgiving with lots of yummy left-overs for the weekend.

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  12. Great story. Thank you for sharing. And I hope you had a wonderful day:)

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    1. Robin
      Thanks and yes, it's always a great time when I can be with my family. Have fun all weekend, eating all the good left-overs.

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  13. Great story; I had no idea about the first thanksgiving with the communal farm. I'd always thought those early settlers had their own farms. It's a much better idea, if you do the work, you eat.

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    1. River
      I'm sure most of the school books were written with future socialism in mind and that is why the info in the kids books usually stops with the communal farming.
      Have a great weekend.

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  14. Also I think the Pumpkin Pie was only brought to the second Thanksgiving, maybe at the first one they were like "man wish we had some dessert!"

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    1. Poke
      Hahaha Good one. Yeah, there could be a whole conversation over that. ....... so another person said, but what would we have?" Another pilgrim joins in and says, "I have a fall pumpkin left and I could have made a pie."
      "Yeah," said the first one, "Remember that for our next feast."

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  15. Interesting story behind! Hope you had a very heart-warming Thanksgiving day with your family!

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    1. Zara
      We had a wonderful time and I didn't have to cook. LOL I stayed 3 days but had to get home because I lefft the cat. I put out dry food for her but I usually feed her my own mixture that I grind and freeze. She was excited to get her yummy food that I prepare for her. On the drive, I play a CD of Jeannet MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and since no one can hear me, I sing my little heart out. Haha

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  16. Not just a story, but the truth. You work, you eat. You work, your kids can learn to work.
    If you don't work, then the gov't will feed you. Then feed your kids...
    Thank you for presenting a true event as it happened.

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    Replies
    1. Susan
      A good example was Thursday at my son's. He has a group of highly intelligent, self-made people as his friends.They all enjoyed the bountiful table of food. Some mighty scintillating
      conversation, too.

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  17. Private may not be perfect but communal life will NEVER work because human beings are not perfect. There will always be slack asses who will leech off others. Just a sad fact of life.

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    1. Al
      I know it and you know it but why do all these young people want socialism? Do they not know what it is and they just think it would be fun to have a change? Or has Daddy been so rich that they do not have a clue that they won't be able to afford bikini waxes anymore?

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    2. I think they haven't been made to suffer for it which will make them appreciate it. Good grief, I'm not advocating another Depression or world war, but...yeesh.

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  18. I have heard that the whole Pilgrim-Native Americans eating together story is false. They did not sit together. In fact several years later, the Wampanoag were slaughtered in war. Here's a website about the Wampanoag side of the story:

    http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/11/22/wampanoag-side-first-thanksgiving-story-64076

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    1. Kay
      There could be a little truth in both or no truth in either. I don't believe anything from history that has been written in school books. They tell the kids what they want them to believe. In fact, I don't believe there is much truth in anything any more. Especially news from main stream media or as it comes out of Washington. I don't bother to listen to TV news at all. A complete waste of time.
      Thank you for pointing that out.

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  19. Hi Manzanita - still holds true today .. some people are lazy .. and those that realise that hard work, sharing, joining in and giving to others makes for a happier easier life ...

    I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving with your family - cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary
      Thank you and yes I did have a lovely holiday. I went to Bozeman and stayed with my son for several days. They built a new house that is spacious and modern, with a huge kitchen that is just made for cooking for company. All my kids are such better cooks than I am, so I just stay out of the way.

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  20. In my slowness to catch up after the Thanksgiving holiday, I can't believe I almost missed this one. I love you for 'redistributing' this story. I also love to tell people the truth about history. So often the traditional story lacks truth and you know what happens when we don't really know our history.
    BTW, my chi baby is awesome! He is quickly becoming such a love of my life. I used to think chihuahua owners were just over the top. I had one as a really little kid and didn't remember it being so special. Now I am one of those over the top chi people!

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