The thing that seems to make what Europeans did to native Americans so odious is that, for the most part, these were conquerors whose world was part of the Enlightenment. There was sound argument available to counter manifest destiny. It didn’t matter.

But Lincoln’s establishment of Thanksgiving was hardly hypocritical. He wanted Neuvo-Americans to take a day to celebrate what they actually had, regardless how they got it, and reflect on the idea that it might not necessarily have turned out that way.

It would have been interesting to see what Lincoln would have done in a second term with Indian policy. Not much, I imagine. The cultures simply didn’t have room to accomodate each other over the issue of property.

I’m currently reading THE DIVIDED GROUND by Alan Taylor, which chronicles what happend to the Six Nations of the Iroquois in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War. Very instructive.

But—I was born in 1954. I did not displace anyone to live where I do. I understand but reject any argument that I am in any way responsible for something that happened centuries ago. Which is why I neither celebrate nor mourn the so-called Pilgrim’s Landing. I won’t take credit for what they did, nor accept the blame. I think both practices are self-deluding and ultimately pointless.

But I like the day off.

I am vegetarian and passionate about animal welfare, so have a few reasons other than those you mention to be upset with the American Thanksgiving tradition - namely a ridiculous amount of turkeys being slaughtered for this day of overconsumption - but still I think it good there is one day a year when people are to be grateful.