Thanksgiving Stirs Debate On Origins And Meaning
Readings on Plymouth and 1621 reveal harsh early realities with Native Americans. Historians discuss Squanto, Bradford, and the harvest feast while noting later land pressure, forced resettlements, and how Lincoln and FDR shaped the holiday. Some see Thanksgiving as secular ceremony. others fear erasure of native tragedy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Plymouth Rock
Runans
Squanto
Runaas
England
Plymouth
William Bradford
Native Americans Observe Thanksgiving in Plymouth
Jerry W. Lewis, Potawatomi and diversity manager at South Suburban College, notes Native Americans in Plymouth, Massachusetts hold their own Thanksgiving observance. He recalls past police clashes, court scrutiny, and a settlement requiring two hours of peaceful observance and funding for local educational programs about Indigenous history. Native communities celebrate multiple thanksgivings and emphasize gratitude and unity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Plymouth
Mass
Jerry W. Lewis
South Suburan College
Governors State University
Lewis
Lincoln’s pardoned turkey and a changing Thanksgiving date
The tale recalls Tad Lincoln bonding with a live turkey named Jack and Lincoln issuing an official pardon in a cabinet moment. It notes President Roosevelt’s 1941 shift of Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday, enacted by Congress to lift national gloom and spur autumn morale.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
McClellan
George Washington
Lincoln
Hopper
Lincolns
Tad
Jack
Franklin Roosevelt
Congress
Roosevelt
Walt's Food stores back Project Share effort in Kraft program
Lagestee praises the community impact of Project Share as Walt's five stores donate via Kraft Foods Families Helping/Sharing with Families. Ten cents from Kraft purchases aid the effort, with last year yielding $25,000. Agencies include The Salvation Army Respond Now Worth Township Food Pantry and others.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lagestee
Walt’s
Project Share
Kraft Foods
Kraft
Walt’s Kraft Connection
Walt’s Connection
Tinley Park
Homewood
Crete
South Holland
Dyer
Ind
Salvation Army
Respond Now
Worth Township Food Pantry
Community Economic and Development Association
Bloom-Rich
Harvey
Robbins
FISH/Mokena Marley Frankfort
Hope Community Services
Jones Memorial Community Center
South Chicago
South Chicago Chamber of Commerce
Jerry Skafgaard
Walt
Sue Rosinski
MSP Promotions
Star and
Southtown
Starnewspapers.com
Dailysouthtown.com
Also Mentioned on This Page
Colin Hopper
U.S
Lincoln Way High School
Frankfort
Andrew High School
Michael Johnson
America
FDR
Joseph P. Meier
Emily Blankenburger
Chris Marchetti
21St Century Preparatory Center
Park Forest
Jeron Vernon
Danielle Ercole
Jeron
Danielle
Gabrielle M. Toth
Joldblatt
Srides
Ree Cosmetics & Ladies Handba
Onilys
Halsted ST
SUN
Dal
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