On this day, I reflect on two things: One, all that I have that I am grateful for - my life, my health, my family, my friends, a safe place to live, food on the table, the lights that stay on, the running water, the warmth in winter. Two, all the tragic things my ancestors and the ancestors of others who came here from Europe did to take this land from those who lived here hundreds of years ago.
I have begun to see this time of year in a new way. I grew up with cute pictures of turkeys and "settlers" stuck up on the classroom walls when I was a child. I didn't know any better than that. Now, I reflect on the great loss endured by the indigenous people who inhabited this continent hundreds of years ago, misnamed after a different continent (that being India). I am embarrassed that It has taken all this time for me to finally start to ask, what can I do to even begin to right this wrong? There are likely many options. My challenge is to find a balance between what might be needed and my capacity to contribute. A balance between maintaining a day for expressions of gratitude for abundance, and a day (or a month) to atone for what was done.
I have begun to see this time of year in a new way. I grew up with cute pictures of turkeys and "settlers" stuck up on the classroom walls when I was a child. I didn't know any better than that. Now, I reflect on the great loss endured by the indigenous people who inhabited this continent hundreds of years ago, misnamed after a different continent (that being India). I am embarrassed that It has taken all this time for me to finally start to ask, what can I do to even begin to right this wrong? There are likely many options. My challenge is to find a balance between what might be needed and my capacity to contribute. A balance between maintaining a day for expressions of gratitude for abundance, and a day (or a month) to atone for what was done.
 |  |  |
RSS Feed