Native Americans have no reason to give thanks for Thanksgiving, I will agree.
Our (all of us) treatment of the Native Americans was unpardonable and still is
today.  It does no good to say I have never personally ill-treated a Native
American, just as it does no good to say that I have never ill-treated Blacks or
any other groups that have received ill-treatment.  The societal structures that
exist and the advantages I have always enjoyed are there, to a large degree,
because of what has happened in the past and who it has happened to.  You cannot
cut yourself off from all of history and say that none of it has anything to do
with you.  It is all connected and we are all connected.

That said, I see Thanksgiving as an opportunity to give thanks and have gratitude
to God.  I will not waste time focusing on the bad that has been done, but rather,
focus on what good things I can do now as a response to the overflowing generosity
and love of God.  What can I do now to help those Native Americans who have
managed to survive? (Besides encouraging gambling, that is)  Let's accept our dark
side, what has been done, and shift from arguments of what we did or did not do,
to arguments of what should be done NOW and be thankful that we CAN make a
difference if we so desire.
--

        Tom Hula
        Victor S. Barnes Company
        616.361.7351  x173