If you believe the pilgrim myths, then you learned that friendly natives taught the pilgrims how to farm and hunt. The myths tell us that the Native American went hunting on the feast day and brought back game to feed the pilgrims. In Virginia ,they tell a different Thanksgiving story. Captain John Smith wrote that he enjoyed a feast in one of Powhatan's villages. The feast lasted at least two weeks. The Indian town would eventually become the city of Hampton, Virginia. Historians never know when to believe Captain John Smith. His autobiography was colorful and improbable. The take away from both of these stories is that Americans owe a debt to the native tribes. In the 21st century, Native Americans are mostly forgotten. Federal bureaucrats infringe on tribal rights and privileges. Native people have the most poverty and are often victims of crime. They never died off like we learned in schools. There are over 900,000 official members of the approved Cherokee tribes. A lot more Cherokee are of mixed race or can't prove their lineage. They don't receive the benefits the government hands out to official tribe members. What can we do to honor the Native Americans? I won't attend any football games until the Washington team changes its name.
I try not to say the racial slur R_____. In central Maryland, there is at least one Native American caterer. Would you consider hiring a Native American caterer for your next office party? I think that there at least four tribes in Maryland with events listed on the internet.
No one can get a trademark on a name that contains a racial slur. I am asking the new GOP administration to revoke the exemption on the name Washington R_____. I am surprised that the current president allowed this ethnic slur to continue through both of his presidential terms.
That is my thought for the day. We have to start healing our racial divide somewhere and some how.
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