'Tis the season to be Scrooges
As certain as the sun rises in the east come this year's efforts to take religion out of two unquestionably religious holidays. In a story covered last night on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Maryland public school students are not being taught that the Pilgrims celebrated to give thanks to God.
"Maryland public school students are free to thank anyone they want while learning about the 17th century celebration of Thanksgiving - as long as it's not God. And that is how it should be, administrators say. . . . what teachers don't mention when they describe the feast is that the Pilgrims not only thanked the Native Americans for their peaceful three-day indulgence, but repeatedly thanked God. Thanksgiving is usually taught as a part of social studies and emphasizes cultural immersion. . . . School administrators statewide agree, saying religion never coincides with how they teach Thanksgiving to students." . . .
"'We mention they were Puritan but students usually just understand that they had a belief system and not much more than that,' said Carol Williamson, Queen Anne's County Schools' associate superintendent." "'We don't focus on religion, because it is not a part of our curriculum,' said Sandra Grulich, Cecil County Schools' elementary school curriculum coordinator."
The historical revisionism practiced by the educators in Maryland is astounding. The best source for the purpose of the celebration is always a primary source, where available. One of those is Mourt's Relation, written by Edward Winslow, in conjunction with William Bradford, in 1620-21. The account of the harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims is in Section 6. The holiday was not an annual celebration at this time. The University of Oklahoma Law Center also reproduces a copy of the first Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1676: "The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour . . . ."
George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 is even more explicit:
"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me 'to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'
"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be . . . ."
And with Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863, the nation began its tradition of an annual holiday:
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."
How can religion not coincide with the teaching of Thanksgiving? Erasing from the history books and destroying the foundations of the holiday does a disservice to the students, who are not being taught history in an intellectually honest manner.
"Maryland public school students are free to thank anyone they want while learning about the 17th century celebration of Thanksgiving - as long as it's not God. And that is how it should be, administrators say. . . . what teachers don't mention when they describe the feast is that the Pilgrims not only thanked the Native Americans for their peaceful three-day indulgence, but repeatedly thanked God. Thanksgiving is usually taught as a part of social studies and emphasizes cultural immersion. . . . School administrators statewide agree, saying religion never coincides with how they teach Thanksgiving to students." . . .
"'We mention they were Puritan but students usually just understand that they had a belief system and not much more than that,' said Carol Williamson, Queen Anne's County Schools' associate superintendent." "'We don't focus on religion, because it is not a part of our curriculum,' said Sandra Grulich, Cecil County Schools' elementary school curriculum coordinator."
The historical revisionism practiced by the educators in Maryland is astounding. The best source for the purpose of the celebration is always a primary source, where available. One of those is Mourt's Relation, written by Edward Winslow, in conjunction with William Bradford, in 1620-21. The account of the harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims is in Section 6. The holiday was not an annual celebration at this time. The University of Oklahoma Law Center also reproduces a copy of the first Thanksgiving Proclamation from 1676: "The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour . . . ."
George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 is even more explicit:
"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me 'to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'
"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be . . . ."
And with Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863, the nation began its tradition of an annual holiday:
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."
How can religion not coincide with the teaching of Thanksgiving? Erasing from the history books and destroying the foundations of the holiday does a disservice to the students, who are not being taught history in an intellectually honest manner.
posted by Hal | 10:24 AM
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