Thanksgiving Education

This is the time of year when we remember how the early settlers befriended the “savages” they meet here on American soil.  We’ve all seen the pictures of the friendly Pilgrims sharing their bounty with the deprived American Indians.  Well, apparently those Indians didn’t feel particularly privileged to be the recipients of all the knowledge of the white man.

In approximately 1744, when George Washington was just a twelve-year-old boy, the Collected Chiefs of the Indian Nations met to discuss a letter from the College of William & Mary (founded in 1693) suggesting that they “send twelve of their young men to the college, that they might be taught to read and write.” The Chiefs sent the following reply:

“Sirs,  We know that you highly esteem the kind of learning taught in Colleges, and that the Maintenance of our young Men, while with you, would be very expensive to you.  We are convinc’d, therefore, that you mean to do us Good by your Proposal; and we thank you heartily. But you, who are wise, must know that different Nations have different Conceptions of things; and you will therefore not take it amiss, if our Ideas of this kind of Education happen not to be the same with yours. We have some experience of it. Several of our Young People were formerly brought up at the colleges of the Northern Provinces; they were instructed in all your sciences; but, when they came back to us they were bad Runners, ignorant of every means of living in the Woods, unable to bear either Cold or Hunger, knew neither how to build a cabin, take a Deer, or kill an Enemy, spoke our Language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for Hunters, Warriors, nor Counselors; they were totally good for nothing. We are, however, not the less oblig’d by your kind Offer, tho’ we decline accepting it; and, to show our grateful Sense of it, if the Gentlemen of Virginia will send us a Dozen of their Sons, we will take care of their Education; instruct them in all we know, and make Men of them.”*

 

Somehow I suspect some of the offers we’ve made to “savages” in other parts of the world have been equally demeaning and condescending.

Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving with understanding and open hearts of gratitude.

 

*From Letters of a Nation (edited by Andrew Carroll, published by Broadway Books, 1997)

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  • http://www.FamilyLifeLearners.com NamasteMamaRose

    Wow- I love this!  And yes, it exemplifies how we sometimes “help” others…by giving them the aid we think is best without looking at what they really need – what fits in with their culture, etc.  Our world is beautifully diverse, and I feel sometimes we just equate true “civility” with the Western world.  The definition of civility…being polite, highly cultured and educated, humane, ethical, reasonable…

    The “savages” may have not held back from killing and celebrating the death of a bear, but unlike us “civilized folk”, they thanked the spirits and utilized every part of the bear – for clothing, water sacs, food, etc…without feeling the need to stuff it and put it in their living room. 

    Education, humanity, culture…it’s all relative.  You can’t box it in to only your one way of living. 

    Great post!

    • Anonymous

      Ashley – thanks for your comments.  I know you really do understand the concept of “education” and how that may vary from culture to culture and even person to person.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=549113262 Jared Angaza

    Thank you for sharing this perspective. It’s certainly a healthy one to retain, and I’m proud you’re promoting it. 

    I see the same dynamic here in Kenya every day. Westerners come in and do their best to strip the culture and soul out of Africa in order to pave their way to ultimate control of resources and unlimited manpower, or to pat themselves on the back for ridding “the Africans” of their ignorant culture and “savage” ways. All in the name of “humanitarian aid”. 

    I’d imagine they will create another ridiculous holiday someday that immortalizes and celebrates their victory over the poor Africans. Won’t that be nice. 

    I appreciate the fact that Thanksgiving has become a day to celebrate family and reflect on what we’re thankful for. That I can dig. I just wish it wasn’t a day that originated with Europeans carrying out the most devastating genocide in our modern history (still cleverly not recognized as a genocide). That’s not something I’m thankful for. 

    • Jeff1892

      Jared,
      Every year, my Thanksgiving is celebrated with my wife (Pueblo Indian) myself (White) and our two sons. Here is our Thanksgiving story, and the original proclamation. Hopefully you are thankful that we became a free country, leading the world in humanitarian generosity as God directs. Sorry you are embarrassed. Perhaps you may want to ask the Kenyan people if they would like us to direct our efforts elsewhere.

      By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

      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– That we may then all unite
      in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care
      and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a
      Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable
      interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and
      conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union,
      and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational
      manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of
      government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national
      One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with
      which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing
      useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors
      which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

      and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and
      supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to
      pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all,
      whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and
      relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national
      government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a
      Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and
      faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and
      Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless
      them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge
      and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science
      among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree
      of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

      Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

      George Washington

  • http://roborr.net Rob Orr

    Absolutely outstanding. 

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    Love this Dan!

    I often think of the damage we have done through general education. We have knowledge in many areas yet master none.

  • sunni

    one man’s food is another man’s poison sums it up..

  • http://twitter.com/Ua0003 Joshua Machnik

    Sounds like education hasn’t changed much…

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