Ever since I was a young kid, Thanksgiving is something I’ve always looked forward to. It’s a cherished time where we catch up with family, sit down for a delicious meal, and reflect on what we’re grateful for. It’s a tradition that has been celebrated by generation after generation of Americans.
This great tradition was born over four hundred years ago, when Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe held a three-day, celebratory festival. Despite cultural differences and a language barrier, they were able to come together and enjoy a large feast, which also led to a peace treaty between the two groups.
Like so many of you, that’s how the history of Thanksgiving was taught to me in school. Leading up to the holiday, we learned about the importance of this great American tradition. We put together lists of everything we were grateful for. We made turkey-themed arts and crafts that would be displayed on the refrigerator then get tucked away as keepsakes. It was a great way to get into the holiday spirit and learn about the history and meaning of Thanksgiving.
Sadly, this great American tradition has come under attack by the media, Left-wing educators, and radical activists. Employees of an agency within the Department of Defense that’s charged with educating children of service members were encouraged to read a book that claims Thanksgiving "perpetuates the power of White supremacy." A leader of D.C.’s public schools sent a letter encouraging parents and children to "decolonize" Thanksgiving. Food website Eater.com included the following disclaimer in its recipes for things like sweet potato casserole: “Thanksgiving traces its origins to an uneasy, temporary alliance between 17th-century English settlers and members of the Wampanoag Confederacy.” Give me a break.
It's unfortunate, but not surprising, that Thanksgiving has become yet another front in the Left’s war on the holidays we cherish. Just as they’ve tried to erase religion from Christmas and patriotism from Independence Day, they want to turn Thanksgiving into a day of guilt. The truth is that the Pilgrims should absolutely be celebrated. We should be grateful that they had the courage to set sail to America hundreds of years ago, risking their lives and enduring incredible hardship to escape religious persecution and a tyrannical king.
The holidays are a joyous time, but they can also be difficult for service members stationed abroad and their families. This Thanksgiving, please join me in praying for the safety of our heroes stationed abroad, as well as the police officers, firefighters, and EMTs who won’t be able to sit down with family for Thanksgiving dinner.
I’m incredibly grateful to serve as your voice in Congress. I will never stop fighting for you and the nation that we love. I hope you and your family have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
