Monday, November 14, 2011
Dinner conversation might be a little tense this Thanksgiving
Emerson and I were driving to my parents' house in Atlanta and discussing the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving plans have been made, and I was letting her know how we'll coordinate between two families. But Thanksgiving is a slightly touchy subject with Emerson, who has been concerned about the plight of Native Americans for years. Sure enough, as soon as I mention turkey day...
"Mama! Did you know dat all dis land belonged to da Native 'Mer-cans, but some white people stoled it?"
Um, well...
"Yes, I suppose that's correct, Emerson."
She scowls in the back seat, her tiny anger as adorably ineffectual as always. "If I find doze people, I would beat dem up."
So, that's not good. I'll try to put it into perspective for her.
"I don't think beating people up is the answer. Besides, Emmie, all this land in America belonged to the Native Americans. The whole country. So everyone in America is living on stolen land. You, me - everyone."
She stares at the passing countryside, mouth agape: "Everyone?!"
"Everyone."
She sighs and shakes her head. "Man... das a lot of people I gotta beat up."
Somehow that didn't work out like I'd hoped.
LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL! Being Miami Indian on my dad's side of the family, American holidays often bring a bit of schizophrenia. For example, I don't sing the "land of the pilgrims' pride" during "America". I remember when visiting with my cousin Rex in Indiana one time, he remarked, "You know, if our Wampanoag cousins in the northeast had had stricter immigration standards, this land would still be ours."
ReplyDeleteSweet! :D
ReplyDelete