Is Thanksgiving disrespectful to Native Americans?

Thanksgiving Parade Philadelphia

A balloon and marching band make its way down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during a Thanksgiving day parade in Philadelphia, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Thanksgiving commemorates early European colonizers and Native Americans coming together to break bread -- at least, that's the story most of us learned in school. Americans want to celebrate the spirit of cooperation between the pilgrims and the local tribes, but others say Thanksgiving ignores the displacement and genocide Native Americans suffered. Is the holiday intrinsically disrespectful to Native Americans and dishonest about American history? Read more and vote below!

PERSPECTIVES

Many argue you can be honest about America's history and still celebrate Thanksgiving -- the holiday has evolved into a day where we focus on gratitude. Can you practice being grateful for what you have while still acknowledging the realities of American history?

Entitled "Everything You Know About Thanksgiving is WRONG," this MTV video tries to set the record straight about what really happened--but it's a tough sell. Most Americans are really attached to the beauty of the Thanksgiving story, and don't want to think of it as a whitewashed myth.

Others just don't celebrate it. White Europeans successfully colonizing America is not cause for celebration for all peoples.

Other Americans don't think that much about it -- it's just a great day where we get to cook and eat with our families, think about what we're grateful for, maybe watch some football. The historical context matters less than the tradition of family and the personal meaning they attach to the holiday.

Others suggest adding positive meeting to a holiday with a controversial history by reaching out and giving to others. Be the change, people!

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