Wow! That's wonderful! It's nice to see the movement is getting noticed and building momentum!
Thanks Elaine ?
Welcome out of lurking mode. Big step and wonderful introductory posting! Love that you went back to college at 45.
If we all had only known what we know when we are older with additional years of learning and the enrichment of life experiences oh the wisdom to use our gifts of education would have doubled in benefits!
Your book recommendation sounds wonderful. I have a feeling that many readers AND lurkers here will be looking it up, checking it out and finding ways to read it!
So very happy each and every time a new voice, lovely energies and goodness of heart joins into our vocal and more visible tribe as the gifts and benefits for all of us expand each and every time.
Looking forward to getting to know you and hope you keep posting in many areas!
Socially distanced welcome energy hug!
I’m a retired school teacher. When I was teaching, sometimes we would get Columbus Day off because of the calendar. One year we had off and not to far from where I lived they were having a fall fair with an Indian Dancing Ceremony/ Contest. I went with a friend. We walked around the different booths looking at handmade items from Indians all over the Americas. When the dancing ceremony started, the Chief stood and spoke to us about the meaning of Columbus Day to the American Indians. I had never even considered how this day would make them feel. It was NOT A GOOD FEELING! I’m not Italian, so Columbus Day was just a day off for me. I learned so much that day. There is a saying I’m sure you’ve heard,”You teach best, when you most need to learn.” That is what happened to me that day. I think this is happening worldwide on a Grand scale at this time. Many people are waking up to being in their shoes.
I want to share a letter we've received from townspeople to change October 12 to Indigenous People's Day.
In a moment that we are looking painfully and honestly at America’s legacy of racism – in particular the burden of violence, oppression, and exclusion experienced by African Americans – we cannot but see the fight for recognition of Indigenous People’s day, including the severing of that public holiday (and any publicly sanctioned day) from its connection to Christopher Columbus, as a profound and fitting step of recognition and repair for a people toward whom we bear an even longer debt.
Through our work in the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, we have confronted the continuing violence, tragedy, and loss heaped on Black bodies, families, and communities, and committed to action that disavows and dismantles the racist structures – whether systemic or symbolic – that helped create and perpetuate such monumental and continuing human loss and suffering.
We welcome the opportunity, with this bylaw as a step toward justice and recognition for Native Americans.
In our American history, we have murdered, starved, and exiled Native Americans from their own land, then silenced their voices, writing the violence, occupation, and genocide practiced toward them out of our history books.
It’s not enough to change the name of Columbus Day; the day can and should be transformed to lift up and speak the history of resilience, survival, and contributions of Native Americans to this country and to the land we share.
We believe this is the path of true repair in our world – in Jewish tradition, of Tikkun Olam. We are proud to ask that Town Meeting do not further delay this important discussion and vote YES.
Absolutely beautiful. Gives me joy to feel the beautiful and deep spiritual energies present in this movement and all who stand behind it, represent for all of us as spiritual beings reaching out and up to fulfill the promises of our highest and very best selves
Glad you are part of it Jeanne and sharing your gifts as well as ours as we are so very much with you and surrounding you and the entire movements of Indigenous peoples and those forced into ships and into slavery to be part of all of us through our immigrant ancestors through all of time.
May blessings and goodness follow you and strengthen and inspire you in your testimonies of faith in equality and justice for ALL.
?????
Asking again with kindness:
Please stop referring to Indigenous or Native Americans as "Indians" - it is a term of colonialization and it is considered offensive.
@laura-f Sorry, But I'm in Oklahoma, I'm part Indian (Native American). Always have been. Nobody has beat me up for it.
@laura-f Do you want us to change the name of the state? Also people who have roll numbers have so called "Indian Cards".
Sometimes people are not aware that certain terms are considered racist or denigrating to certain groups. In 2015 I used a term for the Inuit on a Canadian broadcast show not knowing it was considered denigrating. I was corrected and changed my terminology. I was embarrassed and ashamed. But I just didn't know!
Although the terms Indian and red man were used a generation ago, many have said they are denigrating to Native people and are now generally considered to be ethnic slurs against that group. Where I live, I've been told they ask to be called indigenous people, or Native Americans, their tribes referred to as First Nations.
We can educate each other here without shaming each other for not knowing and hopefully without feeling ashamed or slighted by the correction.
Also someone who is Indigenous can use the term if they feel okay about it. There are native Americans who use the term.
The results were a win by a wide margin but with a caveat. When the final vote came, the measure to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day passed by 62% in favor, and 35% opposed. I credit the youth activists, kids from middle school, high school and the College who sent more emails to our body than any of us have ever received in our tenure. One of the most moving testimonies was from the president of the high school senior class. He made us all proud of our youth. They did change the motion during the meeting to require that it goes to a non binding ballot in the fall. So now the whole town will weigh in. In the end, it will be up to the town's five elected leaders to decide. But they will likely follow the recommendations of the people.