Nov 22, 2018
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from The Daily Signal’s team in Washington. Americans have so much to be thankful for, regardless of how their guy or gal did in the midterm elections. Jarrett Stepman and Tracy McKenzie remind us of the true roots of the first Thanksgiving in the New World. And here are some terrific trimmings: Virginia Allen on the history of presidential pardons for Thanksgiving turkeys, Nolan Peterson on a Thanksgiving with Ukrainian soldiers, and John York on the poet who was the “godmother” of America’s national holiday.
The Surprising Story of the First Thanksgiving
At the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims would have been sitting on the ground, eating with their hands, and their dinner food likely included a lot of meat—and possibly eels.
In a Turkey Day ‘Recount,’ Trump Pardons Both Peas and Carrots
“Even though Peas and Carrots have received a presidential pardon, I have warned them that House Democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas,” says President Trump.
Here’s Why We Should Still Celebrate the Pilgrims at Thanksgiving
While later conflicts would ensue between the Pilgrims’ descendants and the descendants of the Indians who feasted with them, the initial contact between the cultures was positive and beneficial.
Meet the Woman Who Helped Make Thanksgiving a US Holiday
Sarah Josepha Hale saw Thanksgiving as an important supplement to the nation’s principal civic holiday: Independence Day. While Independence Day celebrates the birth of our nation, our Founding Fathers, and our founding principles, Thanksgiving celebrates the origins of the American people, family, and faith in God.
Podcast: The History of Thanksgiving
Tracy McKenzie, author of "The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History," joins us to talk about the history of Thanksgiving in America.
‘My Soul Is Here’: A Thanksgiving on the Front Lines of the War in Ukraine
More and more, it feels like the only true thing is what we experienced on the front lines. Therein lies the danger of bringing a piece of home with you. Because when the war begins to feel a little like home, you can never truly leave it.
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