The Truth of Thanksgiving Essay -- American History Thanksgiving Essay

The Truth of ThanksgivingWhile children argon growing up in America, they argon told several tales of Americas establishment and history. However, these stories are generally not told as they actually happened. An instance of this is the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is explained as this elaborate ceremony where the Pilgrims and Indians gathered in harmony at this large harvest in celebration of their coming together. According to the primary document of William Bradfords journal, Thanksgiving didnt pan appear quite as it is explained to Americans today. In the film, The Addams Family Values, the Addams children take part in a traditional, yet misconceived celebration of the first Thanksgiving. This film in comparison to Bradfords certification proves how Americans view their history as they please giving America the official Thanksgiving ceremony even if it never actually happened. In the film, Addams Family Values, the Addams are pict ure as an odd American family. They practice magic, dress in all filthy, worship the dead, etc. In this specific film, the Addams children, Wednesday and Pugsley, are sent to summer camping. The camp is a Native American activity based camp named Camp Chippewa. At camp, Wednesday and all of her friends are considered losers. Wednesday and Pugsley have black hair, wear all black clothes and, along with all their friends, dont enjoy typical kid activities, such as watching Disney movies and playing with dolls. All the other children are blonde, rich girls, who are considered the cool kids. They are all apples of their parents eyes and truly enjoy being at summer camp. The children partake in typical Indian activities such as shooting bow ... ...to Bradfords, Of Plymouth Plantation. Americans have such a need to be exceptional and different that they are willing to risk their true history for a celebration that comes only once a year. It is important for American children to learn their true history rather than the alternative in order for them to understand the struggles the original founders went through to create the America we have today.Works CitedThe Addams Family Values. Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld Perf. Angelica Houston, Raul Julia,Christopher Llyod, Joan Cusack, Christina Ricci, Carol Kane, Jimmy Workman. Paramount,1993. Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation. Ed. Nina Baym. The Norton Anthology ofAmerican Literature. sassy York 2003. 156-195.Newman, Andrew. William Bradford, the Pilgrims, Thanksgiving. AmericanLiterature I. EGL 217. 06 Feb. 2006. (cited as Lecture)