Claremont school Thanksgiving costumes create a commotion

Nearly two dozen protesters were stationed this morning in front of Condit Elementary School in Claremont, the site of a decades-old Thanksgiving tradition that is under fire because kindergartners dress up in handmade pilgrim and Native American costumes.

After a handful of parents complained that the Native American headdresses and vests were demeaning, cartoonish stereotypes, the Claremont Unified School District eliminated the costumes from this year's festivities, but allowed the turkey feast to go forward.

The protesters were evenly split between parents who supported the costumes and parents who opposed the outfits, and their discussion grew so heated that school officials called police, who separated the protesters on separate sidewalks, said Lt. Dennis Smith of the Claremont Police Department.

Police are also paying extra attention to Claremont schools Supt. David Cash's home, after he called police to report he was receiving hate e-mails and feared for his safety, Smith said. The e-mails did not rise to the level of criminal prosecution.

Cash and Condit principal Tim Northrop did not return phone calls seeking comment, but school employees reported that the commotion in front of the school was heated.

"It's been wild," said one woman who declined to give her name. Meanwhile, the kindergartners -- some of whom showed up wearing their banned costumes -- frolicked on the playground, eating, running and chattering with friends, Smith said. "The kids were oblivious," he added, "as they should be."

--Seema Mehta

Read the original story here.

Comments

[O'odham]

I remember dressing up in 1st grade. I wanted to be a pilgrim, because from what my nieve point of view was at the time, that was the better thing to be. Funny thing was, though, I'm Indian. And I think if I would have been taught accurately, I might have though the pilgrim was so "better"

[esr]

It would be ok with me to let kids dress in that garb on the condition that my kids can dress as a Nazi and a rabbi eating at the dinner table in harmony just before the Nazis got mean.

[Ackusar]

"Columbus was lost when we found him,
Now guess who called us 'Indian'?
The Pilgrims were dying when they arrived,
You know who helped them to survive...
We are the exploited." [Reservationfire: "Exploited"]
America was founded on the blood of the Indigenous Nations, the theft of our land, the destruction of our traditional way of life, the desecration of all we hold sacred and dear to our hearts, forced assimmilation into the dominant culture and the official policy of "Kill the Indian, save the man." And all of this in the Holy Name of God. What else can you expect?!

[SB]

An Open Letter to Professor Raheja:

Dear Professor Raheja,

I admire your courage and fortitude in trying to confront racist stereotypes, and I support you wholeheartedly in this endeavor. We can no longer remain complacent and hide behind the veil of “tradition” that perpetuates hatred and racism and implants them on impressionable minds. What is seemingly innocuous and harmless “fun” is a hurtful, demeaning, and damaging depiction of native tribes. It elides the histories of oppression and decimation not to mention the diversity of the many tribes as it packages it up in a singular monolithic, commodified image. The costumes portray an image frozen in time and invoke colonial rhetoric that represent the native as backward, barbaric, and savage. It is no wonder you refuse to allow your child to be subjected to this putatively “fun” and “harmless” “tradition.” I thank you and applaud you for opening up this dialogue to help end ignorant and myopic views, and I ask that you remain tenacious in this fight. More important, I want to tell you that you do not stand alone.

Yours in Solidarity,

SB

[cythera]

Listen to the white racists scream when anyone dares to try to take their racism away from them or even call them on it.

[cythera]

Anyone who supports these grotesque costumes is a racist. As the comments here make plain, they KNOW they are racists and they CHERISH their racism and they RESENT when anyone would dare call them on it or take it away from them or challenge their right to teach their children their own deep-seated evil.

[Vernon Clayson]

Has anyone confirmed that this professor who claims she's a Seneca is actually a Seneca or if she is just another Ward Churchill Indian wannabe.
I've brought this to the attention of the Seneca Nation, perhaps she can explain her Seneca story to them. They have strict membership rules and do not take pretense lightly.

[You Got To Laugh]

Why isn't anyone complaining about all the poor innocent trees that were murdered to make cardbaord cut outs for these children's costumes? Where are the Vegans complaining about all the Turkeys murdered so these children could eat their dead flesh....WOW...as the Wicked Witch of the West said, ..."What a World, What a World!"...Now get back to your miserable lives folks....and remember ONLY 27 MORE SHOPPING DAYS UNTIL HOLIDAY!

[Jun 'Uk'um]

Much of America's understanding of the early relationship between the Indian and the European is conveyed through the story of Thanksgiving. Proclaimed a holiday in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln, this fairy tale of a feast was allowed to exist in the American imagination pretty much untouched until 1970, the 350th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims. That is when Frank B. James, president of the Federated Eastern Indian League, prepared a speech for a Plymouth banquet that exposed the Pilgrims for having committed, among other crimes, the robbery of the graves of the Wampanoags.
He wrote:

"We welcomed you, the white man, with open arms, little knowing that it was the beginning of the end; that before 50 years were to pass, the Wampanoag would no longer be a free people.
"

But white Massachusetts officials told him he could not deliver such a speech and offered to write him another. Instead, James declined to speak, and on Thanksgiving Day hundreds of Indians from around the country came to protest. It was the first National Day of Mourning, a day to mark the losses Native Americans suffered as the early settlers prospered. This true story of "Thanksgiving" is what whites did not want Mr. James to tell.

What Really Happened in Plymouth in 1621?

According to a single-paragraph account in the writings of one Pilgrim, a harvest feast did take place in Plymouth in 1621, probably in mid-October, but the Indians who attended were not even invited. Though it later became known as "Thanksgiving," the Pilgrims never called it that. And amidst the imagery of a picnic of interracial harmony is some of the most terrifying bloodshed in New World history.

The Pilgrim crop had failed miserably that year, but the agricultural expertise of the Indians had produced twenty acres of corn, without which the Pilgrims would have surely perished. The Indians often brought food to the Pilgrims, who came from England ridiculously unprepared to survive and hence relied almost exclusively on handouts from the overly generous Indians-thus making the Pilgrims the western hemisphere's first class of welfare recipients. The Pilgrims invited the Indian sachem Massasoit to their feast, and it was Massasoit, engaging in the tribal tradition of equal sharing, who then invited ninety or more of his Indian brothers and sisters-to the annoyance of the 50 or so ungrateful Europeans. No turkey, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie was served; they likely ate duck or geese and the venison from the 5 deer brought by Massasoit. In fact, most, if notall, of the food was most likely brought and prepared by the Indians, whose 10,000-year familiarity with the cuisine of the region had kept the whites alive up to that point.

The Pilgrims wore no black hats or buckled shoes-these were the silly inventions of artists hundreds of years since that time. These lower-class Englishmen wore brightly colored clothing, with one of their church leaders recording among his possessions "1 paire of greene drawers." Contrary to the fabricated lore of storytellers generations since, no Pilgrims prayed at the meal, and the supposed good cheer and fellowship must have dissipated quickly once the Pilgrims brandished their weaponry in a primitive display of intimidation. What's more, the Pilgrims consumed a good deal of home brew. In fact, each Pilgrim drank at least a half gallon of beer a day, which they preferred even to water. This daily inebriation led their governor, William Bradford, to comment on his people's "notorious sin," which included their "drunkenness and uncleanliness" and rampant "sodomy"...

The Pilgrims of Plymouth, The Original Scalpers

Contrary to popular mythology the Pilgrims were no friends to the local Indians. They were engaged in a ruthless war of extermination against their hosts, even as they falsely posed as friends. Just days before the alleged Thanksgiving love-fest, a company of Pilgrims led by Myles Standish actively sought to chop off the head of a local chief. They deliberately caused a rivalry between two friendly Indians, pitting one against the other in an attempt to obtain "better intelligence and make them both more diligent." An 11-foot-high wall was erected around the entire settlement for the purpose of keeping the Indians out.

Any Indian who came within the vicinity of the Pilgrim settlement was subject to robbery, enslavement, or even murder. The Pilgrims further advertised their evil intentions and white racial hostility, when they mounted five cannons on a hill around their settlement, constructed a platform for artillery, and then organized their soldiers into four companies-all in preparation for the military destruction of their friends the Indians.

Pilgrim Myles Standish eventually got his bloody prize. He went to the Indians, pretended to be a trader, then beheaded an Indian man named Wituwamat. He brought the head to Plymouth, where it was displayed on a wooden spike for many years, according to Gary B. Nash, "as a symbol of white power." Standish had the Indian man's young brother hanged from the rafters for good measure. From that time on, the whites were known to the Indians of Massachusetts by the name "Wotowquenange," which in their tongue meant cutthroats and stabbers.

Who Were the "Savages"?

The myth of the fierce, ruthless Indian savage lusting after the blood of innocent Europeans must be vigorously dispelled at this point. In actuality, the historical record shows that the very opposite was true.

Once the European settlements stabilized, the whites turned on their hosts in a brutal way. The once amicable relationship was breeched again and again by the whites, who lusted over the riches of Indian land. A combination of the Pilgrims' demonization of the Indians, the concocted mythology of Eurocentric historians, and standard Hollywood propaganda has served to paint the gentle Indian as a tomahawk-swinging savage endlessly on the warpath, lusting for the blood of the God-fearing whites.

But the Pilgrims' own testimony obliterates that fallacy.
The Indians engaged each other in military contests from time to time, but the causes of "war," the methods, and the resulting damage differed profoundly from the European variety:

o Indian "wars" were largely symbolic and were about honor, not about territory or extermination.

o "Wars" were fought as domestic correction for a specific act and were ended when correction was achieved. Such action might better be described as internal policing. The conquest or destruction of whole territories was a European concept.

o Indian "wars" were often engaged in by family groups, not by whole tribal groups, and would involve only the family members.

o A lengthy negotiation was engaged in between the aggrieved parties before escalation to physical confrontation would be sanctioned. Surprise attacks were unknown to the Indians.

o It was regarded as evidence of bravery for a man to go into "battle" carrying no weapon that would do any harm at a distance-not even bows and arrows. The bravest act in war in some Indian cultures was to touch their adversary and escape before he could do physical harm.

o The targeting of non-combatants like women, children, and the elderly was never contemplated. Indians expressed shock and repugnance when the Europeans told, and then showed, them that they considered women and children fair game in their style of warfare.

o A major Indian "war" might end with less than a dozen casualties on both sides. Often, when the arrows had been expended the "war" would be halted. The European practice of wiping out whole nations in bloody massacres was incomprehensible to the Indian.

According to one scholar, "The most notable feature of Indian warfare was its relative innocuity." European observers of Indian wars often expressed surprise at how little harm they actually inflicted. "Their wars are far less bloody and devouring than the cruel wars of Europe," commented settler Roger Williams in 1643. Even Puritan warmonger and professional soldier Capt. John Mason scoffed at Indian warfare: "[Their] feeble manner...did hardly deserve the name of fighting." Fellow warmonger John Underhill spoke of the Narragansetts, after having spent a day "burning and spoiling" their country: "no Indians would come near us, but run from us, as the deer from the dogs." He concluded that the Indians might fight seven years and not kill seven men. Their fighting style, he wrote, "is more for pastime, than to conquer and subdue enemies.
"

All this describes a people for whom war is a deeply regrettable last resort. An agrarian people, the American Indians had devised a civilization that provided dozens of options all designed to avoid conflict--the very opposite of Europeans, for whom all-out war, a ferocious bloodlust, and systematic genocide are their apparent life force. Thomas Jefferson--who himself advocated the physical extermination of the American Indian--said of Europe, "They [Europeans] are nations of eternal war. All their energies are expended in the destruction of labor, property and lives of their people.
"

Puritan Holocaust

By the mid 1630s, a new group of 700 even holier Europeans calling themselves Puritans had arrived on 11 ships and settled in Boston-which only served to accelerate the brutality against the Indians.

In one incident around 1637, a force of whites trapped some seven hundred Pequot Indians, mostly women, children, and the elderly, near the mouth of the Mystic River. Englishman John Mason attacked the Indian camp with "fire, sword, blunderbuss, and tomahawk.
" Only a handful escaped and few prisoners were taken-to the apparent delight of the Europeans:

To see them frying in the fire, and the streams of their blood quenching the same, and the stench was horrible; but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice, and they gave praise thereof to God.

This event marked the first actual Thanksgiving. In just 10 years 12,000 whites had invaded New England, and as their numbers grew they pressed for all-out extermination of the Indian. Euro-diseases had reduced the population of the Massachusett nation from over 24,000 to less than 750; meanwhile, the number of European settlers in Massachusetts rose to more than 20,000 by 1646.

By 1675, the Massachusetts Englishmen were in a full-scale war with the great Indian chief of the Wampanoags, Metacomet. Renamed "King Philip" by the white man, Metacomet watched the steady erosion of the lifestyle and culture of his people as European-imposed laws and values engulfed them.

In 1671, the white man had ordered Metacomet to come to Plymouth to enforce upon him a new treaty, which included the humiliating rule that he could no longer sell his own land without prior approval from whites. They also demanded that he turn in his community's firearms. Marked for extermination by the merciless power of a distant king and his ruthless subjects, Metacomet retaliated in 1675 with raids on several isolated frontier towns. Eventually, the Indians attacked 52 of the 90 New England towns, destroying 13 of them. The Englishmen ultimately regrouped, and after much bloodletting defeated the great Indian nation, just half a century after their arrival on Massachusetts soil.
Historian Douglas Edward Leach describes the bitter end:

The ruthless executions, the cruel sentences...were all aimed at the same goal-unchallengeable white supremacy in southern New England. That the program succeeded is convincingly demonstrated by the almost complete docility of the local native ever since.

When Captain Benjamin Church tracked down and murdered Metacomet in 1676, his body was quartered and parts were "left for the wolves." The great Indian chief's hands were cut off and sent to Boston and his head went to Plymouth, where it was set upon a pole on the real first "day of public Thanksgiving for the beginning of revenge upon the enemy." Metacomet's nine-year-old son was destined for execution because, the whites reasoned, the offspring of the devil must pay for the sins of their father. The child was instead shipped to the Caribbean to spend his life in slavery.

As the Holocaust continued, several official Thanksgiving Days were proclaimed. Governor Joseph Dudley declared in 1704 a "General Thanksgiving"-not in celebration of the brotherhood of man-but for [God's] infinite Goodness to extend His Favors...In defeating and disappointing... the Expeditions of the Enemy [Indians] against us, And the good Success given us against them, by delivering so many of them into our hands...

Just two years later one could reap a ££50 reward in Massachusetts for the scalp of an Indian-demonstrating that the practice of scalping was a European tradition. According to one scholar, "Hunting redskins became...a popular sport in New England, especially since prisoners were worth good money..."

Before anyone starts looking for rope to string me up with, let me say that I don't want thanksgiving outlawed. This holiday is now a time to spend with family and loved ones and that is important, but so is telling the truth.

[lsm]

The story celebrated by the pro-costume commentators is one in which a minority group that had rebelled against authority ("pilgrims") is sheltered and welcomed by a majority, more powerful group ("indians"). Another great story in America is that it is a country that celebrates independent thinking and free speech. How sad, then, that those raising war whoops in their insitence on the old way of celebrating this holiday are not open to listening to a mother-- and yes, a minority voice in this case -- who started this conversation by suggesting an open forum to discuss alternative ways to mark the holiday (not to abolish it). I hope the conversation does, indeed, continue -- without name calling and violence, but with some humility and gratitude.

[Jerry Croyden]

Are you kidding me?

I could not disagree more with Ms. Raheja, but I respect her right to articulate her point of view. However, I do not support Ms. Raheja using elementary schools as her personal bully pulpit. Ms. Raheja's propagandizing aside, I feel the real villains in this story are the CUSD school board and the district superintendent.

I get it. Native Americans were oft times cheated out of their land and crushed under the boot of the US cavalry. The kids will learn about this dark chapter in our history soon enough. Does Ms. Raheja explain exactly how school children dressing up as Pilgrims and Native Americans is demeaning? (Making comparisons to slavery and Nazis doesn't cut it. Analogy is a weak form of argument.) While she is trying to make a case for the kids' tradition being truly demeaning, she might include information concerning the Native American tribes that practiced slavery and torture. Oh, yes, and theft was a valued part of the culture of many other tribes. Perhaps a positive image of Native Americans like the Thanksgiving story is not so demeaning after all.

What next? No Halloween decorations in school because we might offend Wicca-Americans? Take old "Flipper" reruns off TV so as not to excite the sensibilities of aquatic-Americans? No, the solution is for the school board and the superintendent to interject some common sense into this situation. I would certainly allow Ms. Raheja's voice to be heard, but it cannot be the loudest voice in the school district's ear.

Moral courage is a crucial part of effective leadership. The superintendent and the board desperately need a healthy dose...

Oops! I referred to the board and the superintendent as "villains." I retract that statement hoping I did not insult any living descendants of Snydley Whiplash.

[Justadad]

I offended as well. No one celebrate' my culture. I don’t like the color green, but I have to wear green on ST. P. day, if I don't I get pinched. Why do we celebrate Cinco d mayo and talk about it in school? Why do we celebrate Black history month? Why don’t the schools teach about Chinese new years? Why don't they teach about the Armenian Genocide? Why don't they teach about what Christmas is about? I guess we should all stop teaching history.

[Target_4_corporate_hostility]

At least this person has the courage to stand up for what she believes. To all the pro-costume people: Do some reading and some research on the lies and genocide perpetrated by the United States government on the native peoples in order to rob them of their most valuable asset, their land. Then, when you can make an informed decision, you may not be so quick to condemn this woman. When you see how shamefully the native peoples were treated, you will not be so proud to don your construction paper costumes and parade around like naive fools!
OK, this subject is too heavy for five year olds but it is your duty as parents to moderate this information and present it in a suitable context for young minds! It is racist! Maybe you should reflect on your own cultural indoctrination and not perpetuate the myths to your children!

[Maria-D]

Lesson for kids: How PC Politics Can Spoil a Good Time 101

Why is it so awful for everyday Americans to actually feel united for a day and give thanks, rather than be divided into their assigned groups with big government as the arbitrator of who gets what?? Many Americans are descendents of both sides. We are a blended people now.

This protest over costumes and authenticity and screaming "racism" and "genocide" misses the point and sadly teaches the children affected a simple message that today's Native Americans are unforgiving, oversensitive, racist and intolerant, if not outright crazy, not exactly what the esteemed lady professor had in mind.

Yes, many Native Americans were wiped out due to the malfeasance of the white man, but the pilgrims at the Thanksgiving dinner were celebrating, not killing anyone. Genocide is an issue that will be for Almighty God alone--to whom we give thanks today, for all our blessings--to judge.

No, life is not fair and never has been. Despite that, life can still be appreciated, enjoyed and celebrated. We have MUCH to be thankful for in this Nation, and those negative killjoys who always see the dark side of the moon and refuse to let go of the past need to get a life. Learn from the past, yes, but those lessons are not meant to ruin the present and the future for our children.

I sincerely wish the children and their parents on both sides of this issue a wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving today.

[melvin weinwright]

These people who have nothing better to do than ruin a beautiful celebration are truly sick. Did your mother not breast feed you? Last one picked for the team? Take your hatred and self loathing and put it where the sun don't shine.

[justadad]

ONE PARENT WAS IN PROTEST OF THIS EVENT. We should not teach 5 year olds about genocide and racism at this age.

[luv2teach]

I work in Claremont's school district, a wonderful, integrated, varied district. Each school is unique unto itself, including the two schools in question. Dr. Cash has been a wonderful addition to our district and has worked very hard for the families and teachers in order to created the best learning environment possible. He is very supportive and I am sure he had a difficult time making the decision to eliminate the costumes.

Regardless of the protests and media attention, regardless of what outsiders may think of Claremont and its school district, I maintain that it is one of the best. I have taught here for the past 12 years, at a smaller school than Condit and Mountain View. I have learned that no matter what you do, someone will not be happy. No matter how you teach, plan, discipline, manage or conference, someone will find fault with your method. This was a no-win situation.

Don't lump all of Claremont with a small situation made bigger by media attention. Within the city, it was really limited to these two schools. My site hardly new what had really been going on.

By the way, several classes at my school were visited by two Native Americans who came to celebrate their culture and ceremonies with our classes, who then ate together. I didn't see any costumes, but I don't think that had been part of the plan anyway.

[A proud Canadian]

To Michael and anyone who thinks like him:

Keeping in mind that I am also a typical "white Christian" type, please try to step away from your righteous anger and consider some facts.

1) People will always be free to observe any holiday and practice any traditions they wish (no matter how foolish or inaccurate or offensive) in the privacy of their own homes. No one is protesting that.

2) This situation happened in a school. Schools are funded by public tax dollars, therefore they have to be accountable for whether that money is spent wisely. Schools are required to teach children facts; not fiction. As everyone knows (hopefully!) the "Pilgrim/Indian" is a highly sanitized version of some very ugly facts about American history. It is also offensive to many Native Americans, who are likewise paying their tax dollars for these schools.

3) Children only care about fun and happiness and getting along. They don't care about whether or not they play "Pilgrim/Indian" unless their parents are teaching them to care about it!

[Thunder Falcon]

Sometimes one of the most difficult things about being an Indian, is having an opinion, especially when it directly conflicts with those coming from your own people. This would be a good example.

Now, I don’t deny there is a sad, dark history that comes with Thanksgiving, and it was this history that protestors took issue with. There were also a number of concerns around the children’s tribal dress depicting Native Americans as cartoonish stereotypes. But like it or not, most times small children are first introduced to Native American history, through Thanksgiving. And at the tender ages of five or six, you don’t throw the genocide of that history at them unless you intend to give the poor darlings nightmares. That and one has to consider that as a teacher or parent, when you introduce a new culture to a child, you have to deliver it in a way a child will actually understand. This is where concepts like Big Bird, Sponge Bob and yes, the occasional Indian and Pilgrim costume comes into play. And it’s for this practical reason, that I thought allegations of racism and genocide on protesting banners, to be both overly harsh and terribly inappropriate.

Of course, I do know how a lot of us feel, because I’ve felt it too. As a Native Americans, we sometimes feel outside the window of American life, looking into a world where there doesn’t seem to be a place for us. And it hurts to be forgotten in such a way, for so long.

Considering this often painful reality, I’m not going have any objections, when teachers and parents attempt to devise various, perhaps mildly nefarious means, to introduce their children to our culture. We just need to NOT take such playful exercises, so personally. Besides, what’s the harm in letting some little kids have fun with a feather or two, especially if it means they learn a little something about us. Maybe a better solution to the controversy, would have been to invite a few Real Indians to the Claremont School Feast, so the children could see the difference between the real thing and dress up. Perhaps in doing so, they could’ve brought a deeper understanding to our various tribes and traditions.

After all, what we celebrate at Thanksgiving, IS NOT the dark history that saw the genocide of Native American peoples. Instead, we give honor to the hope that we can rise above that dark history, to share and express a genuine acceptance of all people, regardless of race, culture, religion or lifestyle. And if we can achieve that, then we really will have something to be thankful for.

With that in mind, Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving. TF

[Bob F.]

What mext!!!!!!! Here we have another professor trying her darndest to tell other people what is or isn't their right as citizens... Salue the flag, pledge of allegiance, star spangled banner, god,...this teacher needs a lesson in tolerance. I am an old man, fought for my country in WWII, and maybe it would be wrong to admit as a boy I played cowboys & indians and yes, dressed in homemade costumes on Hallow'en, as indians and various other ethnic costumes...but it was people like us that made this country what it is...my advice to the teacher is simple..... teach your subject and forget about trying to impose your will on other....... if it wasn't for people like me, you wouldn't have the rights we fought for...Get a life!!!!!!!

[MA]

I'm also a resident of Claremont. What annoys me are the complaints from people who claim to be disgusted by the---GASP!! HORROR! --liberal professor types in Claremont.

For crying out loud, it's a college town. What did you expect--that there wouldn't be any liberal professors in a liberal college town? There are lots of other places in Southern California where there are no liberals or intellectuals as far as the eye can see. Why not move there?

If you're not from Claremont, frankly, this is none of your beeswax--you're just using this as an excuse to whine about so-called PC. If you are from Claremont, why doesn't everybody use the nice long weekend to cool down, and then resolve to handle this issue better next year?

[eerietown]

It is clear to me that the less somebody knows about something, the more confident they feel talking about it. Those on this blog are obviously not teachers, have no idea the way curriculum is written and delivered, and no knowledge of what children today need as far as education goes. Parading around in nonsensical, ridiculous, and babyish costumes sends those children back to toddlerhood. Young people today are not as foolish as their own poor misguided parents. They are 21st Century individuals whose greatest challenge will definitely be facing the ignorance of their parents as they try to become technologically advanced, internationally -attuned, and creative solution-makers. Those parents need to get out of the way of their poor children's education: they are foolish for dressing themselves up like fanatics and idiots degrading the dignity of their own poor minor children who have no choice but to love and admire these clowns. It is no small thing that a Doctor of Education and many educated leaders--the people who run our schools thankfully and not parents who think a costume is an education--know state curriculum better than any of those posting. All of you who want to stop their children from becoming civil, intelligent, and prosperous--you will answer to them as they grow up and remember the day you embarrassed them with paper costumes like some overgrown bully. It is so sad that those parents resist and resist their own children's betterment. It makes me sad imagining the way these kids feel when they ask their parents, "why can't we dress up?" Instead of teaching those children that life is complex and that we can learn new information from discussions like this they probably told them, "don't pay any attention to that at all." Lesson 1 to their children: don't think. Lesson 2: thinking is a waste of time. Lesson 3: professors and teachers and superintendents are all worthless. Lesson 4: you are just a child and cannot think for yourself. What the child gains from this. Outcome 1: instead of thinking, I wear a paper cut out costume. Outcome 2: I should never use my mind to think about problems Outcome 3: Thinking and asking questions is a waste of time and upsets my parents. Outcome 4: Teachers and schools are wrong; why listen to them?.
Costumed parents--when your child begins to have difficulties with reading comprehension, critical analysis, writing, algebra (all the skills that require cognitive growth), what will you do? Tell them to dress up in costumes.
THINK AGAIN. Let that become a family tradition. Don't consider yourselves experts on early childhood education. Love your children and let that parental love help you to overcome your ignorance and pave the way for your poor offspring. Just because you are ignorant, you don't have to force your children to defy educational leaders, professors, and historical findings. After all, don't you want your children to get college degrees and respect learned people such as professors? Reading and learning are not dangerous activities. Sadly enough, children have to rely for food, clothing, shelter, and love on adults who care nothing for their children's cognitive development, critical thinking, and decision-making in light of new information. When you costumed parents need us educators to help your children become educated, what hypocrisies you will have to swallow after conducting yourselves the way you have. You all need a time out. I also grew up in a small town and know the type of people these costumed fools are....they never quite got enough of their own childhood fun so they use their children as conduits to get more self-satisfying attention for themselves. Take your children to libraries, museums, expose them to research, professors, history. They will grow to appreciate that and forgive your temporary lapse of maturity. Perhaps seeing you READ once in a while will redeem the day you wore a foolish outfit when you took them to school. Ouch, poor little boys and girls. That must be painful.

[Michael]

Well it appears we are at it again. So when do we get rid of all the holidays because they offend someone! Lincoln already got axed and now it's presidents day, Easter got axed in the 70's because it was a religious holiday, next will be Columbus day and Thanksgiving because they offend the Native Americans, and Christmas will be soon to follow because it's too secular or because of the pedifile figurehead (Santa having the kids sit on his lap - just wait I'm sure it's coming).
What happened to the nation of tolerance? What happened to just letting things be fun and not making it out as a "Disgracing us" campaign, what happened to letting children be children and keeping these protests out of Kindergarten?
I think we all need to take a chill pill and get along (instead of being so divisive) and let the children play - maybe we should all take our lesson from them.

[TK]

It's time for those of us who have any integrity at all to take stand in unity. The intimidating & bashing going on is not about the dress anymore....it's about the CHILDREN! We are all related. Creator made us all, not just us injuns.

We've already lived our lives. It's time we stand up for all the children & make indigenous studies in grades K-12 a reality in every state. Contact your state's rep at: www.congress.org.

Are some of you waiting until the children start dying again!? Come on sisters & brothers! I plead to you to please unite for the safety of our youth & for truth in education before more end up massacred over ignorance, & the feeling as though what happens to one does not affect us all. It truly does. We are intertwined in this web of life.

Thanks for all you do in the name of the children!

[OldRedJoe]

No more fun of ANY KIND!

Dean Wormer

[Pat]

My sincere thanks to Prof. Raheja for addressing this sensitive subject. Several years ago I participated in a parents multi-cultural advisory committee to the School Board and Superintendent of Schools in a State Capitol. I became aware of how insensitive some of us citizens can be to others. We just don't think or we mistakenly think that we have the right. Thanksgiving is not a Native American celebration for it means the taking away of their land and life style. For schools to portray this as a positive occurance is extremely insensitive and dishonest. The same can be said about the Christmas focus which doesn't belong in schools or government. Schools, teachers, and parents would do better with their energies to focus on respect for others, non-violent conflict resolution, and learning about appreciating other cultures. Perhaps then we can live in a peaceful society.

[HUNK]

Im Native American, and I know who some of these people are , they are young minds eager to make a statement, and they have that professor leading the way, its really sad because I have always felt that the silly little paper indian head dress & Pilgrim outfit was hilarious, and it showed that Non-Native American people are really naive, when it comes to respect, and it was and always should remind us that those kind of people are better off living in La-La land of happy Indians & Pilgrims, because they're not worthy of being taught respect for us I'd rather have them as an enemy that cant be trusted. Now you young natives need to wake up and realize that this sort of protest only helps who?...no one is free, land isn't returned to us, we still have reservation poverty, some children are cold and freezing, elders need help, and you guys are all off on this pointless crusade and in the middle are 5 year old children who dont understand. Michelle you need to stop your embarrassing us real Natives...If you can remember AIM of the seventies, then you should fight the fights they did...stop this petty attack on children, maybe you should protest those morons at KFI 640am .....

[Some perspective]

Despite the disdain for historians expressed here, this op-ed piece talks about our Thanksgiving tradition. Apparently, it dates from the mid-19th C., around the time of the Civil War.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-jacoby26-2008nov26,0,7558652.story

[Jesstice]

I am always surprised (and honestly, disgusted) when I see people protest the principle of politcal correctness. How, in our great tradition of progressive minds and heralded thinkers, have we landed on the conclusion that ignorance is the "wave of the future?"
America can't always be what it WAS. That is its beauty; the ability to change once the err of our ways is shown to us.
Its interesting that no one has mentioned that the video featured WHITE parents in poorly configured and hugely stereotypical indian get-ups yelling their white point of views about native american history AT native americans!!!

The obvious fact needed to quell this debate is that those protesting the costumes were speaking against the true offenses to their unique cultural perspective. In contrast, the opposition of defiant parents threw their efforts behind silencing the truth and halting a narrative that is not theirs to halt (instead of taking the opportunity to further educate their children about the truth of american history).
Its not about any "pc" campiagn or liberal agenda. Its about doing the right thing. Its about the truth. Its about not accepting MISINFORMATION when the correct information is accessible.
IMHO, I think its a disgrace that we are actually debating the validity of primary source education versus costumes and hackneyed stereotypes.

p.s. why is it bad to be smart?
(Posted by: Uh Ooo. | November 25, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Why does it not surprise me that the only parents opposed to this are college professors?)

someone? anyone?... bueller?

[Milica Bar]

No matter what, people who violently reacted and tried to hurt the school and the "complaining kid" are wrong. First, the complaint was peaceful commenting, and second, no violence is ever justified as a response.

This violent response from pro-costume people tells us how deeply ingrained these stereotyped and demeaning beliefs are and how detrimental they are. Did any Native American help make accurate costumes, did any Native American talk about their version of Thanksgiving? Why was it ok to violently attack the Native kid today? Modern Americans need to get into the habit of giving full credit and respect to the Native culture, land and people. We live on their land that we took away.

Modern Americans do need to accept that fact that their ancestors committed genocide on Native Americans, and that abuse and subjugation are still continuing.

Native territories have the most evidence of HIV, addiction problems, diabetes, poverty, and such; Natives are still persecuted and their land is still being taken away - for it contains uranium, gold, and other "goodies".

The best thing that modern Americans can do is acknowledge that this is going on within the very boundaries of this country and deal with it. It is very hypocritical to go around the world "fixing democracy and eradicating persecution" when this very country is doing that very same thing within its own boundaries... even to the kids in school.

Rather shameful portrayal of modern Americans, isn't it. Paints a very self centered, ignorant, and violent picture. Since in other ways this country is moving on, like gay marriages and not-lilly-white president, perhaps it is time that we mature and start paying attention to other matters that require honesty and consideration and respect, and live up to it.

[A proud Canadian]

As a Canadian following this story, I am incredulous at how much the average American despises those who are well-educated and who have enough courage and selflessness to question meaningless, factually inaccurate and often offensive traditions. This mother who started the protest had nothing to gain. She simply didn't like the fact that young children are being taught to perpetuate (with public tax dollars) an inaccurate, silly myth. Thanksgiving can easily be celebrated without the moronic stereotypes.
Mr. Obama forgot one thing:...Americans cling to their guns and religion AND TRADITION!

[Clint Bradford]

Paraphrasing what was told to Jack Nicholson in the final scene of Chinatown, "Forget it, Jake, it's Claremont..." I lived and worked in Claremont in the 1960s and 1970s (and a student at Condit, too). This story doesn't surprise me in the slightest: Claremont has always been run by those who are over-educated and under-smart. I am waiting to hear when the offended, esteemed UCR professor will be volunteering to assist teachers in classroom sessions on her heritage. Surely HELPING our teachers is a more valuable use of time than whining to the school board.

[karen]

Seems like if your strategy for raising a concern is to launch a full frontal assault on a beloved tradition and to call those who participate in it Nazi's and Slaveholders, you've pretty much flushed your chance of getting a fair hearing down the toilet.

This reminds me of all the school Halloween costume celebrations that have been axed because right wing Christian parents call them Satanic.

[R]

Virtually everyone on both sides of this issue are idiots. The initial complainers, the people sending threatening emails, the school board that caved in cowardly fear, the anti-PC people who see no harm in objectifying a race of people, the pro-PC people who preach tolerance and diversity, as long as it is done their way.

Seriously, all of them, and most of the people who have commented above, need to get a life. Don't we have more significant things to be concerned about, and more importantly, other things to be thankful for?

[John Adams]

This is what is wrong with America! Any and ALL small protestors or organizations are granted thier wishes, as our system rewards the action of the few over the will of the many. This is how America is rotting from within!

We have lost our sense of identity and purpose. Just because America is the one country in the world made up entirely of foreigners doesn't mean that we don't have a history to be proud of. Nationalism and pride in our nation is no longer taught in our PUBLIC schools and most people are too frightened to speak up.

Theses protestors of the Thanksgiving celebrations will be rewarded as this has become the norm in our once great nation. We are failing ourselves and, our children and soon enough America will be like Rome....Vanished!

[A listener]

What you had was about 8 people trying to impose their will on over a hundred. I'm glad parents let their children dress up and hope they kept them out of school today to make the school suffer for bowing to the will of a few miscreants.

[Thom]

What non-stereotypical outfit do they think they should wear instead? Casino owner?

[Christy Mather]

This is a ridiculous story... people are outraged that children are dressing up like "indians"? Really. The parents think it's "demeaning" and "stereotyping" for native americans... why is there's no beef about dressing as pilgrims (even though - in my humble opinion THAT too is a stereotype portrayal)? WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO? I mean talk about ignorance! the WHOLE idea is to "give credit where credit is due" - Honey, if it weren't for the "indians" none of the pilgrims would have made it through the winter... but if you want to delete that bit of history - go ahead - I think it's amazing how people just shoot themselves in the foot (!)... Depicting the "indians" is so RIGHT! Native American's should be SO PROUD of their honorable ancestors for the way they gave unselfishly to saves lives!! But, no. these people would prefer us all just dress up like "pilgrims" and pretend there were no indians... would THAT really make them feel better?

[Leroy]

I wish I could have replied to this yesterday. But better late than never. First, based on these posts, there is no consensus between posters about whether or not there ever was peace at all between "Indians" and Pilgrims. Where are the posts that have links supporting one or the other's version of the "facts?"

And even if there is was peace for some time then, apparently some people think that it no longer matters due to later transgressions by the American settler. Oh, but by that reasoning, all democrats are guilty of everything the republicans did (or vice versa.)

Ok, that stretches it a bit. But this is PC run amuck. The professor simply didn't want to really address the issues. That would be too much work. It is far easier to complain. What do you PC people intend to teach your children about anything?

Did the protestors actually have signs as one poster wrote? If so, the arguments against the parents really hold no water. But maybe that is not PC reporting.

PC people are ruining their children. I don't consider someone who wants to teach the truth to their children and instill a sense of always seeking knowledge to be PC. What you PC people are is nothing less than mental and cultural terrorists. And you are the real reason the school administrators are under fire. Don't blame the parents. And lets be real. If you don't like the celebration, where is your drive to get the national holiday repealed?

The PC people should take some time and help integrate the age appropriate facts about Native Americans into the Thanksgiving celebration and the build up to it. Get off your rears, shut your mouth and be part of the solution - not the problem.

The PC people are the same kind of people who screamed about the reservation policies (yes, there were Native American supports even in the "barbaric old days of colonial America" ) and then sat around and did absolutely nothing.

Native Americans should be proud and should be able to be proud. Where is the vast media coverage for Nation American Heritage Month - November - like we see in February for another dedicated month? Protest about that.

Use what opportunities exist to promote positive feelings between peoples at the earliest age possible. Save the poison for later.

You PC people are like Hollywood sets - you have no substance. You are just shallow facades.

[Sorry American]

Maybe we can stop the suburban white teens from wearing sagging pants,
and listening to rap and hip hop. Surely this must be insulting to the inner city black culture?
Wait, we can't draw lines, we are all the same, there are no differences ???
John Lennon asked us to "Imagine". I have, and it would be a boring world. If everyone was like me, the world would suck, and if everyone was like you the world would also suck. I like that the world has different cultures, foods, and traditiions.

[Eman]

Buffalo Bil is a myth? I thought his name was William Fredrick Cody. He was born in La Clair Iowa. His date of birth was Feb, 29,1842. He is buried on Look Out Mountain, Golden Colorado. He also starred in Buffalo Bill's WIld West Show. Paul Bunyan may be a myth but Buffalo Bill is not.

[claire]

Wow. Discussion boards really bring out the worst in people, don't they?

[ConcernedMom]

This is why I homeschool. Historical accuracy is being replaced with PC revisionism. The Pilgrims, Puritans and Strangers (non-religious members of the group) were losing members rapidly and would have lost everyone if the Native Americans hadn't helped them conquer the weather, planting issues etc... They had a treaty for over 50 years that maintained peace and trade. Whay shouldn't that be celebrated?

[ArdisK]

Please parents, don't put your ridiculous, petty protestations on your children.
Let the kids decide what they want to do!
I am sure that most would decide they want to do the traditional celebration. The only ones who would vote against it are the ones who have been "brainwashed" by their parents.

[Fred flint]

This is what happens when Intellectuals take over. Although this is a sideshow, it illustrates the warped view of the world and especially of these GREAT United States, that they have. These types of battles are occurring all over the country, and are undermining our culture and country. Stand up to them now before it becomes our "new" culture. Checkout in youtube "Crying Over Dead Trees", the elitist at this school are cut from the same cloth.

[Kate H]

What a shame that a few spoil sports have to ruin everybody’s fun. I am sick to death of the politically correct and I can’t wait for the day when they go quietly into the night because everyone else is fed up with their BS!
We live in a town near a large Indian reservation and the Indian community here is proud to share their heritage with the other locals. My eight year old daughter and several of her friends dressed up as Indians for Halloween and you didn’t hear any of the parents complaining at our school. How refreshing.
Maybe the people that have a problem with kindergarteners dressing up as pilgrims and Indians for Thanksgiving should home school their kids!

[Thanks_But_No_Thanks]

While I understand the often overlooked history between Native Americans and Pilgrims, we are talking about five year olds for crying out loud. Let the children enjoy the festivities and when they get older and can decide for themselves, then they can frown upon or embrace this tradition. Besides, isn't kindergarten partly about learning the golden rule of sharing? Cut out another creative festivity from an already bland curriculum? Thanks but no thanks.

[TurkeyTime]

I am also Tribal and I remember dressing up and enjoying that experience. Here's the thing, my parents provided the proper educational setting for this topic for me and my brothers. Why not do the same? Let the pleasures of youth live as long as it can. This is America and there is plenty of time for OUR young to become jaded!

For those who want a little more, or maybe you started the jade process, here is the start of an article by Mr. Ely. It's interesting! Enjoy! Or not!

Native blood: the truth behind the myth of `Thanksgiving Day'

By Mike Ely

It is a deep thing that people still celebrate the survival of the early colonists at Plymouth — by giving thanks to the Christian God who supposedly protected and championed the European invasion. The real meaning of all that, then and now, needs to be continually excavated. The myths and lies that surround the past are constantly draped over the horrors and tortures of our present.

Every schoolchild in the United States has been taught that the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony invited the local Indians to a major harvest feast after surviving their first bitter year in New England. But the real history of Thanksgiving is a story of the murder of indigenous people and the theft of their land by European colonialists–and of the ruthless ways of capitalism.

[birdie]

To the parents who want their children to dress up as "Indians"- - -

I ask you to try to think about the situation from another perspective...a Native American child's perspective. I am going to tell you this so you can no longer be naive of the consequences of such activities. And you can then make an informed conscious decision.

The truth is it hurts.

Children will put those "costumes" on and pretend...pretend to be an Indian. Talk in a strange voice, make funny noises, maybe run around & try to make rain or even try to "kill" the Indian. (This is fact- not an imaginary situation. It happened to me, to my siblings, and now my children.)

Imagine how that feels to a child who has been brought up to honor their heritage and culture.

I know how it feels- it makes you feel scared, invisible, embarrassed, ashamed, alienated, alone...it does hurt.

Hate & racism hurts, but ignorance can hurt just as much.
But now there is no room for ignorance once you have been informed.

[RK]

It is unfortunate that white racism continues to exist in America today. Perhaps if folks would take the time to educate themselves on the history of the nation (which is not only in the past, but continues in the present as evidenced by this current example) and become familiar with their own cultural background, they would be less inclined to trample on natives. Then again, the racist rant exhibited the parents who insisted on dressing like Indians only shows how distant they are from themselves.

[Justadad]

I was there today and the reason why the parents were very upset by the protestors was due to the signs that they held. "Don’t Celebrate Genocide" and "Racists". Why would you be calling the children racists? Are children born racists? This professor is the one who is teaching racism to her child and she wants to force her views onto everyone else. I'm sorry I don't agree with your views that we should be teaching 5 year olds what happened after this event between the Indians and the Pilgrims. The event was only the celebration of the thanksgiving event nothing more and nothing less. Get over it and move on. This tradition will continue next year and the year after. The Superintendant made the wrong the decision and the parents called him out on it. The only people that looked foolish were the protestors and the Superintendant.

[Eerietown]

Only in this confederate California town would one expect to see backlash of the nature involved in this discussion. California has teaching standards and educational standards. The dress-up is a bastardization of primary education. It is not a state-relevant lesson, only a peculiar institution in this town. It is a shame that people are so protective of a flimsy lesson when children could be learning something that will prepare them for 1st grade. Kindergarten is no longer focused on crayola conceptions of the world. American kids will fail when going up against the rigorously educated students of the world who speak multiple languages, understand critical issues in history, and are able to negotiate the discovery of new knowledge against outdated rituals such as this one. Too many sentimental parents who want to prevent their kids from learning and responding to relevant and new historical information, have too much influence on public education--they will often turn to violence and simplistic logic rather than learning something themselves. Too many of these overly-sentimental parents think that school is where children are supposed to learn to be American by definitions no longer helpful to their own poor children who will enter the global era having to educate their parents and more than likely suffering because of parents who are clinging to such ridiculous ideas as continuing in the steps of ignorance instead of learning something new. Kindergarten is no longer what it used to be. The world is changing. Those who expect teachers and schools to backdate their lessons to give parents what they want and not what their children need, are self-serving and ignorant and clearly not even attempting to be a role model for their children to learn what it may mean for them to enter a world where Thanksgiving is a local celebration not a worldwide tradition. Let these children leave behind the useless superficial rituals such as dressing as Pilgrims and Indians, and let them begin to fulfill their destinies as thinking members of a society where they will have to solve the direst problems of the environmental collapse, the economic collapse, and other challenges they are inheriting. I am a lifelong teacher, and all teachers know and share this experience: the ones hardest to educate are not the kids themselves but their parents. If anyone saw the photo of the old guy in a so-called Indian headdress that opens this article can see this case illustrated perfectly. Parents are sometimes the biggest burden and barrier a child has to deal with in their attempt to master school lessons, become abstract thinkers, and deal with the pressing problems which will require totally new solutions which their parent's generation will more than likely stymie and stop. Poor children whose parents encouraged them to defy the community lesson and dress-up anyway. Poor children--they will probably have to carry those parent's ignorance on their backs the rest of their lives. They are the biggest losers in this and its all in the name of love.

[arapahoman]

The separatists at Plymouth lived with the Wampanoag people mostly in peace - though not a perfect peace - for many years thanks to a wise leader named Massasoit and his ambassador to the colony named Tisquantum.

It seems good to me that little children learn of this peaceful relationship and re-enact the gathering of the separatists and the ninety or more Wampanoag men at a feast of thanksgiving. If making little clothes out of paper and glue helps them learn, then that is good, though I don't think the Wampanoag used feathers sticking up in headbands. If the if the Wampanoag Nation is not offended by the little children dressing up, then it should be allowed. But if they are, it shouldn't be done any more. Has anybody asked them?

p.s. With reverence to the histories and feelings of the many tribes and nations of people who were here before the Europeans arrived, I don't think a Seneca or any other tribe has a say in this matter. This is not their history being re-enacted.

[PapaTom]

Contrary to some opinions, Mr. Cash is a very respectful superintendant, who acts in the interest of the community. As a conservative resident of Claremont, I see all kinds of political correctness throughout this liberal town. Heck, it infuriiates me that my kids cannot wear costumes to school on Halloween, because the school district is so politically correct. So, it surprises me that there weren't more people in support of the Native American protests. Davide Cash and the school board probably felt they were making the right decision based on the political demographics of the city's population. And, eventhough I do not agree with the decision to hold the event without costumes, it is not at all justified to send hate email to the administrative heads.

[Native Warrior...]

Both side of this whole mess are in the wrong....Its the rights of non-native american parents to demand that their children be taught history in a rated E version because they are ashamed of what their ancestors did, so its washed clean to make everyone feel better. Now on the part of you natives, this fight is kinda embarrassing, your picking on children, they dont know better. I know tons of issues in Indian country, regarding BIA trust issues, and sacred lands issues, and programs for reservation youths, are a better fight because there is way more to gain, this fight does not advance us all as a native people.

[Juliettemomof3]

and people wonder why I homeschool????? jeez!!!!!

[Cynthia Franklin]

In the context of Hawai'i, playwright Alani Apio calls the kind of cultural practices that Michelle Raheja protests "1000 little cuts to genocide." At the same time as Raheja is mocked and trivialized for protesting a "harmless" tradition, the vitriol and outpouring of responses her efforts have met with speak to the ways in which settlers feel it is their right and privilege to "play Indian" and at some level indicate that settlers know that their actions are wrong--that they constitutes an ongoing, everyday assault on the dignity and rights of native peoples. Claremont School is lucky to have Michelle Raheja there to educate its children and their parents.

[Craig]

As a long time Claremont resident I am disappointed in the school officials. It is obvious that this woman has an ulterior motive and should not be allowed to impose her political views on the rest of the student population. Thanksgiving is a time of people coming together in peace and gratitude. Our traditional way of teaching it to our young children is one of innocence, not politics. I am curious if this is the first time that this woman has a child in a public school. If it is, and she is offended, perhaps she needs to consider private school or, better yet, home schooling. If she is a professor I am sure she is qualified to teach her child adequately without imposing her views on the general public.

[Maria-D]

commonsense, your post is absolutely dead on. This episode shows the divide between what passes for the intelligentsia and the rest of us unwashed common folk. It's all for the children, they say, but in this case it's the children who are being hurt, and that's the extent of their understanding. Will they grow up resenting Native Americans because of this foolish woman? It's surprising what little kids remember...they are more aware than you think, and they are far quicker to discern the truth than adults.

"When the modern liberal mind whines about imaginary victims, rages against imaginary villains and seeks above all else to run the lives of persons competent to run their own lives, the neurosis of the liberal mind becomes painfully obvious." Dr. Lyle Rossiter, author of The Liberal Mind: Psychological Causes of Political Madness.

If the shoe fits!

[disgusted at comments]

Wow. The hateful and hostile behavior of the pro-costume parents about htis issue iis really unfathomable -- and the comments here supporting it equally so. People, just because you did something as a child doesn't mean we can't rethink it a generation later! People used to dress in blackface, and play "Little Black Sambo" too -- but we've learned that is not respectful or appropriate. Isn't there something we can learn here? The viciousness of this reaction (vandalism? hate mail?) makes it seem like there's a lot of power in the performance of this stereotype. (and in what way is putting on headbands and feathers NOT a stereotype? would you want your ethnicity to be portrayed in a cookie-cutter way by people pretending to be like you -- but who clearly have no respect for you or interest in learning or hearing what you have to say?..) I'd been considering moving to Claremont where my kids could go to what I'd heard was a "good" school system. It sounds like the Superintendent is a courageous man (and I hope the people who vandalized his home are prosescuted for hate crimes, as they should be) -- but I would NOT want my kids to be part of a school community where parents act so visciously to another parent or to a minority community.

[John Doe Ray Me]

There is a lot of misinformation out there about this issue. (Imagine that)

I am a Claremont resident and have 1 child in Condit (albeit older) and one that recently moved on to Jr. High via Condit. Some points that may provide some clarity:

#1 - This entire episode blew up, primarily, due to the general incompetence of the principal @ Condit. Rather than take the professor's complaint and give real, meaningful thought and research to the issue, the event was summarily cancelled without so much as a conversation with those that would be affected by this decision. It's par for the course with this principal.

#2 - It wasn't a 50/50 split of protestors/supporters as has been widely reported. The protest group was comprised primarily of the professor, her peers and some of her students. There were very few, if any, Condit/Mt. View parents sitting in protest.

#3 - Dave Cash is a drama queen. It would be fair to question the veracity of his "hate mail" claim.

#4 - To those who have proposed that it would be wonderful if Condit (or any elementary school) could take this opportunity to bring in Native American scholars to teach age appropriate history and culture to the students: Great Idea! Condit has a long history of doing just that. It was assumed by the professor (and others) that this has been lacking at Condit and that couldn't be further from the truth. My chiildren can tick off the numerous positive, and educational, encounters they had with local Native Americans thoughout their time at Condit Elementary.

John

[Leann]

Only in Claremont.

[NoWayNoHow]

To the people who comment to ask why we're outraged over this PC nonsense: it's because we haven't gotten outraged often or quickly enough. PC doctrine is destroying this country.

The events that happened after the Americans came to this country were not a 'holocaust' or a 'genocide'. It was war. We won. You can spend your whole life looking through history and weeping over all the people who were wronged by one group or another, but you won't have time for anything else.

And the costumes aren't specifically injurious to Indians. The Pilgrims didn't wear those costumes either! The Pilgrim costume as we know it is a fabrication created by an 18th-century painter, just like the Indian costumes. It's not about rote historical accuracy or sensitivity to other vanquished cultures or any of that PC hippie nonsense. It's a celebration of our country, and of giving thanks for bounty. It's tradition.

[JR]

I maintain the bigger crime in the whole affair is the refusal to acknowledge the recipient of the thanksgiving...GOD.

Are the children in Claremont taught the real truth about Thanksgiving - that it was, and is, a day set aside to honor, praise and give thanks to God?

[Marcus Murcur]

After reading all this bickering about such a small idocy, I am reminded of the most effective means of protest - econonomic. Remember, the school receives money from the state for each little pilgrim and injun who attends the school. If those parents really want to protest - pull your little darlings out permanently and cripple the system, why don't you? - Ozzy

[Justamom]

There's a good discussion to be had here about history, but what I'm seeing is too much heat and not enough light. Intimidation tactics are so unnecessary. The principal and the superintendent and the school board are all charged with making these tough calls, after consulting with a variety of people. Express an opinion sure, but sending hate mail? Come on people, it's Thanksgiving week.

[common sense]

Hey havesomemanners,
If they were truly Indians out there protesting, then they are the 1% of the Indian population that is offended by this. The kids dress up in costume to honor them, and that shouldn't be objectionable to any race. I truly think that for some reason, the more booksmart people get (professors), the less common sense they have. Maybe one of you professor weenies should get a government funded grant to study that! I'm sorry, but you and your professsor friends are nutjobs, I just wish you had the common sense to see it.

[Josh Norris]

The thanksgiving story is a myth. So is the characterization of Indians as warm nieghbors. So is the characterization of Pilgrims as morally driven. The frightened of the truth crowd really wants to hold on to this one. If this myth is taught in school it should not be taught under the pretext of "history", rather it should be treated as any other myth, say, like Paul Bunyan or Buffalo Bill.

[Carolyn]

BRAVO for the Claremont parents who stood up to the politically correct BULLYS. They set a WONDERFUL example for their children - that one of the founding principles of this country is the right to FREE SPEECH and to fight against TYRANNY.

[LokalYokal]

My wife and I have enjoyed living in Claremont for three years. We love this city! I'm glad, however, that our children are grown and that we didn't have to subject them to the ridiculousness of this morning's demonstration.
I grew up in Pennsylvania...learned how to shoot a gun and a bow. I loved Indian Lore and always had a deep respect for Natve Americans even before the term existed. Never once, in all my years in school nor since have I felt predjudiced. Anti-semitism is taught. The teachers in my school never taught that, however. We were taught that at Thanksgiving there were no bad guys...only good. As best as we could we decorated and celebrated. As a result, I think I have a sense of what happened that day when people from two cultures came together to give thanks.
No, it''s not appropriate to act out the Holocaust with 5-year-olds! But Pilgrims and Indians at Thanksgiving? What a great tradition!

[Rebecca]

My son attended Condit and got a good education. For that I give thanks.
My son attends UCR now, OMG.....! For that I need to pray harder.

[havesomemanners]

So let me get this straight: so many people are taken by the sweet story of how famously the Pilgrims and the Native Americans allegedly got along that they are willing to angrily shout down present-day Native Americans who are offended by their cartoonish representation. Some are sending hate mail, lots of people commenting here are calling the protesters "PC" as if that somehow trumps all other arguments.

Those of you who express anger at the protesters are exposing your guilt by being so defensive. You know it's wrong to teach children that Native Americans are just colorful entertainment figures from the past, yet you belligerently insist on your right to be offensive. Whose really being PC, the people who want to preserve a little historical dignity, or the fools who insist on their "right" to denigrate others?

[Carlos]

The original article mentions the fact that Native Americans are on both sides of this issue. I am a long-nosed darkskinned 3/8 Indian, and used to work on the Reservation. I take no offense to children dressing up as Indians. I feel like they are honoring my people.

Also the person who commented that 'white people need to shut up' regarding this issue is unreasonable. It's like saying that only Han Chinese and Tibetans can have a valid opinion regarding the staus of Tibet.

These 'Indian' College professors are not representative of most Indians. Indians have the highest rate of military service based on ethnicity, and tend to be very patriotic.

[bryan]

I would have to agree with comments about appreciateing the Native American culture more when i participated in those corny Thanksgiving activities in elementary school. You have to start somewhere. They will learn more details as they get older just as i did. You can't start with the whole enchilada at 5 years old, they will lose interest. Whose to say that the kindergarten interpretation of a real native american headress isn't accurate anyway. Cartoonish stereotypes? No, try simple diagrams. As an architect I draw simple diagrams of very complex systems all the time. It helps my audience LEARN. If i just showed them the actual system, they would walk away gaining nothing from the meeting.

[D.A.M.!]

What about the CLEVELAND INDIANS ?????? They need help ! ! ! !

[Susan Aleman]

Our money is going up in flames in the stock market. You need to worry about our economy not our childrens' Thanksgiving events! Shame on you! Thank you parents who kept our tradition of wearing costumes today. You all looked great!

[Clare]

the really sad thing about this whole thing? In 1621 the pilgrims and local Native Americans did celebrate a common Thanksgiving dinner. They eventually did agree on a peace treaty and although it didn't last forever, for a full fifty years they did continue to live in peace. When you consider the life expectancy of anyone in 1621 fifty years is well within the the average lifespan. Therefore just about anyone (certainly any adult) present at that first Thanksgiving DID enjoy a peaceful co existance with the nearby strangers for the rest of their lives. Certainly that is something to celebrate. I really can't imagine what this woman is complaining about. Unless she's got some really specific gripe about the costumes- I can't see how its anything other than a helpful historical lesson.

[Mike]

I'm not even going to buy gas in Claremont anymore. Just pass by on the freeway and laugh. What a freakin' joke.

[Amused]

Where else but in California has P/C replaced common sense!

[Teach]

I'd like to see the children dressed up like slaves and slave sellers. or even like the people at Hiroshima after the nuclear bomb, just for fun, you know.

[TJ]

Claremont has always had it's share of sniveling lukewarm liberals....add in a recent version of today's oh so sensitive english teachers and, well, what ELSE would you expect. Cheers to those who stand for a tradition tied in with the early years of our country...a tradition that, lo and behold up to now has NOT caused the world to reverse it's direction, or ruined the remaining years of a normal fun loving kid. Oh, that's right,,, perhaps the children of said teachers aren't supposed to have much fun.

[Parent]

What are missed on this article are signs that these protestors had. The signs said "Don’t Celebrate Genocide" and "Racist" the racist sign had an arrow on it and when kids were walking by they were pointing the arrow to the kids. The School Board and the Superintend is not going to stop this celebration.

There was also another Native American holding a sign in support of the celebration.

[Kimberly]

Let us all take a second to think about what city our children are so blessed to attend school in. In a time of MID YEAR school budget cuts and potential layoffs for most school districts... Claremont District and David Cash have worked tirelessly over the last few years to assure that our school would not have mid year cuts. Not only will every single child who attends a Claremont School recieve music and art this year... but our children will not lose programs in the middle of the year. Other children in the US are not as lucky. And here we are, so caught up in the emotion of this event that we overlook what it does to our school and the people who have worked so hard to assure the education of our children. Now I know that quite a few of the people fighting this battle are new to our school district as Kinder parents. They may not know how hard our district works for our children. AND in allowing the emotion of both sides to fester into David Cash and the principal at Condit getting phone calls is ridiculous. I would hope that people were grateful for their children to live in this district! I am disgusted that these parents act out of emotion and turn into children themselves. (both sides) Please get back to reality and realize how lucky you are to be here in Claremont and that your children are healthy. And leave our Dr. Cash and our principals alone. They work too hard for your children and do not deserve this. They take care of plenty of small children every day. They should not have to deal with full grown children!

[Stacey]

I had an American Indian friend tell me once that they do not celebrate "Thanksgiving" because it was supposed to be a going away party. The complaints here about the political correctness of the decision make me sad. After four hundred years we still don't seem to be able to muster any shame or remorse about the treatment of American Indians that was tantamount to genocide. How can you not see how they might be offended by the institutionalized carictures of American Indians in our schools. Here's an idea, why don't we try to be respectful of everyone.

[tarbubble]

At my 6-year-old's school they did the standard silly paper faux Plains Tribes headdresses today. I didn't notice any Pilgrims, but I'm sure there must have been a few. I do sort of wish they would either get the Native American garb right or not do it at all. But I feel the need to point out that the population at our school is overwhelmingly Central American. So is it equally offensive when a bunch of Mexican/Nicaraguan/Panamanian (etc) Indians dress up?

I kind of look at Thanksgiving as a fantasy of what could have been, what should have been. The kids will learn about the Native American holocaust soon enough, but it's nice that they get taught some idealism before they have to face the reality of what happened.

[Carolyn Gonzales]

STOP! the nonsense. If there is a problem with what the children were wearing, why did the protesters not offer a 'CORRECT form of attire". The future "Native Americans" (back in the 1700's they were identified as Indians, no disrespect, it is a heritage of honor - my greatgrandmother shared that heritage) in anycase, they were wearing something. So, get the costume straightened out, and let's move forward - - We should NOT STOP the activity. Exactly, what is demeaning? There were no slurs, no one upmanship, the Pilgrims outfits were pretty hilarious too. Perhaps we, as a people , have lost our sense of purpose, so we try to forge one out of insignificant issues. It is only when one has no pride that they are offended so easily.

[debrisbox]

this is better than Jerry Springer

[dudeman1961]

Yeah, the story may be partially fabricated, but how is telling 5 year olds that '2 different cultures sat downin friendship to give thanks to their creator and each othe for what thye haver' so terrible? In another part of the state my son's school did this and it was so cute. We have indian blood way back, and he thought it was so cool to be the indian, which according to the story were the one's who helped teach the pilgrims how to plant the corn successfully.

As others have said,.try to look at it through the eyes of a 5 year old, with innocence and awe of a story of friendship and helpfulness and love for others.

The anti-celebrators are messed up!

[KO]

I agree with the poster (Uh Ooo) who suggested that the parent who started this use it as a teaching opportunity as opposed to having no dress-up at all, which serves no purpose. Ms. Raheja could have worked with the schools and used her knowledge of her family's ancestry to educate the students about how some Native American tribes dressed. The sad thing to me here is that these students look forward to this activity and go into it with the best of intentions. I don't think the kids intend to mock when they dress, but to use their creativity to interpret historical events as they picture them. Unfortunately, as adults we often lose the ability to look through the innocent eyes of a child and not assume the worst of motives behind people's actions.

[Clare]

Well...since they find a Thanksgiving so objectionable I guessing the Wounded Knee Re-Enactment and Carnival is really in trouble.

[Kim]

WOW...Are we all that bored that this matters so much. Isn't there anything else going on? Last week I heard parents say that the siblings of the children who paricipated last year are broken hearted because they were so looking forward to this event. Please these kids are 4 and 5 years old! Looking forward to this event....They are feeling what they hear their parents say. I feel like people need to get a life!!! And I live here in Claremont. I think both sides are ridiculous and feed off drama!!!!! Please try to keep your drama from ruining what is one of the greatest school districts in the US!!!!! You should all be ashamed!

[american-american]

These people who complain "What about the Jews, Muslims, Nazis" WAKE UP!!! THey had absolutely NOTHING to do with the start of this country! The TRUE stories about the Pilgrims and the Indians not only should but MUST be celebrated. That is what Thanksgiving is all about and that beginning is the asis for the starting of this country!

When I was in school, I always took part in our Thanksgiving programs. I taught us all many things. We learned the importaince of cooperation, tolerance and forgiveness. It is obvous that NO BODY ELSE HERE ever learned this.

I give thanks to all my great teachers, my mother and many others who taught me to respect and help anyone and everyone, just like the Pilgrims and Indians of Plymouth.

These people who complain about the degrading Indian and Pigrim costumes probably let their little girls dress like WHORES on Halloween but think it is wrong to show pride and thanks for where America started!

[PAM]

Does this professor even remember what Thanksgiving was really about? An oppressed group from Europe known as the pilgrims came to America to practice their religion freely, live in peace, and through the agonizing reality of traveling from afar, having to survive, the very kind and gracious Native Americans they met freely helped them. In the end they feasted together, people of different faiths, from different lands, celebrating their thankfulness. I think this "Thanksgiving" celelebration between these Claremont kids teaches kindness, sharing, and celebrating diversity and the great things that happened in America's history. Yes, many Native Americans were later killed and hurt by non-pilgrims, but the spirit of Thanksgiving is not that, it is of immense gratitude and friendship despite any differences.

Shame on the staff and the professor who tried to ban this festivity that celebrates peace, equality, thankfulness, and sharing.

[Mike]

As the see-saw conquest of Sicily was coming to a close, 12'th century rule under the Christian King Roger II was remembered for providing an umbrella of multi-ethnic, religious tolerance for a period. No it didn't last, but remembering and celebrating such a period would be worth while. So, what's the harm in dressing up too? Do we need Kindergarten 101 lessons in PC costumes ?

[Tim_CA]

Great...Now the loons are perverting a holiday tradition that celebrates a day that people put aside their diferences, sat down, gave thanks, and shared a meal together. Whether this really occured or is folklore is irrelevent, the message is valid and good, and the tradition is cherished.

Now, because some nut-job wants to play the perpetual victim, it's ruined for a group of innocent children - and the message (of brotherhood, tolerance and thankfulness) is lost.

Ms. Raheja - you really need to get a life. Fill the pathetic hole in your soul with something other than disdain - this is a celebration, and a time for reflection and nothing else. Please, go somewhere else to search for your 15 minutes of fame and let our little ones have fun, pretend to be Pilgrims and Native Americans and enjoy their day.

[Robert]

Why don't they celebrate thanksgiving the old fashion way? Invite all the neighbors over, throw a big feast, then kill them and steal their land.

[Michael]

There was more "freedom of speech" in Iraq under Saddam Hussein than there was at Condit this morning. The protesters, who were very softspoken when they weren't silent, were harangued until they left, much as they are being harangued now by bloggers who weren't there and who know nothing about our town. There was no good example set for our children -- and it wasn't the fault of the protesters.

[Frank]

I have lived in Claremont almost my whole life and i am NOT suprised about this. If you have ever been to Claremont there is absolutley NOTHING for these people to do but go and protest over 5 year old kids. I did the same thing when i was the same age and its just stupid that people act this way how little kids are dressed. Ever since we were little we have been told the pilgrims came on the mayflower the indians greeted and cheered us and we shared a big meal. What are we going to tell the kids, the pilgrims basically murdered the indians and pushed them onto reservations to live. Have some common sense people they are LITTLE KIDS who dont know right from wrong!!!!!!!

[lisa]

Costumes. We all wear them. Throughout history they change. What a wonderful way for the little ones to learn about those who walked before us.

[bwunderlick]

oh boy, when the pro-pc comments show up are they going to feel foolish!

oh wait, no one is pro-pc, it's just some abstraction people attack when someone else has the gall to suggest something is offensive. like dressing up your kid like the lady on the butter and acting like it has some deep moral/historical meaning about....something.

i forgot, it's fun! how dare those pc thugs ruin our minstrel shows, it's so much fun! and we've been doing it for something like, 15 whole years!