November 7, 2009
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`What is the point of having experience, knowledge, or talent if I don’t give it away? Of having stories if I don’t tell them to others? Of having wealth if I don’t share it? I don’t intend to be cremated with any of it! It is in giving that I connect with others, and with the world. (Isabel Allende)
Let Us Learn From That First Thanksgiving
Let us learn from that first Thanksgiving
The concept of acceptance.
For it was the Indians who graciously accepted
The foreigners without proper visas.
For they realized that acceptance was moral
Whether it was legal or not.
Let us learn from that first Thanksgiving
The concept of tolerance.
For it was a holiday of mixed religions
Both Christian and Indian.
For a celebration among different people
Is a celebration of humanity, not theology.
Let us learn from that first Thanksgiving
The concept of learning from other cultures.
For without learning how to harvest,
The English non-farmers would have perished.
So also, if we do not learn to learn from other cultures
We too will perish.
Let us learn from that first Thanksgiving
The concept of a proper paradigm.
For this first harvest was a product of teamwork
Where both sides learned, lived, and enjoyed.
So too we need to live through collaboration and cooperation
Rather than fight through competition and control.
David Kimball
Aka curiousdwk
Comments (18)
I enjoyed this. I think modern day Christians could learn a lot from the past however they would probably twist it to fit their desires and mentality.
Quality poetry, what finery of words.
If only everyone sees Thanksgiving as such a loving and giving festival, devoid of racial implications and religions.. the world would have peace. But its a great write, nonetheless. I would love to read more of your works,
Thank you David, for the kind words and subs.
I do love reflecting upon issues… but sometimes, reactions take the speed of lightning. Am I right to deduce that you are also a thinker, or perhaps, a reflector, instead of a reactor?
Hear! Hear! tremendous and extremely appropo. Your words are so well crafted and go right to the heart. Thank you for posting this.
love love looooooooooooove this poem. thanks for sharing davidd xoxo
@SignificanceOfTheMightyClit - I’m glad you liked it. I really should post more of my thoughts and poems.
A most moving and thoughtful poem, I first was attracted to the photo “colour” the many colourful people anth this is the world we live in. Then the first tow verses of the poem .I was hooked Perhaps I pray we have learned and continue to do so..excellent post..Peace to you& Thank you for sharing.
well said, it’s not in the taking/giving, but in the sharing, so thx for that
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Really, really good.
I was planning on rereading this another time or two, in order to expand my comment a little, but there’s an annoying popup that won’t go away. So I’ll prolly be back
I came over to read, because of a post twoberry did about you!
I’m glad I did! I love reading Xanga writers and poets! You are a very gifted one! And the photo is so beautiful and attention getting! I will be back again to read more of you older posts later. Thank you for letting me stop by!
Hugs!
yes. very well-said, David.
it’s good to meet you.
j.
well said and most appropo …
you did a lovely job, my sweet . . . and left such a very lovely comment for me on my post. It made me slightly misty. I have missed you.
c
@windupherskirt - Thanks for the comment.
And I want to tell you that I chuckle every time I see that profile pic of yours. And I like chuckles.
@adventofreason - Any time you miss me, I’m only an e-mail away.
Dear David,
I’m visiting here on the recommendation of Bob (twoberry) who lauded your blog on his Nov. 23rd entry about “favorite subs.” Very rich poem about “the first Thanksgiving.” Too bad that foreigner and indigenous peoples didn’t keep the friendship about which you write a little longer.
Since I believe this is the first time I’ve visited, I read a few of the entires on this page. When I read about the book banning, I realized you wrote the entry some time ago. Obviously you are either hiatusing or you don’t post all that often. The entry about the book banning was interesting. I really enjoyed reading about the online dating service however, since I spent a lot of time, energy and money back in 1999 and 2000 trying to “find love on the internet.” Didn’t work for me. I had two short relationships, but I won’t bore you with the details. I’d be interested in hearing about how the gal to whom you wrote the letter you posted answered, and if you got the chance to meet and perhaps date.
Nice that Bob gave me a chance to get to know you through your sporadic blogposts! Any friend of Bobs’….etc.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
@baldmike2004 - Thanks Baldmike. I remember you from quite a while ago. I used to subscribe to you but for some reason I don’t get any posts from you in my Xanga subscription digest every day. I think I thought you had moved on. I will try to re-subscribe.
And no, in the past I haven’t written posts very often. However, I plan to start to write more now.
Good hearing from you. And to quote a wise man, “Any friend of Bob’s ….etc.”