At this point it's well known that Thanksgiving has its origins in genocide and wholly unfortunate events. Also it's worth noting that despite the fact that centuries have passed since the age of the pilgrims, Native Americans are still facing incredible discrimination right this very minute in North Dakota. The Dakota Area Pipeline or DAPL represents a growing problem in the American identity. Though the DAPL situation is no longer unknown or unnoticed, it is still a problem and as Thanksgiving season approaches, the one time a year we are especially supposed to recognize the plight of Native Americans and be grateful for what we have, America has decided to continue to torture those begging for their sovereignty in the little land that they still have to pursue oil interests. We've found ourselves in a country where Black Friday is more prevalently featured than the true victims of American Consumerism.
As Black Friday sales come to an end, retailers face a bevy of criticism as they quickly transform the Thanksgiving holiday into a shopping frenzy. As the years have gone by, Black Friday has actually transformed into Thursday right after dinner with retail employees losing one of the few holidays that they are still granted. This phenomenon is tragic but unlike the DAPL, people are unafraid to state their distaste and fight for the workers who they believe must be the most affected victims of consumerism. The reality is that life can be exponentially worse than losing a holiday.
Imagine being the marginalized group that inspired said holiday of thankfulness. Imagine watching as your entire country celebrates the mass murder of your ancestors as you feel entirely forgotten by the people who now inhabit your native lands. You are left with a mere fraction of your land and are forced to realize that no one has really forgotten about you. The world wants more from you still. If the DAPL is ever really allowed to run through the sovereign Sioux tribe's land, the message will be all too clear. Nothing will ever be more important than American consumerism. Not even drinking water for the people who were really here first. By choosing a pipeline, we are choosing the selfish interests of a private company over the health and safety of Native Americans who have lost far too much already.
Do not quickly lose the spirit of giving in the holiday spirit and choose to help those who need it. Black Friday is an event that is growing with demand, if you do not agree with the policies of companies who choose to open on Thanksgiving day, do not give them buisness, ever. But the DAPL is a slippery slope, your voice matters in a time where the mainstream media will not acknowledge the situation at hand.
