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#5 1. Explore the irony of the discussion about Thanksgiving. (Katie B.)


It is ironic that Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving because after the Indians opened their hearts and home to the pilgrims, the pilgrims killed them off, enslaved them, and tortured them. Junior explains that he thinks it’s strange to celebrate Thanksgiving, “The Indians and Pilgrims were best friends during that first Thanksgiving, but a few years later, the Pilgrims were shooting Indians. So I’m never quite sure why we eat turkey like everybody else” (Alexie 101). Junior expresses that he is confused on why they celebrate Thanksgiving because when they celebrate it, it is like they are celebrating the Pilgrim's victory and the Native American’s brutal defeat. Junior may also be confused because they are celebrating and giving thanks to a time when the Indians were brave enough to have hope and let in new people, but it instead of a good outcome the Pilgrims took everything they had and betrayed their once friends.

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