---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day when…"
description: "\"Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day when the dominant white culture (and, sadly, most of the rest of the non-white but non-indigenous population) celeb..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/robert-jensen-24357_blessed_simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when_1533070.jpg"
---

#  Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day when the dominant…

![“Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day when the dominant white culture (and, sadly, most of the rest of the non-white but non-indigenous population) celebrates the beginning of a genocide that was, in fact, blessed by the men we hold up as our heroic founding fathers. ...How does a country deal with…” quote by Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/robert-jensen-24357_blessed_simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when_1533070.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/robert-jensen-24357_blessed_simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when_1533070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/robert-jensen-24357_blessed_simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when_1533070.jpg)

> “Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day when the dominant white culture (and, sadly, most of the rest of the non-white but non-indigenous population) celebrates the beginning of a genocide that was, in fact, blessed by the men we hold up as our heroic founding fathers. ...How does a country deal with the fact that some of its most revered historical figures had certain moral values and political views virtually identical to Nazis?”

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage critiques Thanksgiving as a celebration of colonization and genocide, questioning how societies reconcile revered founders with morally reprehensible actions.

**In simple terms:** Thanksgiving hides violent origins.

Key Takeaway

Re‑examine historical narratives.

Themes

history colonialism morality memory

Mood

critical provocative

Type

essay opinion

When to use this quote

- education
- public discourse
- commemorations
- policy debates

Key Concepts

national identity mythmaking ethical reckoning

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can communities take to honor truth?
- How do we balance tradition with accountability?

A Different Perspective

Acknowledging past atrocities can provoke defensive backlash.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [Genocide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genocide/) [Heroic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroic/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-figure/) [Historical Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-figures/) [Indigenous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-values/) [Nazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nazi/) [Obnoxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obnoxious/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-view/) [Political views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-views/) [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) [Thanksgiving day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-day/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/)

## Related quotes

> [How does a country deal with the fact that some of its most revered historical figures had certain moral values and political views virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/how-does-a-country-deal-with-the-fact-that-some-of-its-most-revered/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [My friends in prison were mostly women more like myself: not historical figures who I did not relate to as peers, but hookers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/my-friends-in-prison-were-mostly-women-more-like-myself-not/)

[Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/)

> [In the first few pages, Kundera discusses several abstract historical figures: Robespierre, Nietzsche, Hitler. For Eunice's sake, I wanted him to get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/in-the-first-few-pages-kundera-discusses-several-abstract-historical/)

[Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/)

> [I find historical figures in general very tricky because you feel at times that you're serving two masters. Not only the arc and wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-piazza/i-find-historical-figures-in-general-very-tricky-because-you-feel-at/)

[Vincent Piazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-piazza/)

> [When I was seven years old, I fell in love with a series published by Bobbs-Merrill called 'The Childhood of Famous Americans.' In it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hood/when-i-was-seven-years-old-i-fell-in-love-with-a-series-published-by/)

[Ann Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-hood/)

> [I can not give you the reference of Ram Chandar or Krishna, because they were not historical figures. I can not help it but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-can-not-give-you-the-reference-of-ram-chandar-or-krishna-because/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [There are dozens of writings outside of the Bible that verify the historical accuracy of many of the names of people, places, and events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-campbell/there-are-dozens-of-writings-outside-of-the-bible-that-verify-the/)

[Charlie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-campbell/)

> [I visit English country churchyards where historical figures are buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-gibb/i-visit-english-country-churchyards-where-historical-figures-are/)

[Robin Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-gibb/)

> [I have a bee in my bonnet as to how few black historical figures one sees on film; incredible stories, stories from which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-have-a-bee-in-my-bonnet-as-to-how-few-black-historical-figures-one/)

[David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/)

> [A collection of masks, depicting historical figures in life and what I like to call the eternal repose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-craven/a-collection-of-masks-depicting-historical-figures-in-life-and-what-i/)

[Wes Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-craven/)

> [Now, what does a vampire do with a computer? Keep track of investments? Send e-mail to other vampires as you all plot to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-vaughn/now-what-does-a-vampire-do-with-a-computer-keep-track-of-investments/)

[Carrie Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-vaughn/)

> [Most of the time when "universal" is used, it's just a euphamism for "white"; white themes, white significance, white culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-woo/most-of-the-time-when-universal-is-used-it-s-just-a-euphamism-for/)

Merle Woo

> [“It wasn’t a matter of conscious choice, necessarily, just a matter of gravitational pull, the way integration always worked, a one-way street. The minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-wasn-t-a-matter-of-conscious-choice-necessarily-just-a-matter-of/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [People of color grow up steeped in 'white' culture. The reverse is not true. And, no, listening to hip-hop on the way to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/people-of-color-grow-up-steeped-in-white-culture-the-reverse-is-not/)

[John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/)

> [Black folks aren't asked to make films about all white people. But what would have happened if we did? What would white culture look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramell-ross/black-folks-aren-t-asked-to-make-films-about-all-white-people-but/)

[RaMell Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramell-ross/)

## More by Robert Jensen

> [Being rational - along with being clear and honest - are important if we are to create the needed shift in fundamental thinking necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/being-rational-along-with-being-clear-and-honest-are-important-if-we/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [The United States is a society in which people not only can get by without knowing much about the wider world but are systematically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/the-united-states-is-a-society-in-which-people-not-only-can-get-by/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [“Without (hetero)sexual abuse, (hetero)sexual harassment and the (hetero)sexualization of every aspect of female bodies and behaviors, there would not be patriarchy, and whatever other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/without-hetero-sexual-abuse-hetero-sexual-harassment-and-the-hetero/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [How does a country deal with the fact that some of its most revered historical figures had certain moral values and political views virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/how-does-a-country-deal-with-the-fact-that-some-of-its-most-revered/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [People are people, and grief that is limited to those within a specific political boundary denies the humanity of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/people-are-people-and-grief-that-is-limited-to-those-within-a/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [The way we are educated and entertained keep us from knowing about or understanding the pain of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/the-way-we-are-educated-and-entertained-keep-us-from-knowing-about-or/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [“It may be that in the long run, patriarchy has not been a successful adaptation and will lead to the extinction of the species.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/it-may-be-that-in-the-long-run-patriarchy-has-not-been-a-successful/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [“Complex systems produce complicated results, and still there are identifiable patterns: Patriarchy is a system that delivers material benefits to men—unequally depending on men’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/complex-systems-produce-complicated-results-and-still-there-are/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [We're all in the race game, so to speak, either consciously or unconsciously. We can overtly support white-supremacist racial projects. We can reject white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/we-re-all-in-the-race-game-so-to-speak-either-consciously-or/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [“The radical feminists I have worked with do not limit their critique to patriarchy. To emphasize the radical potential of radical feminism: Beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/the-radical-feminists-i-have-worked-with-do-not-limit-their-critique/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [“To deconstruct a concept is to analyze it in a way which reveals its construction—both in the temporal sense of its birth and development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/to-deconstruct-a-concept-is-to-analyze-it-in-a-way-which-reveals-its/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [“Jokes are funny only in context. There is no such thing as abstract clever word play. Words have meaning in the world in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/jokes-are-funny-only-in-context-there-is-no-such-thing-as-abstract/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [I am against nationalism, and I am against patriotism. They are both the dark side. It is time not simply to redefine a kinder-and-gentler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/i-am-against-nationalism-and-i-am-against-patriotism-they-are-both/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [History matters. It matters whether we tell the truth about what happened centuries ago, and it matters whether we tell the truth about more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/history-matters-it-matters-whether-we-tell-the-truth-about-what/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

> [Mainstream politicians will continue to protect existing systems of power, corporate executives will continue to maximize profit without concern, and the majority of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/mainstream-politicians-will-continue-to-protect-existing-systems-of/)

[Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

[Explore all 24 Robert Jensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/)

## More Blessed quotes

> [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/)

[Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/)

> [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/)

[Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/)

> [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/)

[Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/)

> [You know, I'm blessed. 'Blessed' is a better way of saying 'rich.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-know-i-m-blessed-blessed-is-a-better-way-of-saying-rich/)

[Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/)

> [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [I've been blessed to have a body that's durable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/i-ve-been-blessed-to-have-a-body-that-s-durable/)

[Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/)

> [I feel that I'm very blessed. But with great blessings come great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-that-i-m-very-blessed-but-with-great-blessings-come-great/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/)

[Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/)

> [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/)

[Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/)

> [“The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-blood-of-jesus-christ-is-as-blessed-and-divine-a-payment-for-the/)

[Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/)

> [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/)

[E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/)

[Browse all 4,183 Blessed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day when the dominant white culture (and, sadly, most of the rest of the non-white but non-indigenous population) celebrates the beginning of a genocide that was, in fact, blessed by the men we hold up as our heroic founding fathers. ...How does a country deal with the fact that some of its most revered historical figures had certain moral values and political views virtually identical to Nazis?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Jensen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when-the-dominant-white-culture/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blessed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when-the-dominant-white-culture/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/robert-jensen-24357_blessed_simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when_1533070.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/robert-jensen-24357_blessed_simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when_1533070.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/robert-jensen-24357_blessed_simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when_1533070.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day when the dominant white culture (and, sadly, most of the rest of the…” — Robert Jensen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Robert Jensen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Simply put: Thanksgiving is the day...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when-the-dominant-white-culture/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/simply-put-thanksgiving-is-the-day-when-the-dominant-white-culture/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
