Comments on: Plymouth Rock http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/ Why bother seeing the world for real? Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:37:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: pilgrimchick http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-181186 pilgrimchick Sun, 02 Dec 2007 02:04:21 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-181186 A couple of comments on the above interpretation(s): Plymouth Rock: There is no contemporary source that sites any rock as a landing point at any time during the exploration to find a suitable location for settlement by the "Pilgrims." Religious Persecution: Only about half of the people who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower were "Separatists", or religious nonconformists who had exiled themselves to Holland (not all "Separatists" moved out of England, but if you were one and didn't, you could probably guarantee some jail time). As far as the rest of them go, all evidence points to their being members of the Church of England and pretty contented with that fact. The only factor in the whole venture that would attract "Separatists" and C of E folks is the fact that everyone who signed on with the company could expect to receive a pretty large piece of land after the company dissolved in 1627. Thanksgiving: In the US, Thanksgiving is primarily a secular holiday today. The holiday was introduced during the American Civil War in 1863 as a representatively "unifying" factor--looking back to the "pilgrims" as the beginning of American religious freedom and representative government (see Religion comment above, and as for representative government, they were electing from among themselves, but no one was happy about that). The "First Thanksgiving" upon which the holiday is loosely based is a harvest feast that occured in 1621 with about 90 Native Americans and around 50 "Pilgrims" set over about three days sometime between September and October. The term "thanksgiving" in a 17th century context means a day of fasting and prayer to give thanks to God for a blessing conveyed upon the community, so the "Pilgrims" never would have viewed their harvest feast (which happened only that one time) as a thanksgiving of any kind. A couple of comments on the above interpretation(s):

Plymouth Rock: There is no contemporary source that sites any rock as a landing point at any time during the exploration to find a suitable location for settlement by the “Pilgrims.”

Religious Persecution: Only about half of the people who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower were “Separatists”, or religious nonconformists who had exiled themselves to Holland (not all “Separatists” moved out of England, but if you were one and didn’t, you could probably guarantee some jail time). As far as the rest of them go, all evidence points to their being members of the Church of England and pretty contented with that fact. The only factor in the whole venture that would attract “Separatists” and C of E folks is the fact that everyone who signed on with the company could expect to receive a pretty large piece of land after the company dissolved in 1627.

Thanksgiving: In the US, Thanksgiving is primarily a secular holiday today. The holiday was introduced during the American Civil War in 1863 as a representatively “unifying” factor–looking back to the “pilgrims” as the beginning of American religious freedom and representative government (see Religion comment above, and as for representative government, they were electing from among themselves, but no one was happy about that). The “First Thanksgiving” upon which the holiday is loosely based is a harvest feast that occured in 1621 with about 90 Native Americans and around 50 “Pilgrims” set over about three days sometime between September and October. The term “thanksgiving” in a 17th century context means a day of fasting and prayer to give thanks to God for a blessing conveyed upon the community, so the “Pilgrims” never would have viewed their harvest feast (which happened only that one time) as a thanksgiving of any kind.

]]> By: Roger http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-180485 Roger Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:23:39 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-180485 Being an American I have to agree with Google Guy's comments, with a couple of exceptions: It was the Pilgrims intention to thank God as well. I think they would have driven you out of town with sticks if you tried to thank Allah, or Buddah. Being an American I have to agree with Google Guy’s comments, with a couple of exceptions:
It was the Pilgrims intention to thank God as well.
I think they would have driven you out of town with sticks if you tried to thank Allah, or Buddah.

]]> By: shane http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-180024 shane Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:37:16 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-180024 how does one fish for yanks?? how does one fish for yanks??

]]> By: paul canning http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179945 paul canning Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:00:51 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179945 Reading 'Plymouth Rock', first thing which occurred to me was Malcolm X's famous quote: "We're not Americans, we're Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn't land on Plymouth Rock - that rock landed on us." Here's the video: http://tinyurl.com/2lt3a4 Reading ‘Plymouth Rock’, first thing which occurred to me was Malcolm X’s famous quote:

“We’re not Americans, we’re Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock - that rock landed on us.”

Here’s the video: http://tinyurl.com/2lt3a4

]]> By: Mrb http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179758 Mrb Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:24:41 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179758 @ Dan, sorry I apologise for my ignorance and lack of historical knowledge. In fact I am so sorry I have given myself 20 lines. I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks I must not go fishing for Yanks @ Dan, sorry I apologise for my ignorance and lack of historical knowledge. In fact I am so sorry I have given myself 20 lines.

I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks
I must not go fishing for Yanks

]]> By: zmaster http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179697 zmaster Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:58:24 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179697 Plymouth was not actually the first place the Pilgrams landed. I seem to recall that they first landed near the location of Provincetown on Cape Cod but decided it wasn't a suitable location for their colony. Plymouth was not actually the first place the Pilgrams landed. I seem to recall that they first landed near the location of Provincetown on Cape Cod but decided it wasn’t a suitable location for their colony.

]]> By: Rob http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179556 Rob Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:55:16 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179556 Wow... ACTUALLY, Thanksgiving is based on the Native American tradition of thanking the earth for a bountiful harvest. It's not religous. Much like the land and resources, the settlers stole this tradition and made it their own by adding Turkey (WAS a celebration of the 3 sisters: corn, squash and beans) and a bunch of marketing nonsense. And these great pioneers also managed to enslave and kill virtually ALL the natives, so.....KUDOS to them. Wow…

ACTUALLY, Thanksgiving is based on the Native American tradition of thanking the earth for a bountiful harvest. It’s not religous. Much like the land and resources, the settlers stole this tradition and made it their own by adding Turkey (WAS a celebration of the 3 sisters: corn, squash and beans) and a bunch of marketing nonsense.

And these great pioneers also managed to enslave and kill virtually ALL the natives, so…..KUDOS to them.

]]> By: Whatever http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179146 Whatever Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:19:28 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179146 Whatever, You Use Way Too Many Capital Letters. Whatever, You Use Way Too Many Capital Letters.

]]> By: Google Guy http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179143 Google Guy Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:15:17 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-179143 Not to start an argument, but Thanksgiving is without question a religious Holiday practiced in the states. Like many other religious holidays (Christams, Easter, even Halloween) The religious significance has been dilluted significantly, but Most Christian and protestant Americans recognize Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks to the Lord for his bounty. That may not have been the original intention of the Pilgrims, but Throught Americas (brief) History, most people recognize Thanksgiving as honoring God (or Allah, or Buddah, or whoever) Not to start an argument, but Thanksgiving is without question a religious Holiday practiced in the states. Like many other religious holidays (Christams, Easter, even Halloween) The religious significance has been dilluted significantly, but Most Christian and protestant Americans recognize Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks to the Lord for his bounty. That may not have been the original intention of the Pilgrims, but Throught Americas (brief) History, most people recognize Thanksgiving as honoring God (or Allah, or Buddah, or whoever)

]]> By: Captain Cook http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-178949 Captain Cook Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:49:31 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/11/22/plymouth-rock/#comment-178949 middlesbrough didnt even exist in 1620, you are about 200 years off the mark there, so no, its not clearly a m'bro rip off.... The original stone steps ( some say, the embarkation point to the mayflower ) on the quayside, still exist in plymouth uk today, complete with a quaint little plaque for all the tourists.Try a search for "mayflower steps" if interested. middlesbrough didnt even exist in 1620, you are about 200 years off the mark there, so no, its not clearly a m’bro rip off….
The original stone steps ( some say, the embarkation point to the mayflower ) on the quayside, still exist in plymouth uk today, complete with a quaint little plaque for all the tourists.Try a search for “mayflower steps” if interested.

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