Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Obama makes link between First Thanksgiving and America's refugee origins

Obama makes link between First Thanksgiving and America's refugee origins
Copyright 
By Robert Hackwill
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

Obama's address reminds Americans their ancestors made it to the 1621 First Thanksgiving harvest festival thanks to Native Americans' aid to refugees from persecution

ADVERTISEMENT

President Barack Obama carved the turkey as the first family helped feed veterans and the homeless for Thanksgiving. They visited a Washington church where Michelle and her mother handled the greens and the burgers, while the daughters’ kitchen skills looked a little rusty.

Later in his national address the president tried to provide food for thought.

“In 1620, a small band of pilgrims came to this continent, refugees who had fled persecution and violence in their native land. Nearly 400 years later, we remember their part in the American story – and we honor the men and women who helped them in their time of need,” he said. He then brought past and present firmly together.

“I’ve been touched by the generosity of the Americans who’ve written me letters and emails in recent weeks, offering to open their homes to refugees fleeing the brutality of ISIL.”

Obama was more merciful with another turkey, Abe, who received the traditional presidential thanksgiving pardon. TOTUS will now be free to live out his years at the 1,000-acre “White House on Turkey Hill”.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Princess Kay of the Milky Way sculpted in butter for state fair tradition

US Naval Academy students scale greased monument in annual tradition

A choir inside a giant Christmas tree in the USA