Never forget who the Pilgrims thanked, and then slaughtered – complete with a “Europe virus.”
Indeed, as a counterfactual, one could easily imagine Pilgrims prevailing upon Native Americans back then to see wearing masks as not only unwelcoming but unnecessary. And, with the good-natured Natives obliging, the rest became history.
Now this:
COVID-19 data on Native Americans is ‘a national disgrace.’
‘The system of colonialism in the United States has created, and continues to increase risk factors for, poor health outcomes in Native communities.’
American Indians and Alaska Natives were 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than non-Hispanic white people.
(AAAS Science, September 24, 2020)
Alas, the more things change … More to the point, though, along with this yearly Thanksgiving feast, Americans would do well to express a little regret.