In 2023, a projected 55+ million_¹ people in the United States will take to the road and sky to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. Children will don Pilgrim hats in school plays, and large inflated turkeys will bobble and glow on front lawns.

The story of Thanksgiving has morphed into an inspiring story of welcoming indigenous peoples and grateful colonists who come together in friendship and peace. But historians argue that this story is replete with falsehoods that sugarcoat the complexities of the events before, during, and after the feast of 1621.

The Pilgrims

To better understand the dynamics of that feast in 1621, it could be helpful to have a better understanding of the group of 102 men and women who landed in Plymouth in 1620.

In 1534, England was a Roman Catholic Nation. When King Henry VIII came into power, he established a new national church known as the Church of England. While based on Catholicism, he and later his daughter Elizabeth introduced changes to differentiate this new church from the Roman Catholic Church.

Some people felt that the changes were not enough, however. They wanted to practice a more “pure” version of Christianity that was simpler and less structured. These individuals became known as “Puritans.” Another more radical faction, identified as “Separatists,” went a step further, insisting that the Church of England was irreformable. They called for the creation of entirely new and separate church.

Both groups were persecuted since, in the early 1600s, it was illegal to be part of a church other than the Church of England. The Separatists eventually relocated to the Netherlands, where they were able to practice their religion. However, after about 10 years they felt that this solution was unsatisfactory, and they decided that a small group of them would leave the Netherlands to establish a settlement in the “New World” that would tolerate religious freedom.

The Pilgrims, however, were not for religious freedom. They believed their way of worshiping God was the only way, and they were intolerant of any digressions. In fact, while their initial plan was supposedly to settle in the northern part of the Virginia Colony—which was actually the first permanent settlement by the English in North America—some believe that they never planned on settling there at all, wanting instead to be as far from Anglican control as possible.

The Wampanoags

The Wampanoags tribe, one of many nations of Native Americans living in North America when the Pilgrims arrived, have lived in the vicinity of what is now Massachusetts and Rhode Island for over 12,000 years. In the 1600s, there were nearly 70 Wampanoag villages spread across that area.

The Wampanoag were semi-nomadic, moving seasonally among fixed sites. They hunted and fished and cultivated crops such as corn and squash.

Each Wampanoag tribe had its own leader, and they, in turn, answered to the Wampanoag “Massasoit,” or “paramount leader.” When the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, that leader was Ousamiquin.

While the Wampanoags were the first tribe that the Pilgrims encountered when they landed in Plymouth, the reverse is not true —the Wampanoag’s interactions with Europeans did not start with the Pilgrims. For years, English and French fishermen and explorers had clashed with the Wampanoags, capturing them and other Native Americans for slave trade. These explorers also brought with them disease. Between 1616 and 1619, a period known as the “Great Dying,” an outbreak of disease ravaged the villages of the Wampanoag, wiping out up to 90% of the population.

In fact, Squanto, a member of the Wampanoag who spoke English and was known for helping the pilgrims survive in their new environment, had learned English because he had spent years in captivity in Spain and England.

The Meeting of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag

The Pilgrims and Wampanoag did not encounter each other right away. It wasn’t until March 1621 that English-speaking Samoset and Squanto entered Plymouth carrying a message from Ousamiquin, who wanted to negotiate a peace treaty with the Pilgrims. In the subsequent treaty , the Pilgrims and Wampanoags agreed not to harm one another and to protect each other from outside attacks.

According to some historians, this treaty was initiated by Ousamiquin not so much as a gesture of friendship but as a way for him to fend off attacks by the Narragansett, a neighboring tribe who had been trying to subjugate the Wampanoag people. Despite periodic episodes of tension, both parties honored the treaty until after the death of Ousamiquin in 1661. (The subsequent fallout between the Wampanoags and New England colonies that led to the devastating King Philip’s War is a story for another article.)

The treaty might have saved the Plymouth colony from destruction. The first winter the Pilgrims experienced was brutal—about half of them died from the harsh conditions that they were unused to. In the spirit of cooperation fostered by the treaty, the Wampanoags taught the Pilgrims how to grow crops such as corn and beans and generally how to survive in their new environment. By October 1621, they had built a number of crude houses and common buildings and had propagated a bountiful harvest.

Which takes us to the events of what is known as the first Thanksgiving. Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the story of Thanksgiving is that the Pilgrims intended their celebration to include the Wampanoags. In fact, there is no record of the Pilgrims having invited the Wampanoags to their feast. Many accounts of the festival maintain that the reason the Wampanoags were even there at all was that they heard the sound of guns being fired in celebration and came to investigate. The ensuing three days could likely have been characterized more by tension and suspicion than friendship and goodwill.

Another myth is that these festivities constitute the “first” Thanksgiving in the New World. In reality, Native Americans in North America had been giving thanks for bountiful harvests for years. And there are recorded accounts of thanksgiving celebrations in the U.S. that occurred long before the Pilgrims arrived. In fact, some consider the first thanksgiving to be the 1556 celebration between Spanish settlers and about 200 Indians in St. Augustine, Florida .)

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The Evolution of Thanksgiving

In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday as a way to foster unity between the north and south. But Lincoln’s proclamation did not mention anything about the Pilgrims or the celebration that took place in 1621. So how did the Thanksgiving we celebrate today become equated with the story of the Pilgrims and Wampanoags in 1621?

It may well likely have been due to the influence of author Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale was the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” but her achievements go far beyond the penning of that rhyme. She was the writer and editor of an influential women’s magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, and is also attributed as having been the driving force behind Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation. For years she had used her writings to urge politicians to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. A letter she wrote to President Lincoln about the matter is often considered to be instrumental in Lincoln’s decision.

Hale herself made the connection between the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving in an editorial she wrote in 1865: “To the Eastern colonies we must look for the beginning of this custom. The Pilgrim Fathers incorporated a yearly thanksgiving day among the moral influences they sent over the New World.” And in 1872 she wrote a hymn in tribute to Thanksgiving, referencing the “faithful Pilgrim Fathers” and “Their first Thanksgiving Day.”

The connection was repeated by newspapers and other magazines, began appearing in school textbooks, and took hold. We’ll never know for sure why Sarah Hale made this connection, or whether she was indeed the one responsible for popularizing it. By some accounts, it was a group of pilgrim descendants who planted the seeds in 1769 because they felt that their cultural authority was eroding and that New England was becoming less relevant with other colonies. Whatever the origins, equating Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Wampanoags perpetuates a story fraught with inaccuracies and insensitive to the realities of the plight of Native Americans in this country.

National Day of Mourning

In 1970, Frank James, then leader of the Wampanoag, was invited to speak at a Thanksgiving state dinner marking the anniversary of the Mayflower. But James would not be silenced about the treatment of his people, and he wrote a scathing account of how the Pilgrims stole food, desecrated graves, and spread disease among his people.

The organizers found the speech to be inappropriate and was “uninvited” to the dinner.

Instead, he led supporters to Cole’s Hill, next to the statue of Ousamiquin, and read his speech. This became the first official National Day of Mourning, which has been celebrated in that location every day since.

Conclusion

So where does all this unraveling of history leave us? Should we stop celebrating Thanksgiving altogether? Not necessarily. But it is important to understand what really happened, both before and after 1621, to be cognizant of the misconceptions that have been perpetuated, and to be sensitive to the lasting effect the myths of Thanksgiving have had on the Wampanoag and Native Americans as a whole.

Sources

¹Projections by AAA: https://newsroom.aaa.com/2023/11/aaa-thanksgiving-holiday-travel-period-forecast/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20DC%20(November%2013%2C,the%20Thanksgiving%20holiday%20travel%20period*.

WARNING: What you are about to read may make you seriously germophobic!

The world contains more harmful germs than you might realize. And the places germs do and don’t hide out may really surprise you. Of course, icky microorganisms are not entirely avoidable, and you shouldn’t let fear of germs take over your life. But if you have small children, you are planning to enter a medical profession, or you just want to be savvier about staying clean and avoiding illness, you’re in the right place!

A Brief History of Germs

“Louis Pasteur, the father of pasteurization, was also an important figure in the early study of germs. He proved that microorganisms present in the air could also grow on food, causing it to spoil.”

Naturally, germs have been around forever. But it wasn’t until the 1800s that people finally began to accept and understand the germ theory of disease. According to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, before then most people didn’t realize that germs could make them sick, or that hand washing could prevent illness and save lives. In fact, the Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweiss discovered that medical students often delivered babies after dissecting corpses, failing to wash their hands in between! When Semmelweiss insisted that students start washing their hands, the death rate of new mothers dropped significantly.

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Louis Pasteur, the father of pasteurization, was also an important figure in the early study of germs. He proved that microorganisms present in the air could also grow on food, causing it to spoil. Inspired by Pasteur, a Scottish surgeon names Joseph Lister began using carbolic acid to clean his patients’ wounds. And once penicillin was discovered by accident in 1928, the war on germs was in full swing!

“But how long do germs survive? Certain viruses could live on your hands for as long as an hour, giving you plenty of time to spread your cold to everyone in the office or classroom! Certain kinds of bacteria and protozoa, like staph and Giardia, may be able to live for months outside a human body.”

How Are Germs Spread?

There are several common means by which germs are spread. One obvious way is from nose, mouth, or eyes to hand to others—like when you have a cold and you shake someone’s hand after you’ve been blowing your nose all day. You could also transmit germs from your hands to food that you are preparing. And in the case of food borne bacteria like salmonella, it’s all too easy to transmit germs from food to hands to food; an example is handling raw chicken and then making a salad without properly washing your hands first. Caring for kids and animals could lead to the spread of germs, too.

But how long do germs survive? Certain viruses could live on your hands for as long as an hour, giving you plenty of time to spread your cold to everyone in the office or classroom! Certain kinds of bacteria and protozoa, like staph and Giardia, may be able to live for months outside a human body. And fungi like Candida, or yeast, may hang out for months on anything from your towels to your favorite lipstick. Talk about gross!

“The germs you encounter in innocent places could do some serious damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2020–21 flu season saw as many as 5,000 people die from influenza in the U.S.”⁵“

What Public Places Are the Germiest?

If people had to take a guess, they’d might say public toilets are hotspots for dangerous germs. The surprising answer is that most toilets are not as dirty as you might think. With about 1,000 units of bacteria per square inch,¹ the average toilet seat is about 10 times cleaner than your mobile phone!² A typical bathroom floor, on the other hand, could home to as many as 2 million bacteria per square inch.³ Some other surprising culprits include restaurant menus, bathroom soap dispensers, steering wheels, and airplane armrests. And don’t forget the bottoms of your shoes, which may each carry as many as 421,000 units of bacteria, including E. coli, meningitis, and Klebsiella pneumonia.⁴

Schools are also breeding grounds for bacteria, with the worst offenders being water fountains, cafeteria trays, and faucet handles. As reported by Today’s Parent, kids who enter daycare may be exposed to all kinds of harmful germs, like cold viruses, stomach bugs, and conjunctivitis (pinkeye). Shared toys, food, and being in close contact with other kids are usually to blame. And consider that a single bathroom for an entire classroom of kids may mean infrequent hand washing; in fact, over half of school kids claimed they did not have time to scrub up before meals.

The germs you encounter in innocent places could do some serious damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2020–21 flu season saw as many as 5,000 people die from influenza in the U.S.⁵ A Methicillin-resistant strain of staph, which is found in many public places including taxis, may cause as many as 80,000 invasive infections each year (CDC).⁶ And 1.2 million people get sick from salmonella annually (CDC)⁷; that’s as if the entire population of Dallas, Texas contracted this dangerous foodborne illness!

And Then There’s COVID-19…

The advent of COVID-19 in 2019 put a whole new spin on germs. Over 1 million people have died from COVID-19 in the United States—it’s serious business.

COVID-19 spreads via droplets and very small particles that an infected person breathes out. Others might breathe in these droplets and particles, or they might land on their eyes, nose, or mouth. In some circumstances, these droplets may contaminate surfaces they touch.

The CDC provides a number of recommendations about preventative actions that could be taken, such as improving ventilation, getting tested if you have symptoms of COVID, and staying at home if you test positive for COVID. 

“You may think you already practice frequent hand washing. But actually, most people don’t wash their hands correctly. For starters, you need to scrub your hands long enough to actually kill germs, which means at least 20 seconds. You can sing yourself the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice in your head to make sure you’ve spent enough time under the faucet!”

How to Protect Against Germs

An obvious solution to staying healthy may be washing your hands regularly. The CDC recommends washing your hands before, during, and after handling food (including pet food), eating, caring for the sick, coming into contact with human or animal waste, touching garbage, tending to a wound, using the toilet, and coughing or sneezing. That list is not exhaustive, but it’s safe to say there are many times throughout the day when it’s important to scrub up! You may think you already practice frequent hand washing. But actually, most people don’t wash their hands correctly. For starters, you need to scrub your hands long enough to actually kill germs, which means at least 20 seconds. You can sing yourself the “Happy Birthday” song twice in your head to make sure you’ve spent enough time under the faucet! Another little-known hand washing fact is that how you dry your hands makes all the difference. As reported by Infection Control Today, wet hands are about 1,000 times likelier to spread bacteria than dry hands,⁸ and rubbing your hands together while drying may actually cause bacteria to multiply. The CDC suggests that using paper towels may be a better option, because they physically wipe bacteria off your hands.

”Germs live in your body, on plants and animals, and even in the air you breathe. In short, it’s impossible to eliminate germs from your life, and you might go crazy if you tried! In most cases, your immune system protects you from infection, allowing you to go about your day without worrying too much.”

If you don’t have access to soap and water, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be an okay stand-in. Other common sense tips include avoiding people who are sick, regularly disinfecting surfaces, and keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. A more unusual tip: consider a fist-bump instead of a handshake, since it spreads about 1/10 the amount of germs of a handshake.

Should You Worry?

Germs live in your body, on plants and animals, and even in the air you breathe. In short, it’s impossible to eliminate germs from your life, and you might go crazy if you tried! In most cases, your immune system protects you from infection, allowing you to go about your day without worrying too much. Of course, almost everyone has experienced a nasty cold or bug they wished they could have avoided, and some infections are even life-threatening. Understanding the dangers and how to avoid them is important to staying safe, healthy, and (mostly) in control of the nasty germs you encounter!

Dive Right In!

Now that you probably have a better understanding of germs—what they are, and how to combat them—you might feel better about pursuing a healthcare career. There are numerous opportunities in healthcare, from nurses to doctors, surgical technicians to home health aides. Educational requirements vary for different healthcare occupations, but some positions only require a certificate, which could take anywhere from several weeks to a year.

By following the recommendations in this article, and any requirements in your place of employment, you could stay germ-free in your healthcare career!

Sources

¹https://granitegold.com/blogs/cleaning/how-dirty-are-remote-controls-and-phones-as-opposed-to-obviously-dirty-places-like-toilet-seats | ²https://www.ualberta.ca/public-health/news/2017/september/is-your-cell-phone-really-10-times-dirtier-than-a-toilet-seat.html#:~:text=The%20news%20story%20highlighted%20two,bacteria%20than%20a%20toilet%20seat | ³https://www.cleanlink.com/hs/article/5-Adjustments-Cleaning-Pros-Make-To-Improve-Restrooms–29868#:~:text=Restroom%20floors.,higher%20than%20a%20sanitary%20surface | ⁴http://www.treehugger.com/green-home/ | ⁵https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm#:~:text=During%20the%202021%2D2022%20influenza,during%20the%202011%2D2012%20season | ⁶https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4739597/# | ⁷https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19.html | ⁸https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html | ⁹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074182/

Vote By Mail Common Issues

As Americans are preparing to vote by mail in large numbers in the 2020 Presidential Elections, we wanted to make you all aware of the many vote by mail common issues. This year is different than any other election. The COVID-19 pandemic as a whole are changing the way people want to vote. Some states are working to make it possible for more people to vote using mail ballots. No matter who you plan to vote for, it is important to know how to ensure your vote counts.

Many Republicans and Democrats want a fair election. Many have pushed to ensure registered voters have access to polling places and mail voting. The U.S. Postal Service is working to ensure ballot applications and absentee ballots allow for early voting in a fair manner. 

Yet, many of the vote by mail common issues come from simple mistakes that voters make. Human error is a big factor in why your vote may not make the count. This may be even more common if you have never voted before and are unsure of the process. That is why it is so important for you to take the time to follow the rules as closely as possible. Become familiar with the process. Read through your state’s requirements. These are simple things to do to help protect your vote.

First, not all states are allowing mail in voting as a result of the pandemic. Many have rules about who are eligible vote. Make sure you are a registered voter before you request a ballot, for example. The key to remember is it is possible in most states to vote from home. Yet, you need to know the rules and timelines for doing so.

Vote by Mail Mistakes That Cost

Many election officials want each and every vote to count. This applies to the general election. It also applies to any local election.& Many locations have very specific voting rules. This includes for in person voting. These rules may work to reduce voter fraud.

To make sure your vote counts for the November Election, follow the guidelines of the state’s Secretary of State when it comes to mail elections or in person elections. Most importantly, try to avoid these common mistakes.

Improperly Filled Out Ballots

Fill out the ballot accurately, completely, and properly. Many voters receive a package of information that outlines the process and procedures. Each state is a bit different. Follow the requirements and information set by your state. 

Mistakes in filling out ballots may be numerous. Not completing the ballot is one of them. Another is getting the ballot dirty or allow it to be damaged. Fill it out on a flat, clean, dry surface. Remove all risk of spills when possible. Read through all of the instructions as a next step. 

Ballot technology needs to be able to pick up on the selections you choose. These machines – which may work a bit like those old tests called Scantrons you took in grade school – need to pick up on the color and position of your marks. That is why you may have instructions telling you what color or type of ink to use. Using red ink or marker may be a key problem with these. 

Make sure you keep those marks within the box. Avoid making any marks outside of these boxes or areas. Stray marks on other areas may cause confusion. 

Only fill in the right spaces. For example, only fill in one box in a multiple choice question or area. If you fill in two, or leave a stray mark in one box and fill in another, that may cause confusion. That may mean your vote does not count. 

What happens if a ballot does have mistakes like this?

Many states use canvassing boards. These are people who may make decisions by looking at the ballots by hand. This is important for many reasons. When a person uses an in person voting system, called a tabulator, it immediately shoots back a ballot that is not filled in properly. It kicks it back to the voter. The voter then may make decisions or fix it. You know there is an error. This does not happen with mail in voting. There is no way to know the problem until it goes through the system at the voting office. There is no second chance opportunity to fix these mistakes. 

The best rule – take your time to ensure you use the right ink, fill in just the area you should, and protect that ballot from any damage.

Signing the Envelope

Another potential problem with ballots has to do with signing the actual envelope. States go through a process to verify that the ballot is legitimate. They need to be sure the right person is casting the ballot. To do this, they verify information. One part of that is having the voter sign an affidavit.

Every state has rules for the affidavit. It is generally located on the outside of the envelope. This is the envelope that holds the mail ballot. This signature means that the person submitting the ballot is affirming their identity. They are also stating they are eligible to vote in this election. 

It is sometimes common for these signatures to be missing. If they are missing, the ballot may not be cast for you. Remember, this is an additional signature that is noted on the outside of the envelope. It is not just the signature required inside on the application.

Signatures That Do Not Match

In a primary election like this, details matter. Many times, mistakes are made in how voters sign their ballot. When mailing ballots, the signatures on the interior of the ballot and on the ballot’s envelope must match. If they do not, that may be an indication of fraud to the voting officials. Sign the ballot in the same way every time. 

In addition to this, many states have systems in place to double check signatures. This is not just on the ballot received but also going further back. They may check the ballot’s signature to the one on file with the election board or county clerk’s office. Some may check the ballot signature with the one on the absentee ballot application provided. Some may use other government files or systems to determine if they match. This may include the Department of Motor Vehicles or other government agencies. 

The belief is that matching signatures like this helps to verify the authenticity of the ballot. In some situations, states go further. They may make it necessary for a voter to verify his or her signature. This may be done, for example, by requiring one or two witnesses to sign the document. These people should be over the age of 18. In some cases, a notary public or other official witness must sign the absentee ballot. 

Why So Many Rules?

These rules aim to help make submitting votes safer. Yet, this added security may increase the risk of mistakes that may lead to a vote not being counted. Sometimes, they are not rejected. Rather, the election officials may challenge them. This means the officials want more information or verification of the accuracy of the voting. 

It may be more common for younger voters to have problems with this. You may struggle if you sign your name in different ways, for example. If you do not have any experience with signing official documents, that may also make it a bit harder to complete this form with confidence. 

Some states do have a cure process. This allows the voter a chance to correct the problem with their signatures. This may allow their ballot to be counted. However, if there is limited time, that may not be possible.

Voters Fail to Provide Necessary Documentation

Some states require voters to do a bit more work to obtain their absentee ballot and to submit it for it to be counted. Mail balloting is not always a simple process. When it comes to mail, states differ on these requirements. Use the resources below to verify what your state requires to minimize the risk of problems reported by elections officials. 

As noted previously, some states require voters to submit their ballots with witness signatures as well. Some also require identification to be sent in with the ballot. This may include a photo copy of a state-issued identification. It may include submitting information about Social Security numbers – such as the last four digits of the number – with the application. In other cases, a driver’s license or state ID number must be submitted. 

A mistake some people make is not knowing these requirements. If a voter makes a mistake with his or her driver’s license number, for example, that may lead to a challenge or rejection of the ballot. Small mistakes like this may be costly to you when voting. 

Missing Deadlines for Sending the Ballot Back 

States set the rules for when absentee ballots must be returned. Some states have elections officials go through the applications to verify signatures. That takes time. That means voters must return the absentee ballots in enough time to allow that to be done. Also, if there is a challenge to a ballot, there needs to be some time to allow for the ballot to be returned. Then, the voter has to cast another ballot. Or, he or she may need to supply other details. That, too, takes time. 

A key mistake then is not following instructions for returning the document. Many applications for ballots as well as the ballots themselves have instructions on how and when to return ballots. Some states have rules about using universal mail. Delays with the post office may also make it hard for voters to cast a ballot in time if they wait too long. 

Tight deadlines are a critical factor. If you plan to vote, be sure this information is understood. The postmark on your ballot has to be within the specifications set by the state. Doing this before that date may be helpful, too, to help avoid any delays related to the post office.

Voter Mistakes & Statistics You Should Know

To help you get ready to vote, consider a few of the key statistics about voting by mail as well as voting in general. Avoid all of these vote by mail common issues!

Vote by Mail Policies for Your State

If you plan to vote in the presidential election, be sure to check your state’s specific rules. States allow voters to place their vote in various ways. You should still know about voter registration and absentee ballot requests. 

Here is the link to each state’s rules. You may also verify it through the National Conference of State Legislatures: