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In 1621, Wampanoag Indians investigated gun and cannon fire at a Pilgrim settlement to see them celebrating a successful harvest. The Indians — all male warriors, were fed as a gesture of peace. The act was not repeated annually.
In 1636, when a murdered man was discovered in a boat in Plymouth, English Major John Mason collected his soldiers and killed and burned down the wigwams of all the neighboring Pequot Indians who were blamed for the murder.
The following day, Plymouth Governor William Bradford applauded the massacre of the 400 Indians, including the women and children. The Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, William Newell, proclaimed: “From that day forth, shall be a day of celebration and thanks giving for subduing the Pequots.”
For the next 100 years, every Thanksgiving Day ordained by a governor was in honor of the bloody victory, thanking God that the battle had been won.
A Dutch pediatrician studied children with celiac who became healthier while they were starving to death because Nazis blocked food shipments. Thanks to his dedication to his patients, we now know that celiac disease is caused by gluten. He saved many lives.
Because of his work, Europe takes celiac disease very seriously and children are screened as a routine practice. During the same time, an American doctor was touting an "all banana diet" for children with celiac (which was effective only because bananas are gluten-free), and claimed this was curative, so children could grow into adults who could eat gluten (consequently getting very sick again).
The Dutch pediatrician was never taken seriously in the U.S. because of Dr. Banana's fame, and this is likely why the U.S. is so far behind in celiac testing and treatment compared to Europe.
He was being considered for a Nobel prize for this work, but unfortunately passed away before the winners were announced, and prizes are not awarded posthumously.
Another good article that's sometimes nice to re-read.
2014: Leslie Feinberg's obituary. Heartbreaking and empowering.
Leslie Feinberg was a hero. Ze also documented a hell of a lot of stuff about Lyme disease in the time leading up until her death from the disease.