Thanksgiving

I’m amazed at Steve Smith (letter, Dec. 3) for comparing the early colonists to Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. Schoolchildren do not engage in performances purporting to recreate a past Tooth Fairy scenario. The adoration with which we are supposed to regard the Pilgrims and their descendants denies the historical truth of their bigoted behavior, and it behooves us not to sugarcoat our history any more than we have to. We can be thankful for the yearly rite of Thanksgiving without needing to lie to ourselves.

We can even be grateful for having our eyes opened. Thank you, Jill Lepore (Commentary, Nov. 27), for your part in opening them a little more.

JEAN BROOKHART

Huntington Beach