Remembering the True Story of Thanksgiving
Nearly five years have passed since America lost Rush Limbaugh, the iconic conservative radio host. In his final Thanksgiving segment in November 2020, just months before his death, he emphasized the importance of sharing the true narrative of Thanksgiving and its significance for future generations.
During that last broadcast on November 24, 2020, Limbaugh observed that the “true story of Thanksgiving” is gaining recognition.
This narrative seems especially poignant now, as it highlights the challenges associated with socialism. With the recent election of a socialist mayor in New York, some appear to be forgetting the lessons learned from that historical context.
Limbaugh articulated, “The real story of Thanksgiving is that socialism failed, dating back to the early days of the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth Rock.” He painted a picture of the hardships the Pilgrims faced upon reaching the New World, referencing William Bradford’s accounts. The first harsh winter was particularly devastating, leading to many deaths from starvation and disease.
He explained, “When spring finally arrived—it’s not just that spring had come; it was about survival. It’s something we can’t truly understand,” he shared.
Limbaugh continued, likening the struggle of the Pilgrims to experiences of trained military personnel, noting that most of us haven’t faced such extreme conditions. Once spring arrived, they encountered Native Americans, learned to plant corn, and received guidance on using available resources—despite the ongoing challenges they faced.
He noted that even with assistance, prosperity was not immediate. The Pilgrims had established a collective system, referred to as the Mayflower Compromise, but they struggled to thrive under these communal laws. He questioned why this system didn’t yield better results.
According to Limbaugh, “The modern lesson in history often concludes here. The Native Americans did teach the Pilgrims various survival skills,” he said.
He explained that Thanksgiving is often misrepresented as a mere holiday to give thanks to Native Americans. However, it was fundamentally an expression of gratitude to God for their survival and the blessings they had received.
Limbaugh highlighted that the Pilgrims were backed by sponsors in Holland who required all their output to be shared in a communal store. “Everyone was entitled to one share,” he noted, emphasizing that this model resembled communal living or even socialism.
Eventually, Bradford, recognizing its failures, made a pivotal decision to allocate land to individual families. Families were now free to manage their plots as they wished. Some could choose to be idle, while others could cultivate and expand their land.
“He unleashed the power of the market,” Limbaugh remarked, indicating that the Pilgrims learned through experience that collectivism did not work. The first winter’s hardships starkly highlighted the need for a change in approach.
As a result of their shift to individual ownership, productivity increased. Operation capital began when people kept what they produced, marking a cornerstone for their eventual success.
Ultimately, the Pilgrims prospered after leaving behind collectivist ideas, leading to a wave of immigration, known as the Great Puritan Migration.
Limbaugh concluded with a reminder that while the Pilgrims believed they owed their survival to Squanto, the true narrative of Thanksgiving is richer and more complex than commonly taught. “It’s a textbook version, but there’s so much more to it,” he reiterated.
