#1. Explore the irony of the discussion about Thanksgiving. (Anika D.)

The Pilgrims weren’t very nice to the Indians, and Thanksgiving, is in celebration of the pilgrims. Arnold thinks “I always think its funny when Indians celebrate thanksgiving. I mean sure the Indians and Pilgrims were best friends during the first thanksgiving, but a few years later, the Pilgrims were shooting Indians” (Alexie 101). I think the irony of this discussion on Thanksgiving is that, it's like Arnold and Rowdy. Every year “for the last ten years, he’d always come over to the house to have a pumpkin-pie eating contest with me” (Alexie 102). Now, it’s like Rowdy was “shooting” Arnold, when he punched and beat him up. This makes Arnold wish things were like they used to be. Arnold asks his dad “ ‘What do Indians have to be so thankful for’?” (Alexie 102). For Arnold, Thanksgiving feels like a replay of how indians should be treated.