The voice of Rush Limbaugh, silenced in 2021, continues to resonate through archived broadcasts, offering a perspective often absent from mainstream narratives.
In a 2020 monologue, Limbaugh revisited the origins of Thanksgiving, presenting a starkly different account than the one commonly taught. He argued that the initial attempts at communal living by the Pilgrims nearly led to their demise.
Upon arriving in the New World, the Pilgrims were utterly unprepared, lacking the skills and knowledge to survive. They were saved by the generosity of the Native Americans, who shared crucial techniques for cultivating food and utilizing the land.
This assistance wasn’t simply a benevolent act; it was a lifeline. The Pilgrims, initially, attempted to establish a socialist system, distributing resources equally. This approach, Limbaugh explained, proved disastrous, leading to widespread hardship and near starvation.
The turning point came when the Pilgrims abandoned their communal practices and embraced principles of individual responsibility, private property, and hard work. They began to cultivate their own land, reaping the rewards of their labor.
It was this shift, Limbaugh asserted, that allowed them to flourish and ultimately celebrate the first Thanksgiving – a harvest feast born not of shared resources, but of individual initiative and success.
Limbaugh highlighted the story of Squanto, a Native American who played a pivotal role in the Pilgrims’ survival, teaching them essential farming techniques and navigating the unfamiliar landscape.
He expressed satisfaction that this “true story” of Thanksgiving was gaining traction, appearing in publications like *The Federalist*, mirroring the details he had previously outlined in his books, *The Way Things Ought to Be* and *See, I Told You So*.
Limbaugh connected this historical narrative to contemporary political debates, warning that the election of a Democratic Party committed to socialist policies could jeopardize the foundations of American prosperity and liberty.
He framed the choice as fundamental: embrace the principles that allowed the Pilgrims to thrive, or risk repeating the mistakes of their initial, failed experiment with communal living.
