The following is paraphrased from The Kwanzaa Information Site. The African-American holiday, Kwanzaa, seems to draw a circle to shut out a Celtic-American like myself. So I draw a circle larger than the one that shuts me out and include myself in it. When I read the principles of Kwanzaa -- the Nguzo Saba -- I don't see "Black Americans," I see Mister Rogers, Barney, and Robert Fuhlgum. As Kwanzaa technically excludes my Celtic/Germanic-American twins, I bought William Bennet's "Children's Book of Virtues" to segue them into this holiday that combines family with faith, unity, community, creativity, responsibility and purpose.
"Principles of Kwanzaa
If we all (Red and Yellow, Black and White) practiced these principles every day, what a lovely, loving world this would be.
Red and Yellow, Black and White,
This corner of the Hundred Acre Wood also celebrates
The hardest barrier to break through is the cooperative economics -- but I practice that all the time as an American, not as an African-American. Whenever affordable products I want pass the first three tests -- 1) isn't tested on animals, 2) recycl(ed/able), and 3) doesn't profit Exxon -- I choose the product that's Made In The USA.
Thus I've paraphrased the original text into something that reads more like "Kids for Character" than The Nguzo Saba.
The Nguzo Saba are the set of principles/values by which one must order one's relations and live one's life, if one is to make decisions about one's life...The Nguzo Saba responds to timeless needs and can be the method used by one to solve the problems on every level which confronts one as a human. Thus, the Nguzo Saba are social and spiritual principles, dealing with ways for one to relate to others and rebuild our lives in His image.
Nguzo Saba:
UMOJA (UNITY) (oo-MOE-jah) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, and world.
KUJICHAGULIA (SELF DETERMINATION) (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) - To define oneself, name oneself, create for oneself and speak for oneself.
UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) (oo-JEE-mah) - To build and maintain our community together and to make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) (oo-JAH-mah) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit together from them. Buy national -- save your neighbors' jobs!
NIA (PURPOSE) (nee-AH) - To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community.
KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) (koo-OOM-bah) - To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.
IMANI (FAITH) (ee-MAH-nee) - To have faith."
All are precious in His sight
Hanukkah
(though Gentile) and
Christmas
(although it's a Pagan-infused celebration of the birth of my Lord who was most likely born in the summer)
...we're human
...and that's reason enough to share family-oriented traditions that uphold the goodness and blessings of God; encourage the uplifting of the human spirit, ideal, and goals; and inspire reaching out to one's God and fellow man.
