Posted on 12/25/2006 12:18:10 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Learn about Kwanzaa, it's worth celebrating
By Akilah Monifa COMMENTARY
I CELEBRATE Kwanzaa, a holiday that honors family, community and culture. My family and I have done so for years. But five years after Sept. 11, in this climate of religious and cultural intolerance in America, I can sympathize with Muslims here who feel like outsiders.
Many white Americans are suspicious and fearful of Kwanzaa. Like other holidays that are celebrated predominantly by people of color -- such as Ramadan, Juneteenth, Holi, Hispanic Heritage Month -- Kwanzaa ought to be an opportunity for those who are unfamiliar with it to learn more.
It is a seven-day, Pan-African, secular holiday that has cultural roots. Because of its Swahili name and because it begins the day after Christmas, many folks think Kwanzaa is a religious holiday. Many refer to it as the "black Christmas."
Its origins are from the civil rights movement of the 1960s. But because of founder Ron Karenga's former ties to the United Slaves Organization, a black nationalist group, Kwanzaa is constantly attacked for being separatist and black nationalist.
It is neither.
Over the years, there have been quite a few non-blacks present at our gatherings, and the atmosphere has been celebratory. People who are not of African descent are happy to be included because they often have family members or friends who participate.
Kwanzaa's seven principles -- of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith -- are ones that many people, irrespective of background, can appreciate.
Millions of people, regardless of race or religion, now celebrate Kwanzaa worldwide. But even as our communities become increasingly multicultural and cross-cultural, acceptance has diminished for those who don't follow mainstream traditions around this time of year.
In the age of terror, we would all benefit to learn more about one another, and to embody Kwanzaa's ideals of happiness, unity and peace.
Monifa writes for Progressive Media Project, a source of liberal commentary on domestic and international issues, affiliated with The Progressive magazine. E-mail: pmproj@progressive.org.
With that kind of sick twisted bio making account of his evil deeds Karenga could be an Islamic prophet.
Now this guy is an expert in mental disorders of people of European descent too? Most whites I know are neither suspcious or fearful of "kwanzaa". They realize its a commie holiday made up by some mentally ill sexual deviant. What's to celebrate? Most whites, and 98% of the blacks think the whole thing is stupid. Only the media celebrates "kwanzaa", so it looks more important than it is. It would have died out in a prison toilet if some liberal journalist hadn't heard of it.
Wait till you get the facts on all this Frank.
It's all a matter of recorded fact. It's overwhelming in it's enormity.
All of the world's citizens have a role in this. Ignorance of it will serve as no excuse. The day for it is here and now.
Just a few murders and a few sexual assaults on 6yr old girls, and he's in the running!
The militant blacks of the last 30 years don't give one hoot about MLK's dream. They didn't want him preaching unity of the races. Just look at the militant black leaders that have risen to the forefront with their message of hate and racism, like Al Sharpton and Je$$e Jack$son. I have always thought it was the militant blacks that took out MLK to shut him up. Now they are all living large as race baiters.
The Truth About Kwanzaa
http://maroonedinmarin.blogspot.com/2006/12/truth-about-kwanzaa.html
Hopefully, the media will quit whipping this dead horse in coming years. I know and have spoken with a lot of African-Americans - NONE of them celebrate this phoney ****day!!
(I refuse to associate "holi" and "day" with this phoney ca-ca!)
I just love Akilah's writing. I look forward to everything he writes. Or is it she?
Start having lots of beer and food, like Oktoberfest, and I'll start to celebrate Kwanzaa.
Good grief, Charlie Brown, I was right either way.
http://aalbc.com/reviews/akilah.htm
I don't think you can compare Junteenth to Kwanzaa. Junteenth is a real celebration of something that happened.
I don't have a problem with Junteenth, but I do with a made up holiday.
"Kwanzaa's seven principles -- of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith -- are ones that many people, irrespective of background, can appreciate."
Hmmmn - where to start?
1. "Unity" scarcely sounds like the individualism upon
which America is based. This one smacks of socialism.
2. "Self-determination" seems to conflict with "unity".
3. "Collective work and responsibility" IS socialism.
4. "Co-operative economics" sounds like some hippie food
co-op from the 1960's. Still, this is classic
socialism.
5., 6., & 7. are not socialist by definition.
So, this black whacko's schemed-up "religious festival" is well over half socialism. Why am I not surprised?
Question: In which African nations is Kwanza celebrated as a national holiday?
Answer: 0.
Oh..those fruitcakes...now that is an endorsment if ever I heard one!</sarcasm>
I'd celebrate Festivus before I'd celebrate kwanza.
Appreciate the link to the Rotten Roots of Kwanza.
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