Kwanzaa... Your Opinion's Please.

[omar]

i know that... i never told u to beleive it, Just sharing different views.

and trust me, i dont believe everything I read; but thanks for the very wise lesson. I wish more people could benefit from your open mindedness

later

Omar

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Well Matt... I hope your meaning of Kwazaa is more accurate than your idea of the Christmas celebration.

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

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Crazier,

You're mixing apples and oranges here. Christmas occurs in December due to the Roman Empire's adaptation of Christianty by the emperor Constantine in 315. The Romans repalced their Saturnalia festival with Christmas. Historical data seems to indicate that Jesus was born in the Spring.

Modern Christianity is rife with the imprints of the Roman emperor? You likely know htat churches are members of a diocese, heade by a bishop? Well, the very word diocese originates from the Roman emperor Diocletian, who implemented dioceses.

As the church grew, it simply adapted local traditions and customs to allow conversion by pagans without bloodshed. The Christmas tree and wreath were adapted from germanic peoples as the religion spread. Likewise Santa Claus.

This is just a brief look at the history of Christmas. The meaning of it, to you or others, can be different.

 

[BuggyWhips]

for real, James Earl Jones is cool. when you are the voice of Darth Vader, you gotta be cool. he's cool for way more than that though, he's one helluvan actor and one of my favs.

He was the voice of Darth Vader, u learn something new everyday!

 

[dballer]

Crazier... where do you work these days???

send me a e-mail and give me the haps.

 

[Steroid_Virgin]

If we are all equal, why do the Jewish, Muslim, and Catholic communities choose to segregate themselves?

This is not "racism." It's a type of segregative celebration in which only members of a particular race are able to participate (according to the information you have provided... I'm not sure if whitey can convert himself to Kwanzaaity or something), but we see the same thing all year.

I don't see any part of this celebration talking shit about other cultures or Mr. Whitey. As far as I see it's somewhat of a "it's our party, stay out" celebration.

As long as whitey is allowed to start a "Whitezaa" holiday where they celebrate their struggles and shit and have a "WHITE ONLY" sign on the door with no problems, then I don't see the big deal.

Just hope the music is off by the time I go to bed...

-Warik

You are a very witty motherfucker warik...

 

[VicTusDeuS]

Could be true being that december here in the Northern Hemisphere is Winter where it may be summer down there. Or its just hot all year round down there that such plants can grow year round.

I went to an Episcopal high school and learned that Christmas was actually a pagan holiday. Christains called it Jesus's birthday to be on that day to have something in common w/ the pagans so they would all convert to Christianity. Ever since, Dec. 25th has been Jesus's bday.

As a Muslim, we beelive that Jesus was born in some time other than the winter time. In the Koran it says MAry was holding on to a date tree that was full of ripe dates when giving birth to Jesus, and the tree shook and the dates fell. Scholars interepret that to be sometime in where dates are harvested (Not December)

anyways these are 2 interesting ideas i wanted to share.
LAter
Omar

 

[BronzedGoddess]

What does it matter? How is it hurting you? I'm black (I hate the term african american) and I don't celebrate it but who cares if other people do. I also don't care about the hispanic community celebrating Dia de los muertos, Cinco de Mayo or deice seis(sp). One holiday I did grow up celebrating is June 19th which is a Black-Texan holiday, because that's when we finally found out that we had been freed from slavery. I just don't understand how it could upset someone if a group of people are trying to bring together a community or a group of people. And how do you concider it reverse racism? If you wanted to participate you could. My religion is AME, African Methodist Episcopal, but you know what? I can bring my white husband and my half white child to church and no one gives it a second thought.

 

[Crazier]

What does it matter? How is it hurting you? I'm black (I hate the term african american) and I don't celebrate it but who cares if other people do. I also don't care about the hispanic community celebrating Dia de los muertos, Cinco de Mayo or deice seis(sp). One holiday I did grow up celebrating is June 19th which is a Black-Texan holiday, because that's when we finally found out that we had been freed from slavery. I just don't understand how it could upset someone if a group of people are trying to bring together a community or a group of people. And how do you concider it reverse racism? If you wanted to participate you could. My religion is AME, African Methodist Episcopal, but you know what? I can bring my white husband and my half white child to church and no one gives it a second thought.

I too dislike the term african american... let's call a spade a spade. I'm white, you're black. No biggie. We're both American.

I started this post a while back, because I wanted to hear people's opinions on the matter. I never said that it particularily bothered me... I could care less what someone else believes in or celebrates so long as it encourages goodness. That's the truth. But, I also don't belong to an organization that supports one group and not the other. February is black history month. I know that much. When is the Indians? Afterall, they are the fuckin' founders of the land. And when is white history month? And don't bother saying 'the other 11 months.' My point is, in order for us all to be equal, we can't segregate parties. There is simply no reason to. The birth of Jesus is celebrated one day, yet Kwaanza takes a week? Then, a month and a week later you have black history month? If anything, I think it would be a much better idea to celebrate the June 19th date you mentioned about the freedom of slavery. Then, blacks and whites would have something to celebrate together. Rather than me 'being able, or having the right to participate in Black History Month or Kwanzaa' I would celebrate for the rights we all have in this country, and on the 19th of June I can sit in a bar with whites and blacks alike and share a few drinks without one ruling over another, without one being superior... that's something the blacks and whites can be proud together on.

Please refer back to my original post which explains kwanzaa, the reason to celebrate... and where whites could possibly fit into the party.

I just don't understand the segregation. And, segregation it is. Unless you work for the NCAAP, I don't see how you or anyone else could disagree.
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[BronzedGoddess]

First let me address this. Indians live in India, the people over here when Columbus "discovered" the US are Native Americans. Sorry this is another pet peeve of mind because I am too of native american ancestry AND caucasion ancestry (just like 70% of the blacks in the US). I understand how you feel it is segregation but most minorities don't want to "blend" in with the white society. We want to have the same opportunities as a white person but why must we loose sight of our heritage. America is made up of more nationalities than any other country in the world. This is a strength. But every nationality brought something with them to this country and they should have the right to celebrate it not just the National holidays. You know what sucks, I have no idea which country in Africa my ancestors were from, I have no idea which country in Europe my ancestors are from, although I looked up my last name and all roads point to Wales or Germany. The only real thing I know is which native american tribe my ancestors are a part of. I understand how this may be hard for you to understand, and I'm not angry with you because of that. But I do believe that you should embrace what makes this country diverse and don't sweat the small stuff like people celebrating kwanza.

 

[satanic goatslayer]

I invent holidays all the time to create more reasons to drink and carry on like a fool. If people want to celebrate a day that has no real meaning, then let them - even better if the day does have meaning.

That said, MAD is almost upon us again.