I saw in the news today that President Obama (the Great Uniter) and his lovely wife have issued their annual Kwanzaa message.
I have just barely recovered from Christmas and had completely forgotten all about this seven day celebration of African heritage that no one from Africa had actually ever heard of.
Each day is dedicated to a principle that is designed to celebrate the unique culture and heritage as determined by a guy with a criminal background back in the sixties. Originally, the idea was to give the folks a separate holiday since Christmas was a “white” holiday and Jesus was a mad man (according to the founder of the holiday back in the late sixties). Later, when the founder figured out there was more cash to be made with a less intrusive model, all that mess disappeared from the marketing material.
Now, its not only acceptable revisionist history, it has the legitimate stamp of approval from the White House and an entirely profitable enterprise has grown up around it. Please understand, I am not here to judge. I think any quasi religion that keeps kids from rioting in the Mall of America or parents fighting over jacked up sneakers has got to be a great thing, right? Surely one of the seven days has got to be dedicated to not running over the little old man who opens the door at Wal Mart. The drop in drug use leading to mass shootings at parties has got to be worth the effort to support such an important cultural event.
I’ll let you be the judge… (From Wikipedia)
- Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves stand up.
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
- Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
- Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
- Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Pretty impressive list of things to celebrate. It got me to thinking…
In 2042 (or sooner depending on a number of mathematical and societal impacts that have slight variables) Caucasians’ will no longer be the majority in the United States.
I was reminded of this last week on another web site when I and several other people questioned the wisdom of the President and his family having such an elaborate vacation when so many others can barely pay their mortgages.
One of the young “ladies” who I later found worked for an Urban Redevelopment Agency in a large city in a rust belt state took particular exception to many of the comments. To be fair, I have not included any of the original comments from others but if you are so inclined to read the entire story and comments, they are here:
Note: From a libel standpoint, I believe if someone posts in an open comments section of a web blog using their own name and links to their personal identity, they should probably understand that someone else may at some point use their words as as an example as long as they are correctly quoted, right? Also, as a believer in free speech, you will notice that at no point do I condemn, hold up for criticism, or intentional libel any person either living or dead…
2050
(someone must not have gotten the memo
about the date change to 2042)
She was very pointed in her comments about the upcoming change in status for those of us who are pigmentally challenged. If you are easily offended, you may want to skip the next bit
G (as I will call her) · Top Commenter · C##### University
“You racist pigs commenting on this site can kiss my black AZZ. This country do no only belong to you WHITIES and more.”
“I can not stand you white crackers and I have to get of this site becasue the racist is on this site is making me sick.”
“Racist is a live and well on this stie. Hey Whities who care what you are mad about.”
“White crackers on this site go to hell.”
“And you are just mad becasue you WHITE BOY will some day real soon be in the minority. White boy will no longer be the king of the USA by 2050.”
“Hey racist yu are the problem this country is trying to get rid of.”
“Hey racist did you say that about the White President Bush? F all you white crackers on this site and kiss my black AZZ and get use to having this black family in the White House for 4 more years.”
“And we paid for the White President and his family vaction for 8 years so what is your racist point. Blacks in this country is sick of you white crackers attacking the first black President and we are not going to set back and take your raicst comments.”
Mister Mac: “2050 White boy on more joy enjoy while it last.”
(If anyone has a translator and can provide me with the meaning of this final epitaph which was specifically directed to me, I would be very grateful)
My spell check was going crazy trying to paste this stuff, but in the spirit of Kwanzaa, I tried to keep her true feelings as close as possible to what she intoned.
Another side note that recognizes the legitimacy of Kwanzaa is that Microsoft @ also recognizes it and if you spell the word the way it was invented, you will not get a red line below it.
G. had apparently forgotten to limit her Facebook security to people she didn’t know and it was kind of interesting to see more about this person. She attended a college and this is one of their Mission/Vision statements:
“The Department of Campus Ministry at C##### serves the pastoral and spiritual needs of the University community and provides a variety of opportunities for service, reflection, prayer and worship, which both support and reflect the Core Values of the University. Students are encouraged to tend to their spiritual well-being, development and maturity by participating in a variety of faith formation and spiritual development opportunities both on the C##### campus and throughout the OXXXXX area.
Every effort is made to connect students with worshipping communities of their preference in the OXXXXX and surrounding areas, which is home to a rich diversity of spiritual traditions.”
From her Facebook web page:
“I am on a mission to education people why it is important to vote every election. Voting is very important to me because as a woman I was not always allowed to vote.”
(She was born in the early sixties so I assume she must be speaking in a past/present tense or something)
Finally, from the organization where she is currently employed:
Working With Us
The XXX team is focused on finding solutions. Whether its help for a homeowner that needs to make an emergency repair after a bitter storm, or a real estate developer who is willing to risk her equity in a neighborhood that the markets neglected, the people at the XXX are committed to making it happen. Bringing projects from vision to reality everyday, there’s a XXX staff member ready to help.
It’s kind of interesting that the two links to Business Owners and Developers on their web page have pictures of smiling Caucasian Men on them. The links are ways for those smiling white guys and their friends to commit money and resources to the cause… hmmm
I guess the country has some issues as far as divisiveness is concerned. I wonder what keeps that fire fanned?
I was blessed to serve in the Navy at a time where we had to learn to live together in some pretty challenging situations. Frankly, the only color I saw for most of my career was Navy Blue. Maybe that is also because of how I was raised.
This is a picture of my Dad and Uncle John. Dad was the Commander of the local American Legion for about thirty years and Uncle John was Commander of the VFW (he was a retired Army sergeant). Each year, they worked tirelessly together to coordinate the local Memorial Day Parade and festivities.
For a small town, the day was always a grand occasion and recognized both those who had died and those who were still serving. Their work brought Navy Admirals, Army, Air Force and Marine Generals and many other dignitaries to the banks of the river for a tribute ceremony. The Coast Guard almost always provided a vessel for the wreath laying ceremony and in return the two Johns always made sure the Coast Guard got special recognition. To the best of my knowledge, they never had a harsh word for each other.
They were very close and the week that my Dad died, Uncle John was there by our side the whole time. Uncle John was not actually related to us except in his mutual love and respect for my Dad and the American values they both shared. The were also both believers in the same God and were reminders of what was recorded in John 15 verse 5.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
We lost Uncle John a few years later. I have a mental picture from the day I heard of John crossing into Heaven to be welcomed by my Dad. Frankly, I think the two of them are already organizing the Mother of all Memorial Day Parades. I will be proud to carry the flag someday.
When we someday spend as much time on finding common ground as we do on encouraging more divisiveness, we have more of a chance of growing as a people. Don’t get me wrong; anything that teaches people to be kinder to each other is not necessarily a bad thing. Heritage is important to me as much as to many people. But in the end, we should have one America with one purpose: Provide a place where people can unite for the common cause of freedom.
Well, that’s all for today. 2042 is right around the bend and if G. is right, I have some work to do to prepare for it. Not really concerned about being here since most of the men in my family leave at an early age.
But I do want to put the finishing touches on my newly discovered
Gaelic Heritage 7 Day Holiday Festival
If we are going to be in the minority and people like G are going to be in charge, I think it’s only fair we have our own holiday. I am being proactive by starting rediscovering one of my ancestors ancient Holidays. This holiday dates back to the ancient tales told around the ancient fires in ancient lands now known as Scotland. I have not worked out translated the specifics yet (handed down from generation to generation from the Original Translation by James “Ossian” MacPherson (you can look him up if you doubt me).
The only thing I am sure of with great certainty is the large consumption of single malt whisky that occurs over the entire seven day period
(followed by a visit to the Betty MacFord Clinic)
Mister Mac
Always Remember:
The Scot’s didn’t invent everything…
only everything that matters.
theleansubmariner 
Well said. But, you know know it was my people the Vikings, that taught you how to make that single malt stuff. Must have been one our Beserker rages, apparently we taught you guys really well, though, cause it’s still done right. Note that one should start the day with Aquavit though.
And that’s pretty much why I’ve given up on most of the big sites; the invective is so thick that it’s nearly impossible to make any sense out of it.
Married to a Swede so I am constantly made aware of the Viking legacy. Perhaps in one of the seven days I can find some time to recognize the connection!
I too have been seeing more and more anger on web sites. I am still a slow learner and have a propensity to give people more credit than they sometimes deserve.
Thanks for the suggestion on Aquavit
Cheers