kwanazaa season’s greetings
Happy Kwanzaa <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa> , Hanukkah <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah> , Christmas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas> and all celebrations this holiday season. Be in the best of spirits with the best of company– either in person and/or in heart. May 2009 nourish your true self, bring you close to love ones and connect you to deeper community. Peace and Shaloha, Evan
Kwanzaa <http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml> : The Seven Principles (Non-denominational)
The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba are a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle.
Unity (Umoja) – (oo-MO-jah)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Self-determination (Kujichagulia) – (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima) – (oo-GEE-mah)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa)- (oo-JAH-mah)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Purpose (Nia) – (nee-YAH)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Creativity (Kuumba)- (koo-OOM-bah)
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.
Faith (Imani) – (ee-MAH-nee)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.