Let’s look at the current time period, as it is the start of December. In the U.S. and in a number of other places around the world, this is the time associated with different images. In some areas, it is very religious with the depictions of Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus or the usage of the Menorah, or the Kwanzaa candles, while in others it is multicolored lights, decorated trees, the usage of evergreens and other traditional customs. It is filled with holiday music and different foods. In other areas, it is a time to prepare for the upcoming New Year. Each of the images will have different meanings to each of us, and each of us will display those images according to practice and traditions.
With so many nuances and viewpoints, how do you ensure that the holidays are inclusive to everyone? My response is that the holidays are inclusive because each of us as individuals celebrates them in different ways, if one even celebrates them at all. If anything, we must always strive to allow individuals to celebrate or not celebrate their traditions freely. It is this choice that allows for the concept of inclusion of different viewpoints, but not the stifling of a celebration.
Any holiday period points to the richness of our diversity and the fact that one can or cannot celebrate as one sees fit.
For some these holiday times are very religious in nature while for others, they hold more secular meanings. Each meaning is correct and should be allowed to flourish. It is an individual choice when it comes to the celebration of any holiday. We head down a slippery slope when we begin to decide how members of the community are supposed to mark an occasion.
If we begin to decide what is appropriate or not appropriate then it raises many more issues and concerns. Could we see the following: no outward display of your religious preferences such as wearing a cross or a Star of David, for example? No private prayer before starting your meal in the dining hall? We can go on and on in this regard and we begin to get into constitutional issues of freedom of speech and religion.
I think that most individuals on a college campus are aware of their own biases and needs when it comes to the different holiday celebrations. If individuals are uncomfortable because of something taking place, then they should be able to bring those concerns forward and be heard.
In the end, any holiday celebration, from All Hallows Eve, to the Summer Solstice to Chinese New Year will have different meanings for members of the university community. It is through these different meanings and the choice that we have to celebrate or not celebrate that we get to the spirit of inclusion rather than the spirit of exclusion
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The University does a decent job of including the major holidays it's refreshing to be somewhere that honors Lee Jackson Day and MLK day. 4 day weekend FTW!
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Mr. Plaza is right about one thing: It is that time of year where people of all religions come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
In all seriousness though, are you getting paid to write these articles Mr. Plaza? As someone who works as the "Special Projects Coordinator for Diversity and Academic Support Services" do your articles represent the official university position or are they your personal opinion?
You first started your position in April of 2009, which coincidentally is when your first article was published.
Your job title isn't mentioned anywhere in this article. There is no need for you or the newspaper to conceal that this is a propaganda piece. It is quite obvious.
All the previous articles you have written have the same theme. I don't blame you for doing your job and writing these propaganda pieces Mr. Plaza, that is what you get paid for after all.
The real malfeasance is with the newspaper for allowing you to pose university propaganda as legitimate articles. If I were the editor I would address this issue before I lost every more credibility.
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For what it is worth his title is in the printed version of the article with Mr Plaza's picture. Not sure why they dont' put it online too.
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http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/learn/multimedia/video
PC is killing America or hadn't you noticed?
Mass murderers are not a group I wish to include!
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