JUNE themes: Caribbean, African-American, LGBT and cat awareness

June 01, 2014 by Leave a Comment

JUNE 2014: This month, groups of Americans will celebrate Caribbean Americans, African-American music, Gay Pride—and the adoption of cats. Among the business groups claiming June as a promotional month is the American dairy industry. Back in 1937, dairy farmers declared June National Milk Month and later the campaign expanded into National Dairy Month. Today, dairy-free folks also celebrate Dairy Alternatives Month in June. Among other food industries claiming June are producers of iced tea, seafood—and okra! Throughout June, you’ll also see news about National Fireworks Safety Month, an important theme as Americans prepare for their July 4 celebrations.
Here are a few of the bigger month-long celebrations …

Caribbean-American Heritage Month

Over the past three centuries, millions of men and women have moved to what is now the United States from the 700 islands known as the Caribbean. In 2006, the U.S. Congress called for an annual season honoring this group. Each year, the White House issues a proclamation designating June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This year, President Obama declared: “Caribbean Americans have contributed to every aspect of our society—from science and medicine to business and the arts.”

AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSIC APPRECIATION MONTH

Like the Caribbean-themed campaign, African-American musicians urged officials in Washington D.C. to honor their contribution to our nation’s culture. They succeeded in 1979, when President Jimmy Carter held a White House reception and named “Black Music Month.” Later, the idea was renamed, the White House remains involved—and plans are underway to have an annual June emphasis on music at the still-under-development Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. That museum is expected to open in 2015.

LGBT PRIDE MONTH

The late gay-rights activist and feminist Brenda Howard is credited with touching off the movement that led to today’s month-long series of LGBT Pride events. She helped to organize the first annual march to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in late June of 1969. Only two presidents have made annual declarations of this special month: Bill Clinton once and Barack Obama in each recent year. This year, the White House declaration says in part: “As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect—our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, we celebrate victories that have affirmed freedom and fairness, and we recommit ourselves to completing the work that remains.”

INTERFAITH CALENDAR

You will enjoy our entire Interfaith Calendar of holidays and anniversaries. An easy way to reach that master index: Remember the URL InterfaithHolidays.com

(Originally published at readthespirit.com, an on line magazine covering religion, spirituality, values and interfaith and cross-cultural issues.)

Changing American attitudes: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

December 07, 2013 by Leave a Comment

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7: This is a relatively new holiday in the United States, even though the tragedy occurred on December 7, 1941, and its long-delayed enactment by the U.S. Congress, in 1994, is in keeping with Americans’ long process of coming to terms with the traumatic violence.

Pearl Harbor remembrance is a fascinating insight into how dramatically media has changed the nature of global conflict. Now, history-making protests across the Arab world and even supposedly secretive military attacks are blasted around the world via digital messages, photos and video—often in “real time.” But in 1941, Hawaii was not yet a state and most Americans were not even aware of where the islands were situated. When the first news reports of “the day that will live in infamy” reached American newspapers and radio stations, the news came with only sketchy details of the devastating Japanese attack.

Very few photos and almost no film footage of the Pearl Harbor attack were released that December. Even LIFE, and other influential news magazines, were unable to get photos past U.S. censors who barred use of all but a small number of photos as a matter of national security. Many of the iconic photos Americans now recognize from Pearl Harbor were only shown to Americans one year later. Major metropolitan newspapers ran December 7, 1942, anniversary issues in which advertisers competed to buy the most anti-Japanese advertisements they could envision. Splashed across newspaper front pages that day were huge, shocking photographs of the attack.

While the slow release of the photos and film footage might be seen as calming war hysteria, the opposite was true. Canadian Japanese internment began in January 1942. The American Japanese process began a month later with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s  Executive Order 9066, issued February 19, 1942, which eventually was interpreted as excluding all people of Japanese ancestry from the entire Pacific coast, including all of California and much of Oregon, Washington and Arizona. Eventually, in 1988, Congress passed—with the support of President Ronald Reagan—legislation that apologized for the internment on behalf of the U.S. government. The legislation said that government actions were based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.”

Today, there are many instances of men and women from both sides of the Pacific conflict coming together to jointly remember the past and encourage a more peaceful future. One place that occurs is at the Manzanar National Historic Site, where survivors of the interment often are side by side with military veterans. Of course, such opportunities are rapidly fading. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day stories in regional newspapers across the U.S., this year, tend to be mentioning each local area’s “last surviving Pearl Harbor vet,” like this story from Cincinnati.

CARE TO LEARN MORE? National Geographic has one of the best interactive, multi-media overviews of the Pearl Harbor attack. From this landing page, you can watch video, read further stories, listen to audio clips—and come away with a good understanding of what unfolded that day. Scholastic also provides educational materials and lesson plans for various age groups.

Thanksgiving: Americans celebrate 150th ‘official’ feast for gratitude

November 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28: Pass the turkey and give thanks for a global tradition, on the American holiday that is Thanksgiving.

This year’s holiday is historic in so many ways!

America’s 150th Thanksgiving: You’ll read more (below) about the long history of this festival, but this is, indeed, America’s sesquicentennial of our national Thanksgiving holiday. (In addition to this column, you’ll want to read our Lincoln Resource Page, which is packed with Thanksgiving-related columns and other materials.)

70th Anniversary of Norman Rockwell’s “Thanksgiving”: Most Americans refer to the painting with the holiday’s name, but the actual title was “Freedom from Want,” back in 1943, when Rockwell completed the nearly 4-foot-tall oil-on-canvas illustration that was reproduced on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. The painting was part of a series on The Four Freedoms, the famous phrase introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in January 1941. When he broadcast that talk, the U.S. was at peace. By 1943, Rockwell’s paintings were a bittersweet reminder of the “freedoms” American forces were fighting to preserve in the heat of World War II.

Once-in-a-Lifetime convergence of “Thanksgivukkah”: One mathematician calculated that it will take another 70,000-plus years for Hanukkah and American Thanksgiving to converge again. You’ll enjoy FeedTheSpirit columnist Bobbie Lewis’s detailed look at Thanksgivukkah—including a delicious recipe for apple-cinnamon latkes! Then, for a more family-oriented perspective, don’t miss This Jewish Life-author Debra Darvick’s look at Thanksgivukkah 5774.

What’s more—remember that Thanksgiving circles the planet: Nearly every culture claims a harvest festival—everything from the German Erntedankfest, which includes Oktoberfest, and the Japanese Labor Thanksgiving Day, which takes place on November 23.

WAMPANOAG, ENGLISH AND THE FEAST OF 1621

Long before European settlers arrived on the East Coast, the area that is now the United States was inhabited by several Native American tribes. The Wampanoag, in particular—the native people who shared the “first” American Thanksgiving with the colonists—had inhabited the East Coast region for more than 12,000 years! Familiar with the land and sea, the Wampanoag taught the Mayflower travelers how to fish, hunt and harvest on the land. The Plymouth Colony—a group of English Protestants, eager to break away from the Church of England—made a pact with the Wampanoag, that they would protect one another from other native tribal members. (Learn more from History.com.) That “first” Thanksgiving feast occurred in 1621, with the English and the Wampanoag feasting on deer, corn, shellfish and other wild game. The first feast that likely included prayers of thanks for a good harvest occurred two years later, in 1623.

Did you know? The English Colonists didn’t call themselves ‘Pilgrims,’ nor did they wear black clothing. Rather, they donned bright clothing.

150 YEARS OF ‘OFFICIAL’ THANKSGIVINGS

The practice of an annual harvest festival among the Colonists didn’t take root until the late 1660s, and proclamations were made by church leaders in the decades following. George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide “thanksgiving” celebration on November 26, 1789, “acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God.” (Wikipedia has details.) Proclamations and celebrations were varied until the beginning of the 19th century, and in 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared the first official national day of thanksgiving. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924, with floats, band and animals from the Central Park Zoo—a tradition that continues, at least in similarity, today. The date of Thanksgiving was changed to the fourth Thursday in November in 1941, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Find resources for kids at Scholastic.com and National Geographic.)

Did you know? The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was organized by immigrant employees at Macy’s, in thanks for the opportunities they had found in America.

On a solemn note, the peace between the Wampanoag and the English settlers lasted only a generation. For many modern Wampanoag, Thanksgiving is a reminder of the betrayal and bloodshed suffered; on Thanksgiving, they gather at the statue of Massasoit in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to remember their ancestors.

FROM TURKEY TO PUMPKIN PIE:
TIPS, RECIPES AND TABLE SETTINGS

Unsure of what to do with that intimidating, oversized turkey? Tired of Grandma’s pumpkin pie recipe? Have no fear!

IN THE NEWS FOR THANKSGIVING 2013:

A Thanksgiving story wouldn’t be complete without news on Black Friday—and this year, retail stores are in fierce competition at the opening of a season that is six days shorter than last year’s. In 2013, Thanksgiving falls at its latest possible date under the 1941 law. Best Buy is grabbing numerous headlines with its 6 p.m. Thanksgiving open time, a move that representatives say was pushed by millions of consumers left unhappy with last year’s midnight opening. (Check out the story in Minnesota’s Star Tribune.) A full two hours ahead of other major retailers opening at 8 p.m., such as Macy’s and Sears, Best Buy hopes to nab the earliest customers during the shopping frenzy—and in competition with online retailers.

The International Council of Shopping Centers recently revealed that approximately 13 percent of U.S. consumers plan to shop on Thanksgiving this year. Many retail employees report unhappiness with work schedules invading their family plans, particularly employees of Kmart, which will open at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving and remain open for a marathon 41 hours. (Find the story at HuffingtonPost.com.) Nonetheless, as retailers bank on holiday sales to account for 20 to 40 percent of annual sales, every hour counts. (Think pushing up the date of Thanksgiving would help America? Weigh the pros and cons, with help from this humorous article from TIME.)

For those able to spend extended periods of time with family and friends, airlines are catering to the 25.1 million passengers expected over the 12-day Thanksgiving holiday period—a 1.5 percent increase in travelers from 2012. (USA Today and CNN reported.) Economists report that today’s airline ticket will, on average, cost less after inflation than it would have in 2000; airline investment has more than doubled since 2010, resulting in new planes, the installation of Wi-Fi and upgraded websites.

Turning 9/11 ‘Patriot Day’ into a National Day of Service & Remembrance

September 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

“As we remember the victims, their families, and the heroes who stood up during one of our country’s darkest moments, I invite all Americans to reclaim that abiding spirit of compassion by serving their communities in the days and weeks ahead. From volunteering with a faith-based organization, to collecting food and clothing for those in need … each of us can do something.”
President Barack Obama, Presidential Proclamation for Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11: Bow your head in remembrance and lend a hand in your community, as the United States marks Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, in memory of the almost 3,000 men and women who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Though not a federal holiday, flags are flown at half-staff; a moment of silence is observed at 8:46 a.m. (Wikipedia has details.) Originally deemed “Patriot Day” in 2002, the day was later renamed by President Barack Obama, in 2012. (Read a White House Proclamation here.) In synch with its new name, Obama urged Americans to observe 9/11 with not only a moment of silence, but with some type of volunteer service to the community.

As a special treat for ReadTheSpirit this week, the noted peacemaker and poet Ken Sehested is allowing us to share with readers his latest poem—reflecting on ways that we may find hope and courage in light of 9/11 and other frightening global tragedies.

IN MEMORY: LITURGICAL RESOURCES,
THE PATRIOTS’ RUN & A REMEMBRANCE RIDE

CATHOLIC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has gathered liturgical resources for Catholic congregations wishing to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11.  Bishops’ statements on the day, along with other materials for reflection, are also available on the USCCB website. And that’s not all: Most mainline denominations produced worship resources for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, which still are available online.

PROTESTANT: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a denomination Read The Spirit is highlighting in its author interview this week, provides this free 8-page PDF of worship ideas to recall the traumatic events of 9/11. The United Methodist Church maintains an online portal called Making Peace after 9/11, which has links to congregational materials and inspirational news items. The Presbyterian Church (USA) offers ideas for services of Hope and Healing in light of 9/11. Of course, there’s much more online, developed by various church-related peace groups and individual congregations, but these links we’ve listed provide the most extensive resources. If you spot something you’d like us to mention, email us at: [email protected]

JEWISH: Many Jewish groups assembled terrific resource guides for the 10th anniversary of 9/11—still inspirational reading for individuals and groups. Check out pages by the UJA-Federation of New York, and the Union for Reform Judaism, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

ACROSS THE U.S.: There are many regional events across the U.S.—so check local news media in your part of the country. In Kansas, for example, the Patriots’ Run once again will gather hundreds of U.S. runners and approximately 1,000 more will take part in Afghanistan, all to remember those lost on September 11, 2001.  What began as a small-scale commemorative run has evolved into a full running club, even drawing athletes from Brazil to participate. Charities like Wounded Warriors, Voices of September 11th and S.A.F.E. Return will benefit from funds raised from the race.

Similar events kick off around the country, such as for residents of Brandon, Fla., who will pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 with their annual Remembrance Ride—a motorcyclist event put on by the local post of American Veterans. Along with the memorial, organizers hope to focus attention on those currently serving in the military and civilian first responders. In its first five years, the Remembrance Ride has raised more than $25,000 for local charities; a barbecue dinner, auction, raffles, vendors and live entertainment will also ensue this year.

To find a volunteer service opportunity, visit United We Serve: www.Serve.gov.

Labor Day: New year for schools & NFL has a long union history

September 02, 2013 by Leave a Comment

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2: From coast to coast, you can smell the barbecue and, in some communities, you’ll still see fireworks after sunset! Americans celebrate Labor Day as one last blast of summer—before the start of a new school year, more intensified fall-and-winter schedules in many companies and, of course, the return of the NFL and college football!

But the holiday has a long and hard-won history in the U.S. labor movement.

Wikipedia has an in-depth overview with links to read more about the early roots of Labor Day in the late 1800s. The phrase “hard-won” is accurate because federal officials didn’t enact the holiday until after deaths in the Pullman railway strike of 1894. In response to nationwide concern about the use of violence against workers in the Pullman strike, Congress moved rapidly to enact a holiday honoring workers. However, political leaders wanted to avoid the movement toward an International Workers Day in early May to remember deaths in the Chicago Haymarket Square bombing in 1886. Some American unions also backed the later date for an American holiday—and “the first Monday of September” is now a fixture in American life every year.

ARE AMERICANS ANTI-LABOR?

This news may surprise you! Two years ago, in 2011, Pew researchers issued a startling report headlined “Unions Face Uncertain Future.” Pew polls found American attitudes toward organized labor at a low point. But, this summer? Pew reports a different story, headlined Favorable Views of Business, Labor Rebound. The new report says, in part:

“Favorable opinions of both business corporations and labor unions have rebounded from record lows reached in the summer of 2011. Overall, more Americans now hold a favorable (55%) than an unfavorable (39%) view of business corporations; two years ago, opinion was reversed (52% unfavorable, 38% favorable). Similarly, views of labor unions have returned to positive territory, with 51% holding a favorable view and 42% holding an unfavorable view – far better ratings than the 46% unfavorable/41% favorable balance of opinion registered in 2011.”

COMIC BOOK HISTORY OF LABOR

This year, stories about the influence of comic books are back in newspaper and TV news, mainly because of U.S. Rep. John Lewis’s creation of a graphic novel, ‘March,’ to teach a new generation about the civil rights movement.

Thanks to comic artist and historian Tom Christopher, we’ve also got a fascinating online history of comic books used in the American labor movement. In Tom’s historical overview (which includes some screen shots of these collectible classics), he demonstrates that companies, unions and even some bigoted groups distributed comic books in the campaign to sway American attitudes toward organized labor.

In our view at Read The Spirit, one of the best sections of Tom’s history concerns the old “Cliff Merritt” comics, which still show up in shops and websites that sell classic comic books. Cliff Merritt was drawn and presented as a good, solid American guy, whom Tom describes as looking a lot like the actor Robert Young (starring in TV’s Father Knows Best at the time). Some top names in comic history worked on these indie projects.

So, as a unique Labor Day treat for our readers, this year—enjoy Tom Christopher’s story of an unknown chapter in our American labor history. Tom reminds us of an era when the labor movement made common sense in households nationwide. One issue in the pro-labor comic series was called Cliff Merritt Sets the Record Straight. In that issue, Tom writes: Cliff “is about to retire from the railroad, and he’s given a dinner which he uses as an occasion to make a quick speech about progress in economics and safety through union activity. Cliff lives with his son and his family and he learns that his grand daughter has had a tiff with her boyfriend over the legitimacy of union activities. He calls the youngsters together and gives them a slideshow detailing union history and demonstrating the need for a union to ensure workers’ rights and safety. The young lovers make up and head off to the malt shop for a soda.”

From all of us at ReadTheSpirit: Have a safe and happy Labor Day!

 

Independence Day: Bells, fireworks and red, white and blue for the Fourth of July

July 04, 2013 by Leave a Comment

“It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

John Adams, in a letter to his wife, Abigail, 1776

THURSDAY, JULY 4: Hang the red, white and blue bunting, light the barbecue and get ready for fireworks—it’s the Fourth of July! On this date in 1776, delegates of the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. (Wikipedia has details.)

4TH OF JULY FOOD:
FROM CRAWFISH AND TARTS TO HOT DOGS AND FLAG CAKE

Thirteen British colonies separated themselves from Great Britain in July 1776. John Adams got a few things wrong as he predicted what would unfold. First, he anticipated the celebration would culminate on July 2, the date the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence. However, it wasn’t until July 4 that the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted. (Read more at History.com.) Adams expected solemn remembrances, each year—not the holiday bashes in many U.S. cities.

On the nation’s first anniversary, in 1777, 13 gunshots were fired in salute; fireworks exploded; an official dinner was held for the Continental Congress at City Tavern in Philadelphia. Barbecued hot dogs, hamburgers and potato salad weren’t on that first menu of the Fourth, though. In 1777, celebrants dined on rabbit, turkey, crawfish and lobsters with fruits, tarts, jellies and custards in place of today’s flag-shaped cakes and berry-dotted desserts. (USA Today has an article.) Since Philadelphia was a major port at the time, experts attest that exotic fruits and spices were likely on the menu in 1777, too.

SPENDING, TRAVEL TO SKYROCKET

Whether you’ll be hosting a gathering, attending one or just barbecuing in the backyard, enjoy the day off—it’s been a paid federal holiday since 1938. (Get more facts, stats and extras at USA.gov.)

During this, the most traveled vacation period of the summer, upward of 40 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over July 4 this year, auto club AAA predicts. Planning to travel? Forbes suggests five key places to visit. Gas prices have increased only slightly since July 2012, and overall spending is expected to soar: People expect to spend almost 60 percent more on July 4 festivities this year, according to an annual national survey. (The LA Times reported.) More than 40 percent of Americans plan to buy fireworks.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE: PARTIES, RECIPES, CRAFTS AND MORE

Hosting a July 4 fete?

Flag Day: Wave Old Glory high in red, white and blue

June 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Did you know? The American Flag has 13 stripes and 50 stars, representing the original 13 Colonies and current 50 states. There have been 27 official versions of the flag.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14: Whip up some red, white and blue pancakes for breakfast, sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” and raise Old Glory high: it’s Flag Day! As issued by proclamation each year, President Barack Obama declared this year’s official Flag Day observance for June 14 (with an entire Flag Week now extending from June 9 through June 15). Schools across America will teach the history of Stars and Stripes; federal buildings will proudly fly the flag; and parades and fireworks will commence from sea to shining sea.

Flag Day commemorates the day the flag of the United States was adopted, via resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. Legend has it that George Washington commissioned Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross to create a flag for (what he hoped would be) a new nation; the Betsy Ross House remains the official site of the Philadelphia celebration of Flag Day.

STARS & STRIPES HISTORY: A 19-YEAR-OLD FOUNDER

Several commemorations took place in early American history, but it was 19-year-old grade school teacher Bernard J. Cigrand who worked tirelessly to make Flag Day an annual American reality. In 1885, Cigrand held the first formal observance of Flag Day in his classroom in Waubeka, Wisconsin, displaying a miniature version of Old Glory and asking students to write an essay on its meaning. (Wikipedia has details.) One year later, Cigrand proposed an annual observance in an article for the Chicago Argus newspaper. From that time, raising awareness of Flag Day all but became a full-time job for Cigrand: the former teacher gave thousands of speeches across the nation, was appointed editor-in-chief of American Standard magazine (a publication that promoted reverence for American emblems), became president of the American Flag Day Association and head of the National Flag Day Society.

Still, it wasn’t until 1916—when Cigrand was 50 years old—that President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day. National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress in 1949. The largest and most elaborate Flag Day parades take place in New York each year, although Pennsylvania is the only state to have deemed Flag Day a state holiday.

PATRIOTIC SPIRIT ONLINE

What’s Your Flag IQ? Test your IQ, and find lesson plans at Disney’s Kaboose.

Red, White and Blue on Your Table: Recipe Girl offers up 100 red, white and blue recipes, while Taste of Home gathers scrumptious inspirations like American Flag Berry Pie and Buttercream Blast Layer Cake.

Red, White and Blue in Your Home: Put together all-American crafts with help from this family-centered site.

Flag Etiquette: Do you know the proper way to fold the American Flag? How about the right way to dispose of the flag? Get all the info here.

Eager to learn more? Check out the official site of The National Flag Day Foundation.