Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 December 2002 — Page 2

The Muncie Times, December 19,2002, page 2

EDITORIAL

Happy Christmas, Happy Kwanzaaa, Happy New Year to y'all

Another year has come and almost gone. As we prepare to say "Good-bye" to 2002 and "Hello" to 2003, there is still a chance to take stock of the present, while anticipating the future. Over the next week, we will do that as we celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa, while awaiting the advent of the New Year. It is a time to reflect on the things we did and did not do in 2002. Kwanzaa and Christmas offer us an opportunity to be thankful for good health, life, family, friends, peace, safety and prosperity. This is a

season to be jolly, to enjoy what we have, even if we may aspire to acquire more. It also a time when we should think about sharing, by giving something to the elderly, the needy and those who are not as fortunate as we are. It is an opportunity to donate some of our goods to groups that try to alleviate the suffering of those who are down on their luck. It may be donations to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, the Muncie Mission, groups that cater to veterans or the disabled. Or it could be to churches and groups that collect toys for

needy children. There is a joy that comes from giving to help even those we do not know. They share our space and our community. Some may not buy into the philosophy that we are our brother's keeper. But as long as we are human, we cannot afford to ignore the poverty and suffering in our midst. We cannot be fully secure in our homes or dreams when we see others panhandling, suffering, not knowing when and where they will sleep or find shelter during the cold winter months. If we can set aside some of our gift money to donate to the bell

LETTER

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MUNCIE TIMES STAFF

Publisher

Bea Moten-Foster

Editor John T. Lambkun Advertising Bea Moten-Foster . Layout Melanie Scott Typesetting J.D. Shinn Contributors: T.S. Kumbula, Shante Scott, Geri Rosales, BarbaraNamwawa, J.D. Shinn

The Muncie Times is published twice monthly at 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, Ind. 47303. It covers the communities of Anderson, Marion, New Castle, Richmond, and Muncie. All editorial correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor, The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, IN 47303. Telephone (765) 741-0037. Fax (765) 741-0040.

ringers or to buy gifts that we‘ donate to charitable groups, we will have captured the essence of the Christmas season. If we can make others smile in gratitude, we will have made a positive contribution to the meaning of Christmas and Kwanzaa. If we can be just a little less selfish, we will have made a difference in someone's life. While still on the subject of celebrating Kwanzaa, Christmas and the New Year, let us not forget the importance of moderation. That should be our watch word, moderation, in all we do. Far too many times we tend to over eat, over drink and over indulge as the holiday spirit takes hold of us. Then we spend the post-holiday season paying for that. Too often, we spend far too much on gifts. Sometimes we even spend money that we do not have. Then we are stuck with having to pay those bills and continuing to pay them, long after the gifts we bought are forgotten. Too often we eat far more than is healthy for us. There is too much good food and we feel an obligation to eat everything in sight, convincing ourselves in the process that we can always exercise and get rid of the excess pounds after the holidays. Losing weight is often one of the favorite New Year's resolutions. Yet we could

avoid this problem by eating less, so we won't have to worry about losing weight next year. If there is too much food left over, why not pack and deliver it to the Muncie Mission or other similar group, where the less fortunate can share some of our bounty? As part of the celebration, there is usually a lot of alcohol around during the holidays. If it's there, some of us feel an overwhelming obligation and determination to drink more than we need to or can handle. Some feeling an unquenchable desire to drink everything in sight, spending the holidays in a drunken stupor, instead of enjoying our families and friends. Let's try, this holiday season, to limit the drinking. Even more important, let's avoid the temptation to drink and drive. Too many times, we insist on drinking when our abilities have been impaired by too much alcohol. The result is too many people killed, injured or maimed during this time of the year. Let's make an effort to limit the drinking, avoid driving after drinking and have a safe and sane holiday. The life you save may be your own. In that spirit, Happy Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year from the publisher, editor and staff of The Muncie Times.