Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 23 December 2004 — Page 3

The Muncie Times • December 23, 2004 'Page 3

Parker Replaces Tew as Democratic Party State Chief

Indianapolis—Dan Parker has been elected by the Indiana Democratic Party State Central Committee as the party’s new state chair, Parker replaces Kip Tew, who announced earlier this month that he was resigning the party’s top post to return to work at his private law practice. Before his election as state chair, Parker, 34, had served as the party’s executive director. Parker, whose nomination was supported by U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, Gov. Joe Keman and Indianapolis

Mayor Bart Peterson, was elected chair during a meeting of the state Central Committee in Indianapolis. "I’m humbled by the faith placed in me by the state Central Committee to lead our party in the months and years ahead," Parker said. "I’m also grateful to have received the support and encouragement of some truly great Hoosier Democrats, namely. Sen. Bayh, Gov. Kernan and Mayor Peterson. "We definitely face some challenges as a party, but I’m convinced that we’re

up to meeting those challenges." Before coming to the party, Parker was Bayh’s state director. "The first task for our party is to realize that we have many, many strengths and that we need to continue building off of those strengths. I also plan to immediately begin a dialogue with Hoosier Democrats about how we, as a party, can reach out to the moderate swing voters and vital center of our state, while solidifying our base," Parker said.

"While we may be facing some challenging times ahead, this party is blessed with strong leaders and the future of our party is a bright one. One thing Evan Bayh, taught me when I worked for him: Good politics is good policy. "As long as we stand for the things working Hoosiers care about— good jobs, affordable health care and good quality education for kids— the politics will take care of itself. I look forward to leading the Indiana Democratic Party into a bright future."

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Continued from page 1 bring good in the world that we grasp the expansive meaning of the ancient harvests and harvest celebrations on which the ancient origins of Kwanzaa are based. For they were and are models of the cooperative creation and celebration of good in the world. Likewise, Kwanzaa's modern rootedness in the reaffirmation of the 60s, the sustained struggle to free ourselves and reaffirm our Africanness and our social justice tradition, clearly speaks to this ancient and ongoing commitment to bring, increase and sustain good in the world. For it was a struggle for freedom in its fullest meaning, for justice, for power of a people over its destiny and daily lives and for a just peace in the world. It was a struggle to return to our own history and culture, speak our own special cultural truth and make our own unique contribution to expanding the realm of human freedom and human flourishing. And the views and values of Kwanzaa are shaped in the crucible of this struggle. In reflective remembrance of these roots of Kwanzaa, then, let us, as our ancestors before us, hold

fast to the vision, values and practices which reflect their commitment to bringing good into the world. Let us gather together again this year to reaffirm the bonds between us, as persons, families and a people, celebrate the joy and rightness of being together, and meditate on the meaning and awesome responsibility of being African in the world in this our time. And in the midst of this meditation, let us not forget that no identity or responsibility of ours is more important than that of those who are chosen by heaven and history to bring good into the world. Let us also show special reverence to the Creator and creation, giving thanks for the good given and received, embracing the whole world as sacred space and reaffirming our oneness with and in the world and our responsibility to it. And let us also remember, teach and reflect on the rich and limitless lessons of our life and history as a people and of our ancestors, those models of human excellence and achievement who lifted up the light that lasts for us, the light of the spiritual and the special, the ethical and eternal. Let us also reach deep

inside ourselves and within the depths of our culture and extract and recommit ourselves to those values that represent the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. We speak here of the Nguzo Saba and other values, that teach us to speak truth, do justice, be kind and compassionate, hold fast to the good and struggle against all things negative to life and good in the world. And let us like our ancestors before us, celebrate the Good: the good of family, community and culture; the good of life and every living thing; the good of earth and water, field and forest, river and rain in the words of the ancestors, the good of all that heaven gives, the earth produces and the waters bring forth from their depths. Surely, if we accept and honor the ancient and ongoing African ethical mandate to bring good into the world and commit ourselves to cooperative creation and sharing of good in the world, we must embrace principles and engage in practices which enable us to achieve this. And certainly at the heart of these practices and the season and celebration of Kwanzaa are the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles,

the principles which are the hub and hinge on which the holiday turns. These principles around which the 7 days of Kwanzaa are organized are: Umoja (Unity), a principled, peaceful and purposeful togetherness; Kujichagulia (SelfDetermination), the right and responsibility to rule, represent and assert ourselves in the world in our own unique way; Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), building together the community and world we want and deserve to live in; Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), shared work and wealth; Nia (Purpose), the collective vocation of constantly bringing good into the world; Kuumba (Creativity), making our community and the world more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it; and Imani (Faith), faith in the good, the right and the possible. Let us recommit ourselves this Kwanzaa and each day to dare to struggle constantly to bring good into the world, to increase it and sustain it. And let us especially commit ourselves and our children to the ongoing struggles for freedom for the oppressed, justice for the wronged and injured, power

for the people over their destiny and daily lives and peace in the world. This we must do in honor of our ancestors, in respect for ourselves and in the interests of future generations. And in this historic and ongoing struggle for freedom, justice, power for the people and peace in the world, may the freedom fighters be supported and victorious; may the seekers of justice be successful and sustained; may the masses of people of the world be empowered and flourish; and may the world be blessed with a just and lasting peace for all of us everywhere. Hotep. Ase. Heri. Heriza Kwanzaa. Happy Kwanzaa. Dr. Maulana Karenga is creator of Kwanzaa and the Nguzo Saba; professor in the Department of black studies at California State University, Long Beach; chair of The Organization Us and the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO); author of the authoritative book on Kwanzaa titled Kwanzaa, A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture. For current information on Kwanzaa see: www. Official KwanzaaWebsi te.org and for information on The Organization Us see: www. Us-Organization.org.