Why -- in the context of yesterday's discussion of the chapter in Blau and Moncada -- is it important for us to celebrate one day of Las Posadas in Abbey Court?
It is important for us to celebrate Las Posadas because it shows the immigrant residents of Abbey Court that we are willing to accept their traditions, too. Members of minority groups should not feel like they are unable to carry out elements of their culture simply because they are not in the majority. I hope that our celebration will show these residents that they are accepted and help them feel more comfortable and at home here in North Carolina.
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The recognition, celebration and respect for others cultures is more complicated than the universal right to food because of the basic understanding of what constitutes culture. This word is loaded with different shades of meaning for every individual. Trying to sum up what culture encompasses is a difficult task, and, therefore, it is something very difficult to protect and for some people to respect.
It is easy to get caught up in one's personal habits, practices, and ways of life. These parts of our life seem 'normal,' and when other people deviate from these aspects of a person's life it may seem simple to see another's way of life as wrong or too different. But, in actuality this is the perfect time to celebrate differences. When taking a closer look at culture it is complex in the sense that it holds different meaning to everyone, but it is simple in the fact that all people desire the sense of tradition, belonging, and comfort associated with cultural practices.
Celebrating an event like Las Posadas is the perfect way in which to learn about and enjoy the elements of culture in different communities. Las Posadas in Abbey Court will not only recognize a holiday for a community, but it will also serve as a learning opportunity for us students. This type of event highlights the benefits of service learning-- a collaborative effort between people in which service and learning are deeply intertwined.
It is also important because communities like Abbey Court have a kind of de facto segregation from the surrounding area. It is largely a collection of minority people who often do not get much substantive exposure to the outside community. By facilitating Las Posadas at Abbey Court, we are showing the residents that there is a legitimacy of their culture past just their celebration and respect for it. It shows that other people are interested in their traditions and interested in them as fellow people. Rather than imposing U.S. traditions on them, we are welcoming their native rituals and showing them that they are able to, and should, practice those rituals even though they are no longer in their native land.
Hopefully it will make them feel like they can be different and welcome in the community at the same time.
Celebrating Las Posadas is a great way to not only show our acceptance of a new culture into ours and to help integrate a new part of the community, but it also shows our ability to expand our comfort zone culturally and embrace new ideas. This is how our country was founded and why we had the melting pot nickname. This country has been founded on acceptance and celebrating Las Posadas with the individuals at Abbey Court is another way for people of this area to accept a minority into their ranks.
Celebrating Las Posadas at AC is in many ways a wonderful way to celebrate and honor AC’s residents and their culture. When a class full of UNC students will visit AC and celebrate this occasion, I think it will convey a sense of warmth, friendship, and belonging to a university town. As Dr. Blau mentioned in class, this event will be unprecedented in Chapel Hill; and so, I am very excited to be part of history in the making. I propose that for food, we should all have a barbeque and have live music and games as well (soccer for the kids as well as parents!?).
The donkey will be a very colorful addition…fingers crossed that we are able to get one.
--Pranay Prabhakar
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