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| Oxnard-Ventura Bahá'í |
Newsletter of the Oxnard and Ventura Bahá’í
Communities
August 2004 |
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"A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding..." |
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The purpose of the Oxnard-Ventura Bahá'í News is to provide information about the Bahá'í Faith and activities of the Bahá'í's to those who wish to learn more or attend Bahá'í devotional gatherings. If you have comments or do not want to receive the Bahá'í News, write PO Box 7344, Oxnard, CA 93031, call 648-1222. No donations requested or accepted.
Informational Talks
Saturday, August 21st 7:30 PM Friday, August 27th, 7:30 PM Raising children without Prejudice in their
Hearts: As a member of the Baha'i faith for the past 25 years, I live in a
multicultural world where befriending people of every imaginable skin color,
race and cultural combination is the norm. As a grandparent and aunt, I delight
in the beautiful colors of children who are my grandchildren and nieces and
nephews, and those whom they have chosen to call friends. As a photographer who
has specialized in producing and publishing images of children of diverse skin
tones and cultures, I am regularly asked what motivates me. My faith, and undoubtedly yours, teaches us that we are all part of one human
family. I believe we have the capacity to coexist in harmony. These beliefs are
what inspire me. How can we achieve race unity? I believe the answer lies with
our children. I have never found a parent who voluntarily owned up to any form of
prejudice. Almost everyone wants their children to grow up without prejudice,
but many are unclear on how that can be achieved. |
To that end, I have polled a few people, some of whom are professionals in
the field, who seem to have successfully raised children who have no room in
their hearts for prejudice. Here are some of their tips:
-- Help your children understand what prejudice is: forming an opinion or idea about a member of a group without knowing that person -- in other words, "prejudging." For a young child, it can be compared to a cookie that looks different from ones you've tried. It could be the most delicious treat you've ever eaten. The same is true of people: That child you've stayed away from because he or she looks different from you could be your new best friend. -- Lead by example. Your home should be the first place your children experience "unity in diversity." You may feel the need to identify stereotyping and prejudice in yourself first. Make an effort to develop sincere friendships with people of other races and cultures -- at work, at school, in the community. Early happy memories of dinners and fun times with people of other races and cultures can help children keep open minds and hearts in the future. -- Watch television and movies with your children. Take the opportunity to talk about how people of different races are portrayed (or perhaps not portrayed). There are wonderful shows on public television (and other stations) that can increase a child's awareness and appreciation for diversity. Point out to your children how happy it makes you to see this. -- Give meaningful presents that promote oneness of humanity. Award-winning books, beautifully illustrated, can transport a child into the life of other children around the world. |
Giving such a gift can create an opportunity for children to see the similarities between themselves and children of other backgrounds, and perhaps develop a lifelong interest in exploring and appreciating different cultures. You will both no doubt enjoy reading the book together. -- If you buy young children dolls or puppets of mixed races, present them together so children get the idea that it's natural for them to play together. It's easy to find artwork and posters depicting children of the world. Waking up to such an image each morning is sure to make an impression. Copyright 2004, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved. [continued in September Newsletter]
Fillmore CommUnity 1st Saturday of the Month, August 7th. Call Luanne at 524-0683 for details Oxnard CommUnity 1st Sunday of the Month, August 8th. 10:30 AM. Locations August vary. Call Barbara at 984-4390 Ventura CommUnity 2nd Sunday of the Month, August 15th, 10:00 a.m. at the Clubhouse, 3700 Dean Drive. Camarillo CommUnity 3rd Sunday of the Month, August 22nd. Call Renee at 383-3904 for details. To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith, contact the Bahá’í House of Worship or the Bahá’í community in your area [link to Contact page coming soon]. Further information is also available at www.us.bahai.org and www.bahai.org. |
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