The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1957-12-07

N9 the year in our country, for
we celebrate both Thanksgiving
and Christmas In less than a
Nnnnth's time. These two holidays
are among the most loved and
smOSt revered Of any we celebrate
dluring the entire year.
AT first thought. Thanksgiving
Weans turkey, cranberry a u c e
and football games 30 many OF
wS and when we think of Christ
MnaS, we can almost hear carol
singing and see the gifts under
me tree. BY Thanksgiving time,
m0St of our municipalities are
Alright with street decorations.
and In anticipation Of the Christ
mas season, store windows are
mlled with many articles Z r O m
which to choose gifts.
Thanksgiving and Christmas
nightly mean these things to us,
lar they are a part OF our ma
tnnal heritage and culture. But
I'm the midst Of our celebrating
we can lose sight OF the other side
I'd these holidays - the deeper.
'nnOre essential and meaningful
side.
When we go back in history.
wRe remember that as the Pill
Trims touched the ground of
America, they knelt down to give
enan1ks for reaching a land safe
w where there was freedom and
n chance to make new, good
ME When we think further, and
Hecau the Christmas story In all
dfx beauty, with the star shining
mEIghtly in the sky and the an
@slS with their message Of peace
and good will for all mankind,
We realize anew that the
thanksgiving and Christmas
sdnxies have eternal values for us.
Following this line of thought
Maxther, then Thanksgiving SYM
h0lizeS freedom for Americans:
thanksgiving for the good things
gwen us during the past year;
country safe from dictatorship.
from political coercion and ex-
Rediency; a country where people
are free to worship, to live their
fFsneS In safety and to earn their
chilly bread without fear, along
with the rest of their fellow
cruntrymen.
Christmas too, then, means
$umething more than brightly
khAed candles and decorations on
. tree. It symbolizeS for us peace,
god will toward all people, the
brotherhood Of man, and mans
%aexnal striving for something be-
yond himself 49, a reaching out
4nr the good that all men know
~ within themselves II 1t can
remrh fruition.
Ut is hard to reconcile this sea-
sum OF the year, with Its promise
al hope and brotherhood to the
Esaiities Of the situation as Il Is
-aelng lived by Southern Negroes
i1aad those white people OF heart
Smd conviction who are trying to
NE honest and sincere with their
,Rrnciples of brotherhood and de-
.nancracy.
according to the most recent
GALLUP poll as reported In as
Sundays Miami Herald, segrega-
NOnist thought and resistance has
aardened considerably In the past
e@U years, when sirmilar poll OF
Southern opinion was taken. It
Nd obvious that reason, logic and
constructive thought does not
Uaay q part in this pattern of
stubborn resistance to progress;
this blindness to right; this mar
EUwness Of heart and mind that
wiN je0pardize an entire section
oG our country in order to hold
Gm To worn-out customs OF long
agU- Emotions, not reason, GER
azinly play great part in color
ing the thinking OF the White
Citizens Council member and
h1ind prejudice certainly sways
Tie actions of Southerners who
hire and fire employees only be-
cause they do, or do not adhere
I'D the status quo pattern.
1rhe ~old South" with its leg
azdary habits and customs, as
&huught of by the most ardent
x==iHsainer Of the status quo, was
=. ~