The Gift of the Future

On this day, many households stir with the sounds of holiday celebration. The observances may vary from one home to another, but beneath their diversity lie common bonds of family, hope and goodwill. We tend to forget these commonalities in the often-grinding routines of daily life. We should think of them now.

Free of the distractions of school, commuting, jobs and shopping, we gather amid the excited chatter of children, the comfort of family and friends and aromas from the kitchen. These are the Kodak moments that last well beyond the exchange of material goods.

The scene is similar from East Los Angeles to the Valley to Orange County, whether we’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or simply dining with friends. The table talk may be in English, Spanish, Yiddish, Korean, Armenian, Chinese, Russian or any of dozens of other languages. Ham and turkey, those American holiday favorites, are joined by handmade tamales, dim sum or plantains. In California, there are as many distinctive ethnic cuisines at the table as there are ethnic communities.

Too often diversity is maligned, blamed for the state’s problems. It is in fact remarkable how well the many cultural groups, especially in Los Angeles, accommodate each other at school, work, church and play throughout the year. True, we tend to retreat to homes in neighborhoods self-segregated by income and race, but that is changing too, albeit slowly.

What can help bring us closer? Perhaps more than anything else, pursuit of our shared goal of giving our children and grandchildren the best opportunities possible. Parents must push for--no, demand--the best public education. To be competitive in today’s technology-driven work force requires more brain than brawn. Children who do not master basic skills are likely to be trapped in unsatisfying, low-paying jobs, a shame in a state that has some of the best public universities anywhere.

When it comes to the issue of tolerance, kids can teach their parents. Today’s youth, comfortable in a multicultural environment, generally are far more accepting of those of different languages, races or ethnicity. All youngsters want the opportunities of the American dream. To ensure that bright society, there must be new coalitions based on shared values that lead to a less divisive society and political arena in the 21st century.

Today’s holiday snapshots may not be Norman Rockwell portraits; after all, this is Los Angeles at the approach of the new century. But the themes of those familiar images--kinship, friendship, faith and goodwill--endure in our time.