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KIDS UNITED
It is so much fun to belong to a circle of friends. It lets us share ideas and find out how we all live. Sometimes we live differently, but that's part of the fun. Sometimes we talk differently, but that's how we communicate exciting ideas. Sometimes we look different, but underneath our hair and clothes and skin, we're really all the same. We're a circle, and whether we're boys or girls, we're friends. And that's the most important thing in the world.
It was a beautiful November day on a farm in Virginia, and the animals were having a grand time chasing sheep, rabbits and even chasing each other. One of them was a golden retriever puppy named Doc, who was very tired from all the activity and was nestling down in the sun outside the barn. He yawned, but his yawn was also a big smile.
"I really love it here," he said with a stretch. "I wish I was always here."
"You've been here since you were born," said the big Australian Shepherd, sitting down.
"You talk different than me," said Doc. "Were you born here?
"I was born in Australia," said the big dog proudly. "Do you know where that is? It's where they call 'down under,' like down under the rest of the world. It's hot there when it's cold here and cold there when it's hot here."
"So it's summer there now?" asked the pup.
"It's summer," nodded the big dog. "Even though it's November. It's also when we have a special day when they race horses. It started in 1861, and it's always on the first Tuesday of the month. We call it the Melbourne Cup and it's the biggest day in November for us Aussies."
"Don't you have Thanksgiving?" asked the sleepy pup, and Shepherd shook his head 'no,' rattling his dog tags.
"Not everybody has Thanksgiving. Some places celebrate differently."
"Like in my country of Kuwait, we have a special day in November called Diwali," said the Persian cat, lazing away on a sun-drenched hay bale. "Once upon a time, rows of lighted lamps were lit to welcome the hero Ram over the villian Ravan. Now some people think that the goddess Lakshmi is welcomed on this night when wealth and prosperity visits every house. My people decorate their houses with flowers, wreathes, pictures, and toys. At night, they light up their houses with lamps, candles, or even electric bulbs. It's quite beautiful."
"It sounds quite lovely," said the elderly English Terrier as he settled down next to the pup. He then proceeded to explain that the English, too, have a holiday in November. It's called Guy Fawkes Night and it takes place on November 5. It was named for a man in 1605, who was not very nice. But he created a national day of Thanksgiving-
"Just like our Thanksgiving?" the pup asked.
"Not really," said the Terrier. "Children make life-size models of Guy Fawkes out of old clothes stuffed with straw and newspaper. Then they carry the models through the streets, shouting Pennies for the Guy. The money is given to the poor. Then there are big bonfires, fireworks and a large feast."
A wise old horse called all the animals in close and began to talk quietly. He told them-the dogs of all sizes and breeds, the persian cat, the pigs and the ducks-about the celebrations around the world. He told them about the Thanksgiving day in Puerto Rico that is celebrated on November 19, the day that Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1493.
He talked of the day of celebration in Argentina, a glorious day that happens on November 10, when they celebrate the cowboy, or Gaucho. There are folk dances called the Gato, Zamba and Pericon. Traditional foods like empanadas and pastelitos are eaten and all the children celebrate at school.
He was proud when he spoke of November 11, Veteran's Day in many places around the world, when the men and women who fought in wars are honored with a parade.
And he told them about November 3rd in Japan, a day called Culture Day, that celebrates love of freedom and equality.
The farm animals were quiet for a while. The sun was starting to set, and they were beginning to get hungry. The golden retriever pup stretched his tiny legs, and stood up. He shook out his fur and looked at all of the great animals that surrounded him.
"Wow," he said quietly and in awe. "We have great things that happen around the world, not just here." The other animals nodded. "I guess that's what makes the world such a great place to live," the pup said. And again the animals nodded. The Australian Shepherd barked, the English Terrier puffed out his chest, the Persian cat purred, and the horse, a beautiful Arabian stallion, nayyed.
It was a beautiful November day on a farm in Virginia. And all of the animals were together, sharing their culture and being with their friends. It was how the world should be.
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