of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

— Preamble to the Constitution

As I started writing this week's editorial, the calendar was stuck smack dab in the middle of Constitution week and the nation was remembering with sadness and reverence the seventh anniversary of 9/11.

It is with both of those events as a backdrop that I would like readers to weigh the balance of this editorial.

The South County is truly blessed in cultural diversity.

This past weekend, Sept. 12-14, hundreds were expected to gather at the Shasta District Fair grounds for the 2008 Stillwater Pow-Wow, a three-day gathering that showcases traditional dancing, drumming, food and jewelry from various Native America tribes.

The feathered, beaded, boned and belled costumes worn by the dancers while showcasing the hoop, Tolowa, California Feather and Yurok dancers, among others, are nothing short of spectacular. In terms of the hours alone spent preparing the various natural components and then hand-sewing those items onto the traditional doeskin, buckskin or buffalo hide pieces that make up the ensemble, most of these handcrafted items are virtually priceless. It is no wonder they are worn with such obvious pride and pure joy by the dancers.

While costumes may draw the spectator's initial gaze, what truly captures the imagination of all who take the time to notice are the intricate dance steps that many competitors use to tell a story in movements alone that is as detailed as some novels.

And all this is done in rhythm to the staccato sounds of a drum circle that evokes both the presence and the blessings of the Great Spirit on all dancers past and present as well as on all who are gathered for the current event.

Across town, hundreds more assembled Sunday in Anderson River Park for the 12th annual Latino Independence Day celebration at the Gaia Anderson Hotel and Spa Amphitheatre. That event also featured cultural dancing, food, crafts and some equestrian demonstrations from the Andalusian stallions.

One of the oldest breeds, the Andalusian is also known as the purebred Spanish horse. They excel in high school dressage, yet are also used extensively in cattle work and in the bullfighting ring because of their native intelligence and noble bearing.

Lest we forget, not too many weeks ago, Anderson River Park played host to the perennial Paesano Days 2008 festival celebrating Italian culture, food, music and heritage. Bocce ball was the king sport that day and pasta was featured on the menu.

Then, too, several dozens of Shasta County's Korean community gathered less than two months ago at Anderson's VFW Post 9650 to honor and thank Korean War Veterans for their service nearly 60 years past. Part of that ceremony involved a luncheon that featured, among other things, quite a few traditional Korean native dishes including kimchi, a fermented dish made of vegetables and spices.

Anderson also plays host to not one, but two Sikh groups, a religious sect that draws its roots from the northern provinces of India many hundreds of years ago. The Sikh Center just south of town will shortly be joined by another Sikh temple to be constructed near the Gaia Hotel north of Anderson.

Working together in community, we truly are "We the people…" as mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

Let us continue to work unceasingly to "establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty" so that we, too, might be able to "form a more perfect union" both here in our community as well as in our great nation.