Monday, October 08, 2018


Jack’s Winning Words 10/8/18
“America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up.” (Oscar Wilde)  Columbus got the credit, but it may have been some Portuguese sailors, or maybe some Phoenicians, or the Vikings (500 years before Columbus) who first set foot on America.  However, the 7 continents began to be formed 200 million years ago, each waiting to be discovered.  History is not only “the story” but the “hushed up story” behind the story.   ;-)  Jack

FROM SHALOM JAN:  It seems to me that those whom we call "Native Americans" were the first to set foot on the Americas -- both North and South.  However, the idea of discovery by humans is what counts here.  The animals didn't discover; they just enjoyed the freedom and variety of the lands! ===JACK:  I would not be surprised to "discover" that there were people in the Americas before the "Indians" discovered it.===JAN:  Yes, the mastodons had more than one humanoid enemy, I'm sure!===JACK:  Do you suppose that Samson might have used the jawbone of a mastodon?

FROM WALMART REV:  Was that an eye witness you quoted from, mentioning the "continents being formed 200 million years ago"===JACK:  I've learned that eye-witnesses aren't always reliable, especially when some people are interpreting what the eyewitnesses saw.  I'm lean toward trusting those who read rocks.  My faith rests on "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" ...and let it go at that.===REV:  I haven’t counted out that one “to be found” bone and stick figure drawing in a newly found cave indicating possible continents 200 million years ago...anything is possible nowadays.===JACK:  EXACTLY!  Michelangelo is famous for having said:  "Ancora Imparo," I am always learning.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  I like it.===JACK:  It's probably because we've probably read many of the same books.


FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  On our recent road trip to Maine our destination included Nova Scotia where there are supposedly Viking remains of their landings. But we scratched that plan because it was so far from Acadia and because rain was predicted! We did Provincetown and Plymouth instead!===JACK:  If I were in Nova Scotia, I'd first visit my friends in Victoria Beach, the watch the tide activity at the Bay of Fundy...and then visit the Viking landing place (even if it it were raining).

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  I started reading "Lies My Teacher Told Me".   Very interesting and sad that so much of what really happened never gets taught in our schools.===JACK:  Now, there's an eye-catching title!  How about another..."Lies My Pastor Told Me"?  Would you want to pick it up and read it?===RS:  Absolutely!

FROM PROUD MARY:  many years ago at school we started celebrating the indigenous peoples history before columbus came, before the vikings came, and pondered who may have been the original discoverer.  it was interesting, fun, and mind expanding.  we were the explorers.  experiencing, exploring, and viewing the world through a child's eyes and heart is an amazing gift! ===JACK:  What does the modern teacher do with Columbus?  Not mention him at all?  Or, say that in the past some people thought that he had discovered a "new" world, because they had never heard of it before?  Ways of teaching and preaching evolve with new information.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We are thankful for whoever discovered it.  We are also very thankful our ancestors decided to go through very tough travels to get here!  God bless America!!===JACK:  New information is welcomed in helping us to better understand a subject.===JUDY:  That’s very true.  Each day a new discovery!

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Thinking in terms of 200 million years ago, kinda puts today in perspective doesn't it ? The little "dash" we live is microscopic indeed! (1930-?) We'll probably never know who came before 
Columbus, but history keep wending its way through each generation, and we do what we can to make a difference in our little corner o the world... !===JACK:  For good reason, given the information that was available at the time, people believed that the earth was flat.  We ought not to fear letting go of "old facts" and adjusting our knowledge.

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE:  Biblically the earth and universe is only ~6 - 8,000 years old.===JACK:  Yes, there are some people who believe as you do.  And, there are other "God-believers" who have a different opinion.  Each group believes that the information they have affirms their opinion.  The important issue is not, How? but Why?

FROM WB IN WB:  His story.===JACK:  Yes, some people see God as being active in history.  "History is His story."

FROM BB IN CHGO:  Leave it to Wilde and to you for digging that one up.  Are folks in your vicinity calling it  Indigenous People’s Day?===JACK:  I see that people in Columbus, Ohio, are using it as a day to honor veterans.  (Another blow to the Indigenous People!)

FROM EILEEN:  We can all  better ourselves in someway or another. Being more conscientious, being more conscience, and aware and in tune with others===JACK:  One of the things I like about the community where I live is its diversity.  It helps me to be aware that there are "other fish in the sea."===EILEEN:  Always swim with you, never against..is there something like that in Scripture?===JACK:  Maybe it's in the Noah story or in the parting of the Red Sea.

FROM HUNGRY HOWIE:  What about the indigenous people===JACK:  It's good, but will be even better when calendars list the 2nd Monday in October as "Indigenous Peoples' Day" instead of Columbus Day.




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