Jack’s Winning words 11/13/15
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and to pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”  (John Muir)  Diplomats from 70 countries are in Paris discussing environmental issues.  “Life on the planet is at stake,” said one of them.  Concern for the environment is not new.  John Muir saw a need to care for nature over a century ago.  “Beauty or bread” is an ongoing question.  Do you have the answer?    ;-)  Jack

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  It's significant that one thing of beauty about this earth is that it is the medium for growing our bread.  If we nourish the earth, it will reward us with food.  If we misuse and contaminate the earth, we will destroy its fertility and prevent food production.  John Muir and Rachel Carson were way ahead of us concerning what we must do for mankind's survival. ====JACK:  Someone has to sound the clarion.  Thankfully, Rachel did it with her book, Silent Spring...and John Muir did it with his life.  It's too bad that some are trying to muffle sound by saying that economics is more important that "global warming."

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE:  I guess we've had "The world is coming to an end." periodically. ====JACK:  It's unfortunate when "saving the planet" becomes a political issue.  What's really important is...Are we making the best use of the gifts of God, which include our own life?  The Boy Scouts were not the first to come up with the slogan, "Be Prepared!"====GEORGE:  EXCELLENT!!

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  I believe I am correct in saying that without him,  we would likely not have some of our national parks today.====JACK:  I understand that there's a movement, because of budget constraints, to sell off some of the National Parks, or to privatize them.  Crazytimes!====PAUL:  you know what is really stupid?   our government has contracted with all kinds of vendors who basically run our parks and most of the revenue they acquire, they keep!   very little goes back to running and maintaining our parks.  that is one reason they are always operating in the red.====JACK:  I guess I can understand vendor leases, but I would draw the line at selling or leasing irreplaceable land treasures.====ST PAUL:  fair enough...   I just recall a news piece on Yosemite Park where it appears the vendors were doing very well and we, the people, who own the Park, were not...

FROM TARMART REV:  Everyone doing their part would be a good start . . . same is true of our spiritual obligation to self and one another . . . seemingly gets bogged down with both in there definitions of what is truth and what's fabricated by man as to their importance and our obligation . . . sometimes find myself scratching my head, standing before and contemplating both?! 0;-/ ====JACK:  To agree on what is true and what is false is a "dream."  Compromise is not really a "dirty" word; it's just a way of getting things done.====REV:  So true . . . completed compromise then becomes congratulatory for those would agree your compromise and condemnatory from those who believe you co-opted out, compromising the truth of the matter.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Wish I did.  Most of the worlds pollution comes from places we don't have any way of controlling.  We are making some progress with the endangered animals because of some very devoted Rangers.  This world is full of many stunningly beautiful places and animals along with all different people.  We are truly blessed!====JACK:  Of course, we can't control what goes on in all parts of the world, but we can control our corner of the world.  A better neighborhood starts at our front door.

FROM IKE AT THE MIC:  The closest I can get to solving the  "Beauty or bread" question is the ritual of making  a blessing over "challah",which Jewish people eat Friday nights to celebrate the arrival of our Sabbath.  As you know challah is braided egg bread & is not only attractive & tasty but the blessing thanks God for the earth he created to make it possible.  Just thinkin..====JACK:  I suppose that the biblical manna, being G-d-made and not man-made, has nothing comparable in today's world.  Probably matzoh is closer to it than challah.

FROM ME IN NEWPORT BEACH:  Not an answer…because a balanced portion of each with a long range view is a challenge in our pluralistic society.====JACK:  I came across this quote the other day..."The color of truth is gray."  It fits politically, economically and religiously...in my opinion.  I'm cautious when someone around me lives in their black and white world.====ME:  Even though I think you are probably a democrat, as is my wife, and I am a Republican, I suspect we see most things the same way.  The black and white extremes of both parties are making the gray hard to find.  For my first 50 years I considered myself an Independent until Marilyn registered me as a Republican because she said I might as well vote in the Primaries because I always voted Republican anyway.====JACK:  Ha!  I'd like to meet Marilyn.  It sounds as though she's a straight thinker  I've read that we're living in a time when Independents are hard to find.  Someone wrote that they are 5% of the electorate.  Henry Clay (The Great Compromiser) would have a tough time Congress today.
   
FROM JB IN OLV:  The question is how much bread do we need?  There is a movement in some European countries where the question is equilibrium….only using exactly what is needed.  A novel thought for us in the USA where the growth industry is rental units to store all our belongings that can't fit into our houses.====JACK:  It's sort of like the Israelites with the manna in the wilderness ...When they took more than was needed, God was not pleased.  If we used only what we needed, churches wouldn't be able to have Rummage Sales.

ROM AW IN ILLINOIS:  Jack, a recent book by a famous news announcer has documented what would happen if , either by natural causes or deliberately, the power grid was to be permanently disrupted.   He gave the world population  that only 10% will survive  more than 10 yrs. the rest of us will not.  A grim prediction....but he claims no one nowhere has done anything  about the possibility that the power grid may be destroyed..  according to calculations, one well placed high in the atmosphere atomic explosion could wipe out power grids throughout the whole earth. Or  a sun explosion... How's that for a thanksgiving thought?====JACK:  How's this for a Thanksgiving thought?  A hymn by William F. Lloyd.
Our times are in Thy hand;  Father, we wish them there;
Our life, our souls, our all we leave  Entirely to Thy care.

Our times are in Thy hand,  Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright;  As best they seem to Thee.

Our times are in Thy hand;  Why should we doubt or fear?
Our Father’s hand will never cause  His child a needless tear.

Our times are in Thy hand,  O Lord, our Advocate!
Nor is that hand outstretched in vain,  For us to supplicate.

Our times are in Thy hand;  We’ll always trust in Thee.
Till we have left this weary land,  And all Thy glory see.