Jack’s Winning Words 2/12/16
“Do not call for black power or green power.  Call for brain power.”  (Barbara Jordan)  Did you know that the potato chip, the corner mailbox, the blood bank and the traffic signal were all invented by African-Americans?  ...and that George Washington Carver “invented” 300 uses for the peanut?  It’s too bad that we must use Black History Month to note the accomplishments of people, based on their color.  Did you know that brains aren’t differentiated by color?    ;-)  Jack

FROM TRIHARDER:  I spent part of my early morning trying to explain affirmative action to a financially successful Iraqi American who came here as a young teenager. He doesn't / didn't want to understand.====JACK:  Try explaining it to some who are native-born.  We want to keep what we have, or we want to have what others want to keep.

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Did you ever go to the Ford Museum during Black History month?    Very interesting.   We took a couple of Mary Lou's students from Pontiac.    It was well done.====JACK:  I wonder if Henry Ford would have had this in mind when he established his museum?  BTW, the museum features African-American inspired recipes during Black History Month.

FROM HUNGRY HOWIE:  Brains are differentiated by how people put them to use.====JACK:  Arthur Fletcher coined the saying, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

FROM TARMART REV:  Didn't grow up in Kansas in the '50's realizing any difference in my history classes . . . George Washington Carver was held in high respect for his work with the peanut . . . and Jackie Robinson was held with the same high respect for his professionalism in professional baseball . . . even got to see Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige pitch in Kansas City as a grade school kid. I can't remember any Italian, Irish or other specially named "History Month"-- it was all lumped together as I recall it back in Kansas. Maybe too I wasn't paying that much attention and it may have been presented that way?.?.====JACK:  As I look back I see how far we've come.  WOW!  As I look at the present, I see how far we have yet to go.  UGH!====REV:  Perhaps its time for a new revivalist reminding us of the Word of God like Martin!! (Luther and/or King!!)====JACK:  ...or William J Seymour.====REV:  Yes sir-- a real prayer warrior and preacher in his day...helped bring the beginning of the AG's to Hot Springs, Arkansas and formation...I know how the General Council of the Assemblies of God and a good many of our smaller churches across the states would respond to such an invitation of a revival in a manner as experienced in those earlier days (very positive). Curious though how our "mega churches" would open themselves up in similar fashion. I am thinking many of them would be found as being "lukewarm" in this regard. The term and texts for Biblically described "holiness" isn't heard from our pulpits as in the 40's, 50's and 60's. The Charismatic Renewal opened us up, for better or worse, to many of those preached and proclaimed "weights" we were told not to hold onto. Not too much "conviction" floating around in mamy AG services in comparison to earlier days (habitation and having children before marriage, addictions, having the Bible systematically taught but found more so as a reference to preaching themes nowadays).  Sounding like an old man complaining and dreaming dreams of yesterday-- I know.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  I remember reading a Reader's Digest article about two girls who grew up together until one moved away when they were about 7. They kept writing each other and finally when they were in their 30's they met again.  They were very surprised to find out one was white and one was black!     Just think how this world would be if we saw with our heart not our head! ====JACK:  Helen Keller never seemed to have a problem with racism.====JUDY:  Actually, she did have a problem with Ann Sullivan for awhile.====JACK:  ...but it was not visual.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Oh, what a good quote today!  I watched a documentary on PBS last night on Mississippi, noting the changes in their Black History from Civil Rights days until today. Very well presented. Most of the black speakers said APATHY of the black community (given up) is a stumbling block to progress, but we HAVE come a long way. even tho there remains much to do! The Feb. Guidepost mag. featured the history making first black prima ballerina, Misty Copeland.  She tells what she went through to achieve her goal, and it is inspiring, and quite amazing. Barbara Jordan was extraordinary, and died too young!====JACK:  Paraphrasing M L King Jr, "We're not there yet, but we've seen the Promised Land."

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  you are a libertarian!====JACK:  you are wrong!====LIZ:  ok. then you are a republican.====JACK: ruk?

FROM ST PAUL IN MESA:  thanks, Jack.  i am forwarding this to a friend of mine who is quite racist.  he may find it enlightening.  stay warm and well. its going to be in the 80s here next week.   rather unseasonable even in AZ.  blessings on your day.    a friend of mine in northern MN told me a few weeks ago, during a polar vortex, that he was so cold he was turning 50 Shades of Blue! ====JACK:   Your reference to enlightening reminds me of the 18th Century Age of Enlightenment which emphasized liberty, progress, reason, tolerance and the ending of Church and state abuses.  It might be good to revisit some parts of that Age.

FROM CHESTER THE GOOD:  Why is it always assumed that African-Americans are black? Why differentiate at all? All that does is perpetuate the problem. The Press needs to getaway from trying to sell " newspapers."====JACK:  Someone has written that we need to eliminate all hyphens when describing Americans.  The trouble is that there are still those who see people of color and of different ethnic and religious backgrounds as less than true Americans.  The use of the hyphen has a way of underscoring the fact that other cultures have much to add to add to our country.  There was a time when Swedish immigrants were referred to as Swedish-Americans.  In fact, a major hospital in Rockford, IL, is still called Swedish American.