June (88/06/01)
Today marks the beginning of a new month, the sixth month of the year. This month stimulates different images in the minds of Japanese and Americans. In Japan, it is a month of cloudy skies and rainy weather, a busy month for farmers in their rice paddies. In America, June has a contrasting image. It is a month of nice weather, a month of school graduation ceremonies followed by a long summer vacation and a month of weddings. "What is so rare as a day in June?" is a famous line from a work of the famous American poet, James Russell Lowell. The ancient Roman poet, Ovid, stated that Junius, the Latin name for this month, was derived from juniores, the Latin word for "youths". Another theory is that the name comes from Juno, who was the guardian goddess of women and protector of marriages. At any rate, June is a popular month for weddings in the United States--not because of any faith in Juno, whom most Americans have never heard of--but because of its nice weather and it is vacation time. As a matter of fact, my wife was married in June and, coincidentally, so was I. Our wedding took place during my seminary vacation. In our case, the month of June marked the beginning of an eventful and happy life together. (2589)
Italy (88/06/02)
Today is a national holiday in a southern European country. It is a peninsular country, shaped like a boot, extending into the Mediterranean Sea. Most of its citizens are Roman Catholics. There are five letters in its name and its inhabitants speak Italian. You guessed it! The country's name is Italy, which comes from a tribal name meaning "young cattle", honoring Mars, the god of bulls. Like Japan, Italy is a mountainous country and includes a couple of islands which are larger than Shikoku. Which do you think has a larger area, Italy or Japan? In fact, Japan is about 20 percent larger than Italy but has over twice Italy's population. Italy was the center of the Roman Empire and continues to be the home of the Roman Catholic Church. Following the overthrow of the dictatorship of Mussolini and the end of the Second World War, Italian voters were given the choice of restoring the monarchy or becoming a republic. The referendum, which took place on June 2, 1946, 42 years ago today, resulted in the establishment of the Italian Republic, which is the official name of that country today. Italy has such a respected history that Samuel Johnson once said, "A man who has not been in Italy is always conscious of an inferiority." (2590)
"Grapevine" (88/06/03)
Owners of a large women's clothing store in San Francisco, realizing that many of its employees were foreign born and did not have an adequate grasp of English, have added English language courses to its training program. It was discovered that immigrant employees were not able to understand some instructions, nor did they grasp the meaning of many slang or colloquial expressions. For example, one foreigner could not understand what was meant by the company "grapevine", for she knew that there was no vineyard nearby. Literally, of course, a grapevine is a vine on which grapes grow. However, in a figurative sense, it refers to the informal transmission of information, gossip or rumor from person to person. Sometimes, before an authorized statement is made by a company official, the news is already known by means of the company "grapevine". Information learned by the grapevine, however, is not always reliable and although gossiping about others is a favorite pastime for some people, we should not spread unfounded rumors that might be harmful to others. In the New Testament book of First Timothy, chapter 5, verse 13, criticism is directed against "gossips and busybodies" who "waste their time in going round from house to house" "talking of things they should not". (2591)
New Dental Clinic (88/06/04)
In English, a hollow area in the ground is called a cave and a hollow area in the body is called a cavity. This word may also refer to a hollow place in a tooth, which is called a "bug tooth", or mushiha in Japanese. Because the numbers 6 and 4 may be pronounced mu-shi in Japanese, this 4th day of the 6th month has been designated mushi-yobō, or Cavity Prevention, Day. Today, a new dental clinic will open in a small train station in the little community of Agi in Gifu Prefecture. This station has remained vacant since it was turned over to a privately-owned railway when the Japan National Railway went out of business two-and-a-half years ago. The rail company had considered opening a kiosk in the station, but decided that 600 passengers a day would not make it profitable. When a 36-year-old dentist in Nagoya who desired to help people in a remote place heard of that vacant station in an area of 5000 residents without a dentist, he offered to open a clinic there. His offer was readily approved by the deficit-ridden railway and people with mushiba who live nearby. Dr. Niro Kawai, stating that although his income will be barely enough to support his family in such a small town he will do his best to please the people there, has provided a good example for us all. (2592)
Trinity (88/06/05)
A triangle is a geometric figure having three sides and three angles. A trio is a group of three people. In baseball, a triple is a three-base hit. And in Christian theology, trinity is the term used for the triune God. In the church calendar, this season of the year, beginning the Sunday after Pentecost and lasting for six months until the Sunday before Advent, is also called Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity cannot be explained in a completely logical manner. However, it is the way Christian theologians have interpreted biblical passages and Christian experience to express the truth that, although there is only one God, there are three ways in which God's character and purpose have been revealed to the world. The one true and living God, the Creator of all things, who entered human history in the person of Jesus, the Christ, continues to enlighten, guide and encourage people today through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The traditional way of referring to this "three-in-one" God is: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At the conclusion of Christian worship services, the common benediction offered by the minister is that found in the last verse of Second Corinthians: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." Amen.(2593)
Sweden (88/06/06)
This sixth day of the sixth month is a national holiday in one of the Scandinavian countries. I presume you know where Scandinavia is located. It is a region of northern Europe. But how many of the Scandinavian countries can you name? All five Scandinavian countries share similar histories and cultures and their national flags all have the same pattern: a cross with the vertical staff a little left of center on a background of a different color. In the case of Sweden, it is a yellow cross on a light blue background and today is a Swedish holiday honoring both its national flag and its constitution. 465 years ago today, Gustaf I became the first king of Sweden and 179 years ago today it adopted a new constitution. The present king, Carl Gustaf, is 42 years old, but since he is not Japanese, I don't think he considers that an unlucky age. Do you? (2594)
Rubber (88/06/07)
Sometimes English words with quite different spellings, pronunciations and meanings are transliterated into Japanese by the same katakana characters. For example, raba- may refer either to a "lover", meaning one who loves, or to a "rubber ", meaning one who rubs. "Rubber", however, has other meanings as well and there is a difference in the way Englishmen and Americans use this word. These days, many kinds of articles are made of rubber, which comes from the peculiar sap of certain Oriental trees. When I hear the word "rubber", I think of a low overshoe which is worn in the rain or snow, but an Englishmen may think of what Americans call an eraser. To erase something is to remove it by rubbing, wiping or scraping. "Expunge" has a similar meaning, but it is a stronger word, meaning to completely obliterate. "Blot out", on the other hand, refers to making a word or phrase illegible, not be erasing or expunging, but by covering it over with something else. In verses 1 and 9 of the 51st Psalm, King David asks God to blot out or wipe away his sins. According to the Bible, sinners cannot erase, expunge nor blot out their own sins. This spiritual work can only be accomplished by a merciful God. (2595)
Ikkō-ikki (88/06/08)
In my American ears, the Japanese term, ikkō-ikki, has a peculiar ring, To me it sounds like another of the many onomatopoetic words in Japanese that imitate sounds or feelings, such as uka-uka or uki-uki. However, ikko-ikki refers to a series of quite unusual events in Japanese history that indicate there was a time when some Japanese took religion seriously and were even ready to die for their faith. Exactly 400 years ago today, on the eighth day of the sixth month in the second year of Chōkyō, a castle in the province of Kaga came under the control of the ikkō, or "one direction", believers in Amida. The Japanese term, ikki; may be translated into English as an uprising, an insurrection or a revolt. These Jodo Shin followers of Rennyo consisting of farmers, tradesmen, hunters and fishermen, rebelled against the feudal authorities of their day. As in religious uprisings and conflicts in the West, both in the past and the present, it is difficult to separate religious from political or economic elements in the ikkō-ikki. Although I oppose violence on principle, I admire people who take their religion seriously, which has not been a characteristic of Japanese people in recent years. (2596)
Peter the Great (88/06/09)
The second largest city in the Soviet Union is now known as Leningrad, but for two hundred years after it was built as the new Russian capital in 1714, it was called St. Petersburg. Can you guess the name of its planner and founder? His name was Peter. This Russian tsar, now known as Peter the Great, was born 316 years ago today, on June 9, 1672. This Peter was a great man in respect both to his size and his accomplishments. Standing two meters tall, he introduced universal taxation, unified the currency, simplified the alphabet, reformed the calendar and ordered Russians to wear European dress rather than traditional Russian garments. Considering beards to be symbols of Russia's medieval social state which he was determined to end, he personally cut off the beards of his principal nobles. Although many of his reforms were laudable, he was also a cruel despot who went to war with neighboring countries and tortured and killed his opponents, When the biblical St. Peter tried to defend his Lord with a sword, Jesus' response, found in Matthew 26:52, was: "All who take the sword will die by the sword", words which should be remembered by individuals and nations today. (2597)
Portugal (88/06/10)
The Iberian Peninsula is located in southwestern Europe. It is separated from the rest of the continent by the Pyrenees Mountains. Two countries are located on this peninsula. The larger country is Spain and the smaller one is Portugal. The area of the Republic of Portugal is a little greater than the combined areas of Hokkaidō and Aomori prefectures. The largest cities in Portugal are the capital of Lisbon and Porto. The old name of Porto was Cale meaning shelter and it was from the "Port of Cale" that the name Portugal was derived. In the sixteenth century this small country ruled an empire that included colonies in Africa, Asia and South America. Today the only remnant of that empire is the small territory of Macao on the south China coast near Hong Kong which will be returned to China in 1999. Today is the Portugal National Day, commemorating the death of the Portuguese poet, Luis de Camöes, on June 10, 1580. Although this man died in obscurity, his poem, The Luciads, is now recognized as one of the great epics of world literature, Unfortunately the greatness of some persons is only recognized after they are dead. (2598)
Mizu-kusai (88/06/11)
Odor, scent, aroma, fragrance, perfume are all related to our sense of smell. One of the Chinese characters for "smell" consists of a nose over a dog, for a dog's sense of smell is highly developed. This particular character, pronounced kusai in Japanese, usually refers to a foul or offensive smell. Since butter was originally associated with foreigners, "butter smell", or bata-kusai; is used to describe something exotic or alien. But what is the meaning of "water smell", or mizu-kusai? According to the dictionary, water is a colorless, tasteless, odorless liquid. Although pure water has no smell, mizu kusai may refer to food that is watery, or tasteless, A considerate cook will add seasoning to make the food more palatable. A person who is cool, reserved or lacking in intimacy is also said to be mizu kusai. I'm afraid that sometimes, after riding my bicycle to a meeting, I'm not only bata kusai and mizu kusai but also ase kusai as well. Perfumes are used to dispel foul odors. According to the Gospel of John, chapterl2, verse 3, the smell of perfume filled a whole house, symbolizing the influence of love which permeated the atmosphere.(2599)
Paul, a tentmaker (88/06/12)
John Wanamaker was a successful businessman who operated one of America's first and best known department stores in Philadelphia and New York City. He also served as Postmaster General of the United States. At the same time, he was an active Sunday School teacher in a Presbyterian Church. One day, he was asked how he found time to superintend a Sunday School when he was so busy with other things. He replied, "Why the Sunday School is my business! All other things are just things... Years ago I decided that God's promise was sure: 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God... and all these things shall be added unto you.'" [Matthew 6:33] According to the 18th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. That was his occupation, the way he supported himself. However, his vocation, or calling, was evangelism, preaching the Good News of God's love and salvation to all people. Some Christians today are involved in so-called "tent making ministries". Following the example of Paul, they are not supported by a church nor are they professional ministers. They earn their own livelihood by some occupation, but their primary aim is to serve as witnesses to Jesus Christ. Conscientious Christians find satisfaction, not in making money, but in obeying God and serving others. (2600)
William Butler Yeats (88/06/13)
123 years ago today, on June 13, 1865, a child was born into an artist's family in Dublin, Ireland. This boy also studied to be an artist until he realized that his artistic talent was related to poetry rather than to painting. His name was William Butler Yeats and he became a famous Irish poet, dramatist and leader of the Irish literary renaissance that aimed at reviving ancient Irish folklore, legends and traditions in new literary works. In 1923, Yeats received the Nobel Prize in literature. It sometimes took Yeats hours to write one line of poetry, but he observed, "if it does not seem a moment's thought, our stitching and unstitching has been naught." A word of Yeats which is valuable for teachers and preachers is the following: "Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people." (2601)
Language study (88/06/14)
In the high school I attended in a small town north of Chicago forty-five years ago, two foreign languages were offered. One was a living language and the other was a dead language. The living language, which I chose to study, was Spanish. After studying for two years in high school and a third year in college, I was able to read, write and speak that language and attended summer school at the University of Mexico. The dead language I did not study was Latin, which many Roman Catholic students took because Latin was used in their church's liturgy. In that day we sometimes spoke pig Latin for fun. Pig Latin is a special jargon formed by transposing the initial consonant of a word to the end of the word and adding the sound ay after it. Thus, the sentence "John went home" becomes Ohnjay entway omehay. To the uninitiated, this may sound like a foreign language, but it is easy for children to learn and to speak. One reason students in Japanese high schools cannot speak English well after years of study is because their English teachers do not speak it well. The best way to learn is with a good teacher who also provides a good example. The same principle holds true in regard to learning to live a meaningful, moral life. (2602)
Magna Charter (88/06/15)
Magna is a Latin word meaning "great". In English, something great or splendid is called magnificent. A magnanimous person has a great or noble soul and easily forgives others. To magnify is to make great. Today is the anniversary of the signing of the Magna Charta, the most important document in English constitutional history. 773 years ago on June 15, 1215, King John set his seal to this Great Charter that implied that a king's power was not absolute, that subjects also have rights that must be respected even by a king. The original Latin document was not written at the initiative of the king as its wording implies. It was forced upon him by barons who were upset by his constant extortions of money and violations of feudal customs. Although the purpose of the Magna Charta was to ensure feudal rights, its implications regarding the rights of subjects make it a key document in the development of the human rights movement. The human rights organization, Amnesty International, has groups meeting throughout Japan. The Nagoya Group meets regularly on this third Wednesday of the month at the City Geijutsu Sōzō Center north of the Shinsakaemachi subway station at 7:00 o'clock. All those interested are invited to attend. (2603)
Rait (88/06/16)
The brothers who designed, constructed and flew the first power-driven airplane have the same surname as the architect who designed the old Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. Their surnames, Wright, spelled W-r-i-g-h-t, actually mean a person who constructs something. Thus, a playwright is a dramatist, a person who writes plays, and a shipwright is a carpenter who constructs or maintains ships. Another rait, spelled r-i-t-e, is a ceremony of some kind. In particular, religious ceremonies are often called rites. A third rait, spelled r-i-g-h-t, can mean correct, appropriate or the opposite of left. In America, it is right to drive on the right side of the road. A fourth word with the same pronunciation, spelled w-r-i-t-e, means to form letters on a surface with an instrument such as a pen or pencil. It may also refer to composing an essay. Listeners to these telephone messages are invited to write a short essay in English on any subject treated in the messages. I will correct essays sent to me and print them in "Daily Word" Echoes, which will be made available to writers and others desiring to purchase a copy. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama, Nagoya 463. (2604)
Abacus (88/06/17)
The word "abacus" comes from a Greek word meaning "counting board". It is the English translation of the Japanese word, soroban. Although Japan is a leading producer of high-speed electronic calculators, the soroban is still being used in offices and stores along with these more advanced and more complicated machines. In fact, the abacus is now being used in a number of foreign countries as an effective tool to help children understand the basic concepts of mathematics and calculation. This week, a new abacus academy was opened in Auckland, New Zealand. The owner and head teacher is an 81-year-old Japanese man from Miyazaki Prefecture. Jinzaburo Yamagami was an elementary school teacher before the war and had published a textbook on the abacus. After the war, he started the lumber company of which he is now chairman, but he always dreamed of resuming abacus teaching after his retirement. His dream is now being fulfilled in a foreign land. When I was a child, I had never heard of an abacus, but I remember a song I was taught in Sunday School: "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done." We don't need an abacus to do this, but we do need a thankful heart. (2605)
Waterloo (88/06/18)
A disastrous or crushing defeat may be called a "waterloo" in English. Waterloo is the name of a small town near Brussels, the capital of Belgium. It was there on June 18, 1815, 173 years ago today, that Napoleon suffered a disastrous and crushing defeat that ended his dreams of imperial glory. After his return from exile, Napoleon marched on Paris forcing King Louis XVIII to flee. For the next hundred days, Napoleon was in command, but he met his waterloo at Waterloo, where the British forces, under the Duke of Wellington, were victorious. Napoleon is a historical example of a man whose ambition and arrogance overreached his ability. Although he had himself crowned emperor of the French Empire and king of the Kingdom of Italy, he was simply a man who was finally forced to recognize his weakness. Checking my atlas, I was surprised to find that there are a dozen communities in the United States named Waterloo. The one in New York was apparently named by an anti-Napoleonist, but the name of Waterloo, Iowa was chosen simply because it sounded nice. Napoleon once said: "There are but two powers in the world, the sword and the mind. In the long run the sword is always beaten by the mind."(2606)
"Gospel" (88/06/19)
The first four books of the New Testament are called Gospels. They contain stories about the life, ministry, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus. "Gospel" is an important word in Christian thought. It comes from two old English words meaning "good news" and refers to the teaching of and about Jesus, the Christ. The basic Christian message is not a law that restricts our freedom or forces us into a certain mold. Rather, it is the good news of God's love and salvation that liberates us and stimulates new life and hope. This Gospel is the theme of the New Testament letter to the Romans. In the first chapter of that book, the Apostle Paul writes that the Gospel, which was promised in the writings of the Old Testament, has been revealed in Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David who was seen to be the Son of God. He called the Gospel, "the saving power of God for everyone who has faith". In some religions, people try to gain happiness through performing certain ceremonies or doing good deeds. Christianity also has ceremonies and teaches people to do good, but these actions are not done in order to gain salvation. They are a way of expressing the new life which has been gained through faith in the Good News communicated through Jesus, the Christ. (2607)
Bald eagle (88/06/20)
An eagle is a large bird with a powerful hooked bill and broad wings. It is able to soar high in the sky and has very keen vision. It builds its nest on rugged cliffs or at the top of high trees, From ancient times, eagles have been considered symbols of might and courage and have often appeared on coins, seals and flags of various nations. Eagles are found throughout the United States. One particular kind of eagle whose smooth white head feathers make it appear bald is called a bald eagle. This bird, which is also called the American eagle, became an official symbol of the United States by an act of Congress on June 20, 1782, 206 years ago today. In the Song of Moses, found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verse 11, God is compared to an eagle watching over, protecting and carrying for its young. (2608)
New Hampshire (88/06/21)
Four of the fifty states in the United States have names beginning with "New". How many of them can you name? Three of the four are located in the northeastern part of the country and have names taken from places in old England. The New England state of New Hampshire was one of the leaders in the American revolutionary movement and its delegates were given the privilege of being the first to vote for the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Almost twelve years later, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. The seventh and final article of that Constitution stipulated that it would become effective when it was ratified by nine states, so New Hampshire's vote of approval, 200 years ago today, formally made the Constitution operative. This state has a historic tie with Japan, for the New Hampshire city of Portsmouth was the site of the signing of the treaty ending the war between Japan and Russia in 1905, making it the only state to ever play host at the formal conclusion of a foreign war. New Hampshire is one of the smallest states, both in population and area, but its motto, "Live Free or Die", indicates the independent spirit of its citizens. (2609)
Snoring (88/06/22)
Do you know the difference between a snort and a snore? As a slang term, snort may mean a drink of liquor or the inhalation of a drug. Its normal meaning, however, is a rough, noisy sound made by breathing forcefully through the nostrils. Pigs and horses often snort. Snoring, on the other hand, is done by people while sleeping. Snorers are not aware of the noises they make in their sleep but other people in the room certainly are. Studies have shown that fat people are more likely to snore than thin people and that snoring usually occurs while people sleep on their backs. Often they stop snoring when they turn on their side. There are an estirnated 14 million people in Japan who have a snoring habit. A Tokyo pharmaceutical firm has recently obtained government approval to import and sell a product developed in West Germany that will lower snoring noises if a few drops are applied to the nose before going to sleep. This solution of water, salt and glycerol moistens the mucous membrane in the nose, enhancing easier, quieter breathing. A restful sleep following a day of work is a blessing for which we should be thankful, but according to Proverbs 20:13, the person who sleeps too much will end up poor. (2610)
Luxembourg (88/06/23)
Today, June 23rd, is a national holiday in the European country whose flag has three horizontal stripes colored red, white and light blue. It is the smallest country in Europe, with an area approximately half that of Aichi Prefecture and a population of about 400,000. It is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Just as a kingdom is ruled by a king and an empire is ruled by an emperor, so a duchy is the territory ruled by a duke. The wife of a duke is called a duchess. The head of state of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is the 67-year-old Grand Duke Jean. Although the birthday of the Grand Duke is in January, his official birthday is celebrated today, which is the Luxembourg National Day. Surrounded by France, Germany and Belgium, both French and German are spoken there, but there is a third language called Luxembourgish. A major industry of Luxembourg is steel production. Despite its small size, it is one of the 20 most important steel-producing nations in the world. As Japanese well know, size is not a criterion for judging the importance of a country or a person. Thomas Huxley wrote, "Size is not grandeur, and territory does not make a nation." (2611)
The Tokyo Dome (88/06/24)
Half of a sphere is called a hemisphere and a structure in the general shape of a hemisphere may be called a dome. One of the newer attractions of Tokyo is the Tokyo Dome. This baseball stadium with a dome-like roof serves as the home ground of the Yomiuri Giants of the Central League and the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Pacific League. To maintain this mammoth facility costs ¥10 million a day. Since the Giants are the most popular team in Japan, there was no question about whether the proceeds from their games would cover the cost of maintenance, but concern was expressed about the days when the Fighters would play there. However, attendance at Fighters games have exceeded expectations and they have become the only team in the Pacific League to see a big rise in attendance this year. In 1980, the fighters drew one-and-a-half million fans, which was the most in the team's history, but if the present trend continues, they will at least double that figure by the end of the current season. Obviously, some people are attending their games not only to watch baseball but also to see the inside of the stadium. Because of its shape, sportswriters sometimes refer to the Tokyo Dome as the "Big Egg" and for the Fighters, this Big Egg may be considered a golden egg as well. (2612)
Blind professor (88/06/25)
Teiji Komori is a professor of English at the Obirin Junior College, a Christian school in Tokyo. He is the first blind person to become a full-time professor at a college in Japan. Mr. Komori was born blind fifty years ago. While attending a prefectural school for the blind, he was deeply impressed by an English teacher who had lost his sight in an accident and decided to become an English teacher himself. In those days, blind people were expected to become masseurs or acupuncturists and only a few colleges would admit blind students. After studying at Obirin and Meiji Gakuin, Komori continued his education in the United States. There, he said, "I felt free of discrimination against a handicapped person for the first time in my life. Japan is far behind in that sense, even though it is highly advanced in terms of technology." On the opening day of the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, he married a Christian lady and began what they call their marathon life. Tomoko, his wife, has become his substitute eyes, assisting in the classroom and helping translate textbooks into Braille. Professor Komori hopes to be a model for handicapped children. Calling himself a slow turtle, his motto is: "Slow and steady wins the race." (2613)
Epistles (88/06/26)
In my Sunday School days many years ago, some children used to confuse apostles and epistles. An apostle, spelled a-p-o-s-t-l-e, was one of the twelve men Jesus chose to train and send out as his representatives. An epistle, spelled e-p-i-s-t-l-e, is an old word for letter. These days, it is usually used to refer to an especially formal letter or to one of the letters of the New Testament, which were written by apostles. The apostle Paul wrote most of the New Testament epistles, including the Second Letter to the Corinthians. In chapter three of that letter, he refers to his readers themselves as epistles, or letters of recommendation. Such suisenjō are very important in Japanese society. Their purpose is to introduce or commend one person to another. Paul wrote that the real letters of recommendation are not written with ink on tablets but with the Spirit of God on human hearts. In other words, Christian believers are a kind of living letter that people can see and read. Our words and actions should be a means of communication of the character of God, our heavenly Father, commending him to others. When people look at our lives, listen to our words and view our behavior, what kind of message do they receive? (2614)
Djibouti (88/06/27)
Today is a national holiday in one of the smallest countries on the African continent. Approximately the same size as the combined areas of Shizuoka, Aichi and Gifu prefectures, it is located in the northeastern section of the continent. Its capital and largest city bears the same name as the country. Most of its citizens live around the capital, which is an important port on the Gulf of Aden near the entrance to the Red Sea: The Republic of Djibouti, spelled D-j-i-b-o-u-t-i, gained its independence from France 11 years ago today. The country continues to be the scene of conflict between tribes related to its neighboring countries of Somalia and Ethiopia. Tribal or ethnic rivalry is at the heart of much of the conflict in the world which would be lessened if we recognized all people as brothers and sisters in the same human family. (2615)
Exporting bicycles (88/06/28)
Export, derived from a Latin word meaning "to carry out", means to send articles abroad. Japan has been criticized for exporting too many products and importing too few, resulting in unbalanced trade relationships. However, a recent news story told of a kind of export that should be praised rather than criticized. A number of municipal governments have begun exporting bicycles. These bicycles are not being sold, they are being donated to developing countries in Asia and Africa. The bicycles are not new. They had been abandoned around train stations, but they have been put into good working order. In some countries, bicycles are very expensive items, costing as much as three times the average monthly wage of workers, In Malawi and Zambia, the gift vehicles have been chiefly used by nurses of public health organizations who make tours around local communities. In China, they have been used for a youth physical education program, while In Ghana, they provide means of transportation at construction sites. As a major economic power in the world today, Japan has a responsibility to share its blessings with those less fortunate. One of the well-known words of Jesus, quoted in Acts 20:35, is: "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving." (2616)
Italy (88/06/02)
"Grapevine" (88/06/03)
New Dental Clinic (88/06/04)
Trinity (88/06/05)
Sweden (88/06/06)
Rubber (88/06/07)
Ikkō-ikki (88/06/08)
Peter the Great (88/06/09)
Portugal (88/06/10)
Mizu-kusai (88/06/11)
Paul, a tentmaker (88/06/12)
William Butler Yeats (88/06/13)
Language study (88/06/14)
Magna Charter (88/06/15)
Rait (88/06/16)
Abacus (88/06/17)
Waterloo (88/06/18)
"Gospel" (88/06/19)
Bald eagle (88/06/20)
New Hampshire (88/06/21)
Snoring (88/06/22)
Luxembourg (88/06/23)
The Tokyo Dome (88/06/24)
Blind professor (88/06/25)
Epistles (88/06/26)
Djibouti (88/06/27)
Exporting bicycles (88/06/28)
"Jinx" (88/06/29)
Jazz (88/06/30)
June (88/06/01)