Chopin (89/03/01)
A harp is a musical instrument with strings that are plucked by fingers. A harpsichord is a stringed instrument with a keyboard, and its strings are plucked by quills rather than fingers. In 1709, an Italian harpsichord maker constructed a similar instrument having a keyboard and strings, but in this instrument the strings were struck by small hammers, making it possible to control the volume of the sounds. Since music could be played either loudly or softly, this instrument was called a piano e forte, meaning "soft and loud". Today, March 1st, is the birthday of a famous pianist and composer of piano music. Frederic Francois Chopin was born in Poland in 1810. As a youth, he showed great musical talent and in 1830, he started on a proposed world tour. Passing through Germany, he got as far as Paris, where he remained for the rest of his life. His compositions and his own playing brought romantic piano music to new heights of expressiveness. In music, "slur" means to glide over a series of notes smoothly but "slur" can also mean to pass over something lightly or carelessly. That was the meaning in Chopin's statement that "Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on." (2852)
Character (89/03/02)
The headline of an article in the Japanese newspaper caught my attention. It read: kyarakuta-wa fumetsu. My reaction to this headline was, "I agree. Character is immortal for the character of a person remains even after that person's death." Upon reading the article, I found out that the writer had a different kind of kyarakuta- in mind. The article appeared on the day following the death of the famous cartoonist, Osamu Tezuka, who, in an adjacent article, was called manga no kamisama. I do not think the newspaper editor meant the headline to be a pun, but it could be understood as a play on the word "character". In the headline, this word did not signify the moral quality of a person. Rather, it referred to the cartoon figures this manga no kamisama had created. Since Mr. Tezuka had a wholesome character, he imbued his cartoon characters with exemplary characters also. As the Japanese proverb, "The offspring of a frog is a frog", and its English counterpart, "Like father like son", indicate, we tend to create things that resemble ourselves. The character of parents is reflected in that of their children and thus lives on in future generations. We should think about the kind of character we will leave behind after we pass away.(2853)
Hina-matsuri (89/03/03)
Are you eating any peaches today on this traditional momo-no-sekku? Instead of peaches, maybe you are enjoying a chicken dish, for today is also known as hinamatsuri. Of course, in this case, hina does not mean chicken. It refers to a particular kind of doll that is put on display at this season of the year. Such dolls are not considered playthings. They are ornaments to be admired rather than objects to be handled. In some homes, they are family treasures, handed down from generation to generation as a kind of heirloom. Like many Japanese cultural traditions, this festival also has its roots in China, where it was related to purification rites. In old Japan, crude dolls made of paper or clay were rubbed on one's body and then thrown into the river or ocean in the hope that one's impurities would be transferred to the doll and disappear. Conscientious people today also feel the need for purification. How fortunate it would be if purification in politics, in society or in our own lives could be accomplished by simply rubbing a doll or waving a wand. According to the Bible, true purification is the work of the Holy Spirit of God who cleanses the hearts of those who humbly confess their sins and seek God's forgiveness. (2854)
Scorekeeper (89/03/04)
The expression, "to know the score", means to be well informed about what is going on. In Japanese politics these days, conscientious people who know the score are very upset at what has been going on. A more common meaning of "score" is a numerical record of a sports event. In athletic competition it is important to have a competent scorekeeper who knows the score. There is keen competition among those who want to be professional baseball scorekeepers in Japan. Last year, 740 men and women applied for one scorekeeper's position in the Central League. The applicants' knowledge of baseball rules was tested in two qualifying examinations followed by a final interview, The one chosen out of this large group was 24-year-old Tsutomu Yamamoto of Nagoya, whose love of baseball began when he played in the little league. He hoped to become a professional umpire in the future and has served as the coach of his company's softball team and officiated at high school and college ball games. Although he did not succeed in becoming a professional umpire, he was very happy to be chosen as a Central League scorekeeper. I am reminded of a saying I heard as a child: When the one great Scorekeeper comes to mark against your name, he writes not that you won or lost but how you played the game.(2855)
One God (89/03/05)
The number one differs from all other numbers, not in degree but in kind. The step from two to three is relatively slight, but the step from one to two is enormous. A man who has two wives and a man who has three wives are in the same class. Both are polygamists. Both are totally different from the monogamist who is completely loyal to one wife. In grammar, there is a fundamental difference between singular and plural, no matter what the degree of plurality may be. In a basic sense, there is a greater difference between one and two than between two and a million. An essential teaching of the Bible is that there is only one true and living God. The nations surrounding the Israelites were polytheists, who believed in the existence of many gods, but the Old Testament prophets taught that there was only one God, who was the Creator and Ruler of the whole world. A basic tenet of the Jewish-Christian tradition is found in Dueteronomy, chapter 6, verse 4: "The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." It is this conviction that keeps monotheistic Jews, Christians and Muslims from worshipping other gods or putting human relationships before loyalty to their supreme Lord. (2856)
Michelangelo (89/03/06)
Today is the birthday of one of the world's greatest artists. His name is Michelangelo and he was born over five centuries ago, on March 6, 1475. What do you know about this man? Do you think Michelangelo was his surname or his given name? For what works of art is he famous? Michelangelo Buonarroti is best known for his paintings and sculptures, but he was also an architect and a poet. His most famous painting, on the vaulted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, depicts the history of the world from the creation to the flood as narrated in the Old Testament. His most famous sculpture is probably the colossal figure, Moses, but in Japan, he is also well-known for The Thinker, which depicts Duke Lorenzo de Medici in a thoughtful pose. This gifted artist stated that "the true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection." (2857)
Baito, Pa-to (89/03/07)
As a living language, Japanese continues to develop and change, but the way it assimilates words from foreign languages is interesting. Take the word baito, for example. One kind of baito, which comes from Dutch, signifies a tool. Another baito comes from English and refers to an information unit of computers. A third baito is the peculiar Japanese abbreviation of arbeit, a German word meaning work. In some cases, baito is related to pa-to, which is the peculiar Japanese abbreviation of parttime work. Many people in Japan today, including students and housewives, are engaged in some kind of baito or pa-to to augment their income. This is the suggested topic for an essay this week. Have you ever had such work? Why is such work so popular and what do you think about it? I will correct essays sent to me for publication in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. I would be happy to receive an essay from you, giving your thoughts on this theme. If you wish to receive a written copy of these daily messages, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus ¥60 in stamps for each week of messages desired to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463 (2858)
International Women's Day (89/03/08)
If you look closely at what is written in the small print on certain Japanese calendars, you will see the words kokusai fujin de- under this date. To tell the truth, I had never heard of an International Women's Day in the United States, but my reference book indicates that today is a national holiday bearing that name in Afghanistan, Cape Verde Islands, Guineau-Bissau, Mauritania, Nepal and the USSR. The purpose of this holiday is to honor working women, of whom there are many in Japan these days. However, it is a fact, that the wages of women workers are, still often lower than those of male workers who do the same job. Traditionally, women have been discriminated against in the workplace and 132 years ago today, on March 8, 1857, there was a revolt by American women who protested against working conditions in the textile and garment industries. International Women's Day commemorates that event. It is true that men and women are not equal, even as all men are not equal nor are all women equal in their abilities. Nevertheless, all people, men and women, should have equal opportunity to develop their abilities and should receive the same compensation for doing the same work.(2859)
Amerigo Vespucci (89/03/09)
There seem to be few places in Japan that are named after a person. In the United States, on the other hand, many cities, towns, villages, counties, parks, mountains, etc. are named for a person who was somehow connected with that place or who was highly respected by its early inhabitants. In fact, the name, America, itself, comes from the personal name of an Italian navigator who made four trips to the continents which he called the New World. Amerigo Vespucci was born 535 years ago today, on March 9, 1454. It was Vespucci, who concluded that these newly discovered lands were not a part of Asia, but were separate continents. Although he followed Christopher Columbus to the New World, his scientific calculations were of particular importance and were surprisingly accurate. The name, "America", was first applied to these continents on a map by a German map-maker in 1507. These days, this term is often used only to refer to the United States of America and citizens of that country are considered "Americans". However, in reality, this name may apply to citizens of all twenty-two countries in North, Central and South America. To some people, America is not a country but a dream. Whether it is a good dream or a nightmare depends on one's experience with Americans. (2860)
Telephone (89/03/10)
On March 10, 1876, 113 years ago today, in the American city of Boston, a 29-year-old immigrant from Scotland called to his 22-year-old assistant. "Mr. Watson," he said, "come at once. I want you." These words, spoken by Alexander Graham Bell, were the first words spoken over a new communication device called a telephone. Just as "telegraph" combines Greek words meaning "far" and "write" and "television" is derived from words meaning "far" and "see", "telephone" consists of words meaning "far" and "sound". For four years, Mr. Bell and his assistant had been working to develop this device to carry human speech over wires. They met with disappointments and ran out of money, but they pursued their aim until it was accomplished. A couple of hours after Bell filed his application for a patent, an application was filed by another man for a very similar device, but since Bell's application was filed earlier, he received the patent and is considered the inventor of the telephone. Bell himself once stated, "Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the co-operation of many minds. I may be given credit for having blazed the trail but ... I feel the credit is due to others rather than to myself."(2861)
Names (89/03/11)
A recent item in a Japanese newspaper noted that the Ministry of Justice may increase the number of Chinese characters permitted for use in Japanese names. I have always thought it strange that parents could not chose whatever name they desired for their children without interference from the government, but two days after that article appeared, an article in an English newspaper indicated that this problem is not limited to Japan. After a lengthy battle with the government, a Scottish couple has won the right to call their daughter Princess. That was the name recorded on her birth certificate, but five months after her birth was registered, the Registrar General wrote to the local registry clerk that the name was unacceptable because that name is not a recognized forename and cannot be entered in any register or official document without the consent of the sovereign. The tenant farming couple refused to surrender her birth certificate or to change her name. They even wrote to Queen Elizabeth to present their case. Now, two years later, the Registrar General backed down and decided there was no specific authority banning the use of names like Princess. In Proverbs 22:1, it is written that "A good name is more to be desired than great riches", but, in this case, "name" means reputation. (2862)
True freedom (89/03/12)
You have probably heard the saying, "you will know the truth and the truth will make you free." This is one of the famous words of Jesus, found in the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 32. Although sometimes given a philosophical or political significance, if we consider the context, it is clear that the words basically have a spiritual meaning. They were spoken to people who had recently become followers of Jesus and were preceded by this important condition: "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth". That is to say, by continuing in the teaching of Jesus, or in living according to the revelation he brought, people will know the truth that sets them free. A few verses later, Jesus indicated that it is he, himself, who brings true freedom. Another famous saying of Jesus, found in chapter 14, verse 6 of this Gospel, is his statement, "I am the truth". In Christian thought, it is through coming to know, or believe in, Jesus Christ that one knows the truth and gains true freedom. In this case, freedom is basically an inner, spiritual state, but it is also reflected in our lives. The inner conviction of truth sets us free from bondage and gives us the courage to follow the truth instead of following the crowd. (2863)
Sun and moon (89/03/13)
In both Japanese and Western languages, the names of the first two days of the week are related to the sun and the moon. Just as the light given off by the sun is called sunlight or sunshine, that reflected from the moon is called moonlight or moonshine. To some people, moonlight and moonshine have romantic or poetic associations, but in modern, colloquial English, moonlight is also used to refer to a second job and moonshine is also used for illegally-made whiskey because both of these activities are often carried on at night, by the light of the moon. In ancient times, both sun and moon were considered to have awesome powers, but in the 121st Psalm, the poet writes that if the Lord, who created heaven and earth is our protector, we need not fear the sun during the day nor the moon at night. (2864)
Einstein (89/03/14)
Physics is the science that deals with matter and energy and of interactions between them. A scientist who specializes in physics is called a physicist. Today, March 14th, is the birthday of the great theoretical physicist who received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1921 and who is best known for his theory of relativity. Albert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. After studying in Switzerland, he became a Swiss citizen. He later returned to Germany as a professor and resumed his German citizenship, but because he was a Jew, his citizenship was revoked by the Nazi government while he was teaching in the United States and he became an American citizen. Einstein wrote, "Man like every other animal is by nature indolent. If nothing spurs him on, then he will hardly think, and will behave from habit like an automaton." Einstein was not only an abstract thinker, he was a great mathematician. What do you think of mathematics? Do you like math? Why is it an important subject? Does math help a person think creatively? Why do Japanese students excel in math? I would be happy to read your comments on this theme. This is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (2865)
Maine (89/03/15)
There are three different ways to spell mèin. The most common word with this pronunciation, spelled m-a-i-n, means most important or principal. The main virtue for a Christian is love. Another mèin spelled m-a-n-e, signifies the long hair growing on the neck of certain animals. Both lions and horses have manes. The third word begins with a capital letter because it is a proper noun. Spelled M-a-i-n-e, it is the name of the easternmost state in the U. S. A. This state was accepted into the Union as the 23rd state 169 years ago today, on March 15, 1820. Maine, the northernmost and largest of the six New England states, was named after a province of France. Its first European settlers were from France, but they later gave way to the English. Because of the red pigment used by its native inhabitants to color their graves, huts, canoes, weapons and bodies, they were known as the Red Paint People. Maine is known as the Pine Tree State because of its many white pine trees. Pine trees are an important source of wood used in buildings and in Isaiah 60:13, pine is included among the kinds of lumber to be used in the building of a new Jerusalem. (2866)
Genes, Jeans (89/03/16)
Not being a biologist, I'm not sure what a gene, spelled g-e-n-e, is. Called idenshi in Japanese, it is related to hereditary character. When spelled with a capital O, it is a masculine name. There is a feminine name, pronounced the same, but spelled J-e-a-n. Needless to say, Gene's genes are completely different than Jean's genes. There is another kind of jean, also spelled j-e-a-n, which is a kind of strong cotton fabric. This word comes from the Italian city of Genoa, where this fabric was woven. Pants made of this material are called jeans and are very popular these days. Not being a tailor nor a fashion designer nor a very observant viewer, I am not sure, but I presume that, in this case also, Gene's jeans are somewhat different than Jean's jeans. A San Francisco clothing merchant, named Levi Strauss, added rivets to the corners of jeans' pockets to keep them from tearing. It was from his name that the trademark, "Levi's", was derived. In the Bible, the descendants of Jacob's son, Levi, were called Levites. Jesus spoke of a Levite in his Parable of the Good Samaritan in the 10th chapter of Luke, but this Levite was not wearing Levi's. (2867)
Green, Ireland (89/03/17)
The color green has many different meanings, some of which are symbolic. Green can mean young, unripe or immature. Thus we may say that "blackberries are red when they are green." A person who is greeneyed is jealous, but a person with a green thumb is able to make plants grow well. Such a person may have a greenhouse, a glass-enclosed structure for cultivating plants under controlled temperature and humidity. Green is also associated with Ireland, which is called the Emerald Isle because of its green fields. This 17th day of March is the national holiday of Ireland, also known as St. Patrick's Day. In the United States it is customary for people of Irish lineage or those who wish to impress people of Irish lineage to wear something green on this day. Because Irish people are considered hot-headed, "Irish" is sometimes used informally as an adjective to describe a person whose ire is easily aroused. The man who became St. Patrick was first taken to Ireland as a slave, but later returned as one of the most effective Christian missionaries in church history. Sir John Mahaffy, an Irish scholar, has facetiously written, "Ireland is a country in which the probable never happens and the impossible always does." (2868)
Grover Cleveland (89/03/18)
Cleveland, located on Lake Erie in the state of Ohio, is one of the major cities in the United States. Cleveland is also the name of a unique president in United States history. Grover Cleveland was the fifth of nine children born to a Presbyterian minister and his wife on March 18, 1837. His father's death caused him to give up plans to go to college in order to help support his mother and the younger children. Through great effort and self-denial, he was admitted to the bar, which means he became a lawyer, at the age of 22. After serving as the mayor of Buffalo and the governor of New York, in 1884, he became president. In his bid for reelection, he became the third of three unusual cases in U.S. history in which the candidate who gained the most popular votes did not gain a majority of the electoral college votes and thus was not elected. In the next election, however, he defeated the incumbent president, becoming the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and the 24th president, was the only president to be married in the White House. President Cleveland stated, "A government for the people must depend for its success on the intelligence, the morality, the justice and the interest of the people themselves."(2869)
Palm Sunday (89/03/19)
An ass is a hoofed mammal, related to and resembling a horse or a zebra. A vain or silly person may also be called an ass. A donkey is a domesticated ass, and a stubborn or stupid person may also be called a donkey. All four of the New Testament Gospels include the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem a few days before his death on such an animal. Whether the animal is called an ass or a donkey depends on the translation used, but in either case, this animal had an important symbolic significance. It reminded people of an Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 of the victorious, but humble, king who was to come riding on such an animal. It also demonstrated that Jesus was a humble man of peace rather than a proud man of war who would ride on a horse. Today is the day that Christians commemorate Jesus' so-called "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem. It is the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter. Because crowds of people waved palm branches to welcome Jesus, today is called Palm Sunday. According to the 12th chapter of the Gospel of John, the crowds shouted, "God bless the King of Israel!" On this day, Christians remember that Jesus Christ is the peace-loving King of those who believe on him. (2870)
Afghan (89/03/20)
The Asian country of Afghanistan has often been in the news recently. Do you know how to spell that name? A citizen of Afghanistan is called an Afghan. This word may also signify a particular kind of woolen blanket or shawl that is knitted or crocheted in colorful geometric designs. It thus resembles an afghan rug, from which it got its name. There is still another meaning of Afghan. It is the name of a particular breed of hunting dog. An Afghan is a large dog resembling a greyhound, but having long, thick, silky hair, a pointed nose and drooping ears. Because of its slender, elegant appearance, it is a prized pet of aristocratic dog lovers. Although an Afghan hound may have a regal bearing, it cannot discern spiritual truth. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, verse 6, Jesus told his disciples not to give what is holy to dogs for they will not appreciate it. (2871)
Spring (89/03/21)
Because today is a Japanese holiday, the number of calls to this "Daily Word" number will be fewer than usual. Nevertheless, since it is Tuesday, I will suggest a theme for listeners to write an essay on anyway. I correct essays sent to me and publish them in our little periodical called "Daily Word" Echoes. Today is the first day of spring, according to the solar calendar. It is also the middle of the higan season, according to traditional Japanese thought. Called shunbun-no-hi in Japanese and "vernal equinox" in English, it is one of 24 seasonal designations in the Japanese almanac. I will be happy to read your thoughts on spring, the season of hope and new life, or on higan, when departed loved ones are remembered. Old-timers who have already written on those subjects may wish to write about the traditional seasonal designations and their significance in modern Japanese life. As you know, shunbun follows keichitsu and precedes seimei, but do many Japanese think about these seasons today? As we approach Easter Sunday, Christians hear the voice of God and the voice of Nature both proclaiming hope for a better day: the best is yet to be! This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (2872)
A healthier world (89/03/22)
There is great concern on the part of many people these days about the pollution and destruction of nature. Forests are being cut down, natural habitats of certain animals are being destroyed, rivers are being polluted and the atmosphere is getting warmer due to human greed. Is there anything we common people can do about this situation? Yes there is, but it will require a little sacrifice, a bit of self-control, a willingness to be different and even to suffer minor inconvenience. For example, we can find a store that sells biodegradable soap instead of purchasing the more convenient detergents that result in polluted rivers. Biodegradable products decompose naturally and are absorbed by the environment. We can stop using aerosols which result in long-term damage to the ozone layer of the atmosphere. We can carry our own shopping bags instead of bringing home more and more plastic bags every time we go shopping. And we can take our own reusable chopsticks when we go out to eat instead of using the disposable wooden chopsticks which are thrown away after being used once. If the two or three hundred listeners to this telephone message decided to follow such simple practices and influenced one or two others to do so, it could become a small beginning of a movement to leave a healthier world for the next generation.(2873)
Minting ¥1 coins (89/03/23)
A "mint" is a certain kind of candy. Its characteristic flavor comes from the oil of a plant which is also called mint. Another kind of mint is the place where coins are produced. The Japanese mint must be busy minting ¥1 coins in preparation for the 3% sales tax which goes into effect next week. At the present time, prices in major stores are rounded off to avoid having to deal with ¥1 coins, but beginning April 1st, these troublesome little coins having very little value will become necessary. Fast-food shops, railway station kiosks and other sales counters where fast service is essential are troubled about the prospect of making change using ¥ 1 coins. These little aluminum coins cost more to mint than they are worth, so the government actually loses money when it mints them. I wonder if this was considered when the sales tax measure was approved. Certainly, this sales tax has become another reason for public displeasure with Japan's conservative party. In Matthew 23:23, mint was one of the offerings given to God by conservative leaders of Jesus' day, but he said it was more important to perform acts of justice, mercy and honesty than to outwardly keep religious traditions. (2874)
Good Friday (89/03/24)
In a number of American states, today is a legal holiday. This holiday does not always fall on March 24th, but it does always fall on a Friday. This Friday before Easter Sunday, called Good Friday, is the day Christians commemorate Jesus' death. For Christians, it is not only a holiday, it is a holy day. Jesus was executed as a criminal because of his untraditional teachings and actions. His execution was by crucifixion, a very cruel form of capital punishment in which the victim is nailed to a cross and left to die. Before his crucifixion, Jesus was whipped with a leather whip having small pieces of metal attached to its lashes. He also had a crown of thorns placed upon his head as a symbol of the charge against him that he was a king. Why do you suppose the day commemorating such cruelty to an innocent man is called "Good Friday"? Christians believe that in Jesus' suffering and death the depths of God's love was manifested and that through the sacrifice of this "Lamb of God", forgiveness and salvation were made possible. Thus, while the event itself was very sad, its effect was very good. According to Colossians 1:20, Christ's death on the cross brought peace and reconciliation between God and all creation. (2875)
Don (89/03/25)
In a recent newspaper article following the arrest of the former NTT chairman, he was referred to as the NTT no don. As I read this article, I questioned the meaning of the word don. My American English pronunciation of this Spanish word is "don" which, when used as a verb, means to put on a piece of clothing. As a name, Don is the abbreviation of Donald. But I recalled from my younger days, when I spoke and read Spanish, that "Don" was a courtesy title for a respected gentleman, similar to the English "Sir" or "Mister". In fact, there are two well-known English expressions using this word to characterize certain kind of men. A Don Juan is a man obsessed with seducing women and a Don Quixote is an impractical idealist trying to correct deeply rooted wrongs. But I have never read of the "don" of an organization and I consider this another unique Japanese expression borrowed and altered from a foreign language. The Spanish word comes from dominus, a Latin word meaning "lord" which is also the root of such words as domain, dominion and dominate. In the Bible, God is recognized as the Lord of all the earth, which is his dominion and the basic Christian confession is the simple, but meaningful declaration that "Jesus Christ is Lord".(2876)
Resurrection (89/03/26)
A certain kind of plant appears to dry up and die when there is a lack of moisture, but when moistened, its leaves unfold and become green again. This plant is called a resurrection plant. The word "resurrection", derived from the same Latin word as "resurge", means to rise again. Some people fear that certain policies of the present Japanese government imply a resurrection of the old wartime mentality of ultra-nationalism. In the church calendar, today is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Needless to say, if a man actually rose from the dead, that is an unnatural, or a supernatural, event. Yet, that is what the New Testament writers assert happened and throughout the ages that has been an essential doctrine of the Christian Church. The Resurrection symbolizes our faith in the power of God, the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the effectiveness of his ministry. It teaches the final victory of good over evil, of life over death, and inspires hope for the future. On this Easter Sunday, we recall these words in the First Letter of Peter, chapter 1, verse 3: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us new birth into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!" (2877)
X-rays (89/03/27)
In Japan, the letter X has a negative connotation, for it may indicate an incorrect answer. In America, however, it may indicate approval, for we put an X beside the name of the person we are voting for on a ballot. A short, penetrating ray of radiation is called an X-ray. These rays have proven very helpful for physicians. X-ray photographs are used in diagnoses and X-rays themselves may be used in the treatment of certain illnesses. X-rays are sometimes called Roentgen rays in honor of the German physicist who discovered them in 1895. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen was born on March 27, 1845, 144 years ago today, and, in 1901, he received the first Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery. By means of X-rays, doctors may see our internal organs, but the eyes of God can see into our minds and hearts. (2878)
Japanese courtroom (89/03/28)
The recent ruling of the Supreme Court that people may take notes during a public trial reminded me of one of my visits to a Japanese courtroom. On my first such visit, I myself stood before the judge to complain that my car had been pulled out of a line of cars going the same speed and I was charged with speeding. On my third visit, during a lull in the proceedings while lawyers were conferring, I slipped across the aisle to whisper to a man sitting there. The judge then said something about maintaining decorum in the courtroom, so I returned to my seat in embarrassment. I was also embarrassed on my second visit to court for the trial of a Korean youth who refused to be fingerprinted. As I was taking notes an official tapped me on the shoulder and told me to stop doing so. To my question "why?", he replied that only reporters, sitting in a special section, were allowed that privilege. From my American point of view, that was an unwarranted limitation on my right to observe and learn from judicial proceedings. Thus, I applaud the successful effort of the American lawyer who filed the suit that brought about this change, but I wonder why it is left to foreigners to speak out for justice and freedom in Japanese society. Writers please note that essays for inclusion in the next issue of the Echoes must be received by this Saturday, April 1st. (2879)
The handicapped (89/03/29)
Makiko Iyohara is a 51-year-old employee of a small jewelry shop in Kyoto, but her main interest in life is helping handicapped people. She reads stories to groups of blind people and is involved in other volunteer activities on behalf of the disabled. Makiko herself is a paralytic who was confined for ten years to a rehabilitation hospital in Tokyo in her youth. Thus she knows from experience the difficulties facing the handicapped and the prejudices against them on the part of so-called normal or healthy people. Because disabled people are often kept at home or put into special institutions to avoid embarrassment to themselves or their families, you may be surprised to learn that more than 4 million people in Japan, or 3 percent of the population, suffer mental or physical handicaps. According to Ms. Iyohara, Japanese society does not yet give due consideration to such people. Schools and businesses are reluctant to accept them and some communities refuse permission for special facilities for them to be constructed. If we put into practice the "Golden Rule" that Jesus taught in Matthew 7:12, and did unto them as we would have people do unto us if we were handicapped, their situation would change for the better. (880)
Character (89/03/02)
Hina-matsuri (89/03/03)
Scorekeeper (89/03/04)
One God (89/03/05)
Michelangelo (89/03/06)
Baito, Pa-to (89/03/07)
International Women's Day (89/03/08)
Amerigo Vespucci (89/03/09)
Telephone (89/03/10)
Names (89/03/11)
True freedom (89/03/12)
Sun and moon (89/03/13)
Einstein (89/03/14)
Maine (89/03/15)
Genes, Jeans (89/03/16)
Green, Ireland (89/03/17)
Grover Cleveland (89/03/18)
Palm Sunday (89/03/19)
Afghan (89/03/20)
Spring (89/03/21)
A healthier world (89/03/22)
Minting ¥1 coins (89/03/23)
Good Friday (89/03/24)
Don (89/03/25)
Resurrection (89/03/26)
X-rays (89/03/27)
Japanese courtroom (89/03/28)
The handicapped (89/03/29)
Workaholic (89/03/30)
Rene Descartes (89/03/31)
Chopin (89/03/01)