May Day (90/05/01)
In old Rome, April 28 to May 3 was a festival time during which flowers were offered to Flora, the goddess of spring. This custom was then followed by other lands conquered by Rome and in the Middle Ages it became especially popular in England. People decorated their homes with flowers and in the town square, a tall pole was erected. Long streamers were attached to the top of the pole and dancers holding onto the other ends circled the pole, weaving the streamers into colorful patterns. When they changed directions, the streamers again became untangled. This custom of dancing around the Maypole is continued in some English and American communities even today, which is known as May Day. In the American state of Hawaii, it is called Lei Day and residents are encouraged to wear leis, the traditional Hawaiian garland of flowers, around their necks. May is the month when many flowers bloom, but in Isaiah 40:8, we are reminded that, "flowers fade but the word of ... God endures for ever." If you wish to write an essay on "Flowers" and send it to me, I will correct it and print it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes, to be published in September. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463.(3261)
Links Threaten Spring (90/05/02)
A recent news item carried the following headline: "Citizens say links threaten spring". Can you imagine what the article was about? Since both the subject and object of the verb "threaten" are ambiguous, one must read the article to understand its meaning. The primary sense of "links" are the loops or rings that form a chain, but this plural noun is also used to signify flat or slightly rolling land in general or a golf course in particular. "Spring" may denote a season of the year, an elastic device or a natural fountain of water. This article stated that citizens of Omachi, a community in Okayama Prefecture literally meaning "male town", are collecting signatures from people opposed to the construction of a golf course that could cause pollution of a 300-year-old spring that has been designated a historical landmark. The "Omachi no Reisen" once provided water to a lord in the Edo era and its banks are now a playing area for children. The proposed golf course would deprive children of that area and chemicals used to maintain it might also contaminate the spring. Since land is scarce in Japan, a long-range view is needed to determine the best use for it and the most financially profitable use of land at this present time is not necessarily the wisest choice. (3262)
Conscience or Rules (90/05/03)
On this Constitution Day in Japan, I will mention a recent "constitutional crisis" that occurred in Belgium. Like Japan, Belgium is a constitutional monarchy. According to its constitution, laws passed by the parliament require the signature of the king to become effective. Ordinarily, this is considered a mere formality, but last month the Catholic king said he could not conscientiously sign a controversial law which partially legalized abortion. As a result, by giving a peculiar interpretation to a constitutional provision related to the incapacity of a king to fulfil his duties, King Baudouin temporarily abdicated. For a period of about 36 hours, he became a commoner, during which the Cabinet assumed the king's powers and promulgated the abortion law without the royal signature. Following that irregular procedure, the king was reinstated and now continues to reign. At times, there may be a conflict between an individual's personal conviction and his or her responsibility as a public official. At such a time, is it better to follow one's conscience or to follow tradition, rules and public opinion? The answer of the biblical apostles is found in their reply to an official Council in Acts 5:25: "We must obey God, not men." (3263)
Terms Meaning Zero (90/05/04)
Do you know what a "goose egg" is? Because its oval shape resembles a cipher, it is a slang expression for zero. It is disappointing to see a number of goose eggs on a scoreboard following the name of your favorite team. Both "zero" and "cipher" come from the Arabic word for that numerical symbol. In fact, Arabic numerals in general may also be called ciphers and, as a verb, "cipher" means to solve problems in arithmetic. There are a number of other English terms that mean zero, including such standard words as "naught" and "nil", and more vernacular or slang terms as "nix", "zilch" and "zip". "Naught" comes from the contraction of "no aught", meaning "not anything" and "nil" is rooted in nihil, the Latin word for nothing, which we find in the word nihilism. "Nix" is derived from the German word for nothing. Although the origin of "zilch" is unclear, it was probably influenced by the z of zero and the word "million". Incidentally, "zillion" is an informal term meaning many millions. "Zip" may also mean zero and a student would be disheartened to receive a zip on a test. In the Bible, idols that have been made by human beings are considered nothing and, in I Corinthians 13:3, we read that even exemplary deeds "profit nothing" if they are done without love. (3264)
Alcohol and Ice (90/05/05)
At the beginning of our trip by camping car through eastern European countries, we needed to buy some supplies, including alcohol for the stove and ice for the icebox. Can you imagine where such items are purchased? Alcohol was not available at a supermarket nor a gas station. We found some at a drug store, but it was cheaper at the perfumery where we bought it. Where to find ice was more of a problem. Clerks at a gas station, camping goods store, supermarket and beer hall could not help me. Using simple English and sign language I enquired at a large open market where fresh produce was sold. A man at a nearby beer stall heard my question and, leaving his mug of beer, motioned for me to follow him. He led me to a railroad warehouse a few blocks away where refrigerator cars bring in fresh meat. He called to a man on an ice truck, who threw down a large chunk of ice. It was too large and too cold to carry back to the camping car, so he hailed a small garbage truck. He sat next to the driver in the front, while I sat with the chunk of ice in the empty cargo area in the rear. I was driven back to my car, and my attempts to pay for both the ice and the kindness of these strangers were refused. We thus began our trip with confidence in the compassionate nature of fellow human beings that transcends national differences.(3265)
Paradoxes (90/05/06)
A paradox is a statement that is contrary to generally accepted opinion, that may appear to be self-contradictory and yet is true. By questioning traditional thought, paradoxes attract the interest of thinking people and force them to think more deeply. Jesus often made use of paradoxes in his teaching. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, beginning with verse 20, he taught his disciples that the people who are happy are those who are poor and hungry and sorrowful. He went on to say that his disciples would experience happiness when they were persecuted because of their faith in him. Such teaching is opposite to what is considered common sense, but Jesus was pointing to a deeper level of happiness than can be gained through material goods or physical pleasures. This more profound happiness can only be experienced by those who have faith in a spiritual reality that underlies the world we can see and touch. His words are especially relevant to people in an affluent society who find that spiritual satisfaction is not found in the abundance of their possessions. By his use of paradoxes, Jesus sought to stimulate his listeners to reevaluate their priorities and focus their minds on eternal truth. (3266)
Abu Hachi Torazu (90/05/07)
Among insects which sting human beings are bees, wasps and hornets. All of them are included in the Japanese word, hachi. The insect called abu in Japanese is known as a horsefly in English. Horseflies may prefer the blood of horses, but they are not averse to stinging human beings as well. The Japanese proverb abu hachi torazu teaches us not to try to pursue two goals at the same time. If we do, we will end up gaining neither one. The English saying with the same meaning is related to animals rather than insects. We say, "If you run after two hares, you will catch neither." In this case, "hare" is spelled h-a-r-e and denotes an animal similar to a rabbit, but with longer ears and longer, more powerful hind legs. Jesus' words in Matthew 6:24, carry a similar meaning. He said, "No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and [money]." (3267)
Fast Food (90/05/08)
The fast pace of modern life is symbolized by the fast food industry. Fast food from the West comes in the form of hamburgers and fried chicken, but instant noodles, the fast food from the East, are now found in 80 nations throughout the world. Sales have increased to 13 billion packages a year, over one-third of which are sold in Japan. Instant ramen first made its appearance about 30 years ago and today there are 413 kinds of instant noodles, including ramen, udon and soba, that carry the JAS seal of approval. The more common flavors are curry, soy, miso and chicken, but there are countless other varieties as well. A recent survey indicated that Japanese young people eat an average of 4.4 packages of instant noodles a month. They prefer the cup noodle variety while adults more often select packaged noodles. When purchasing instant noodles, it is said that housewives consider the soup, men look at the brand name and students are concerned about the price. What do you think of instant noodles or other fast foods? Do you eat them often? Why are they so popular? I will correct essays sent to me on this subject and print them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3268)
Chewing Gum (90/05/09)
Some trees exude a substance called gum, or jushi, literally meaning "tree fat", in Japanese. The watery fluid that circulates within trees is called sap, or jueki in Japanese, literally meaning "tree liquid". Moreover, the sap of a certain kind of evergreen tree is used to make a sweetened, flavored preparation for chewing called chewing gum. Some people like to chew gum, but others consider it somewhat impolite or even rude. Recent research has indicated that it may be helpful to chew gum while driving a car. The reactions of four taxi drivers and four nonprofessional drivers were checked at a traffic light when they were chewing gum and when they were not doing so. They were tested on the time needed to accelerate in response to a green light, remove their feet from the accelerator at a yellow light and apply the brake at a red light. As a result, it was found that their reactions were quicker when they were chewing gum. It is thought that chewing gum may have a stimulating effect upon the brain which results in quicker responses. I do not know whether chewing gum will stimulate your brain or not, but I do believe that listening to and trying to understand these telephone messages will both stimulate brain activity and improve the mental health of listeners. (3269)
Awa Tea (90/05/10)
In Japan, there are many different kinds of tea produced in various localities. Have you ever heard of awa-cha? It is not tea that has bubbles or foam, nor is it tea made of millet. It is a special tea made in Tokushima Prefecture, which was formerly known as the province of Awa. Awa tea is a weak brown tea with a sour taste and a unique smell. It is also a source of vitamin E. To make this tea, farmers in the area pick unripe tea leaves in early July, boil them for about ten minutes and then let them steep. In this case, "steep" means to soak in a liquid. The leaves are then dried in the open air. Afterward, they are processed and allowed to ferment. In recent years, labor shortages have hurt Awa tea manufacturers, so farmers are growing the more common green tea instead. Lovers of Awa tea are worried that the unique drink, along with its producers, may soon become extinct, so the Tokushima Prefectural Government is making an effort to promote the production and sale of Awa tea. I cannot imagine the taste of this peculiar tea, but in William Thackeray's novel, The Kickleburys on the Rhine, the question is raised why the tea on steamers generally tastes of boiled boots. (3270)
Industry (90/05/11)
One meaning of the word "industry" is the commercial production and sale of goods and services. It is translated into Japanese as sangyō. One of the reasons for the rapid development of Japanese sangyō is the zangyō put in by employees. This implies another meaning of "industry", which is diligence or steady effort, kinben, in Japanese. Recently two adjacent news articles in an English language newspaper pointed up a common problem among workers and students in Japan. One article stated that the average number of working hours per year in Japan is 2,168, compared to 1,949 in the United States, 1,645 in France and 1,642 in West Germany. A government panel has recommended that the number of hours be decreased to 1,800 as soon as possible. The other article noted that, in spite of recommendations by the Education Ministry that public high schools limit the number of class hours per week to 32, schools are increasing the number of classes. Last year, over 12 percent of the schools offered more than 35 hours of classes per week. I wonder if Japanese people really love to work that much or if they are forced to do so against their will. In Mark 6:31, Jesus taught that busy people need to take time out to rest. (3271)
One Way (90/05/12)
We enjoyed the pretty scenery as we rode along winding mountain roads and through picturesque villages of Austria. We were impressed with the tall church steeples which towered above all the other houses, making them visible from a distance. We went over a mountain pass and through a five-kilometer-long tunnel which took us through the highest range of the Austrian Alps. The tunnel itself was 1650 meters above sea level. Along the highway, we followed the signs with arrows pointing to the various cities without trouble, but in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, we became confused. As we entered the downtown area, we saw signs with a large arrow under which were the words "Jared Sean". Because there were many such signs, we thought it must be a very important place or prominent area and we wanted to see what it was. The problem was that the directions indicated by the arrows seemed to be quite contradictory at times, pointing in different directions and sometimes leading us in a circuitous fashion. Finally, we came to the conclusion that the words did not indicate a place at all, that they meant "One Way" and we were simply going down one way streets. We were reminded of the verse in Proverbs 14:12 about the way that seems right to people, but whose end is quite different than what was expected. (3272)
Mother's Day (90/05/13)
For over 80 years, this second Sunday in May has been celebrated as Mother's Day in churches in the United States, but today, it is being celebrated by many people outside the churches in many other countries as well. Although the strongest and longest lasting influence in the lives of most people comes from their mothers, the constant, faithful, sacrificial work of mothers has tended to be overlooked or forgotten. Today, we should remember our mothers and show our gratitude in appropriate ways. "'I love you, Mother,' said little John;/ Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on/ And he was off to the garden swing/And she had the wood and water to bring.//'I love you, Mother,' said rosy Nell;/'I love you more than tongue can tell.'/ Then she teased and pouted half the day,/ Till her mother was glad when she went to play.// 'I love you, Mother,' said little Nan;/ Today I'll help you all I can;/ My doll and playthings I know will keep!'/ Then she rocked the baby fast asleep.// Then, stepping softly, she brought the broom,/ And swept the floor and tidied the room;/ Busy and happy all day was she,/ Helpful and good as a child could be.//'I love you, Mother,' again they said,/ Three little children going to bed./ How do you think the mother guessed/ Which of them really loved her best?" (3273)
Kagyū Kakujō no Arasoi (90/05/14)
The headline of the editorial in a Japanese newspaper about the difficulties in choosing the new chairman of the Minshatō included the words: kagyū kakujō no arasoi. Because I could not understand the meaning, I consulted a dictionary and discovered that kagyū is a literary term for snail, or katatsumuri and that the tentacles, or antennae, protruding from a snail's head are called kaku, or horns. I also learned that there was an old Chinese fable about two countries fighting on the horns of a snail. From a human perspective, such a quarrel has almost no importance. We might call it a "storm in a teacup" or a "tempest in a teapot". Usually, such petty strife, or Lilliputian war, is related to the stubborn pride of one or both parties involved. According to the words of Proverbs 29:23, "Pride will bring a man low; [but] a man lowly in spirit wins honour." (3274)
Football/Soccer (90/05/15)
In American football, an oval, pointed ball is used and the game is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. In the football game using a round ball, which is called soccer in the United States, there are 45-minute halves, but a proposal has recently been made to change tradition and create 25-minute quarters. It is said that this will give players more rest, but the main reason behind it seems to be to provide more time for advertisements during televised games. The discussion relating to the pros and cons of quarters and halves reminds me of a saying I heard during my student days that "Roman Catholic priests may have better quarters but Protestant ministers have better halves". In this saying, "quarters" denotes one's residence and "better half" is a colloquial term meaning one's wife. As you may know, Roman Catholic priests are not allowed to marry. What do you think of football or soccer? Do you enjoy watching it? Have you ever played it? Do you have an opinion about this game or the proposal to change from halves to quarters? Football or soccer is the suggested theme for essays this week. I will correct those sent to me and print them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3275)
Gramophone (90/05/16)
In Japanese, when the order of two Chinese characters used in a word is reversed, sometimes a word with a completely different meaning is formed. For example, shakai, which means "society" becomes kaisha, meaning "company". The same thing may occur in English. For example, a "phonogram" is a symbol representing a sound which forms part of a word, but a "gramophone" is an old word for "phonograph", which is a machine that reproduces sound. In America, nowadays, a "phonograph" is usually called a "record player", but since the advent of taped recordings, record players are no longer so popular. In my childhood, I enjoyed listening to a gramophone. Its records were cylindrical rather than flat. It was not powered by electricity; it had to be cranked by hand. The first recording on a gramophone was produced in 1877, when Thomas Edison shouted into his machine, "Mary had a little lamb". On May 16, 1888, 102 years ago today, the first gramophone with a flat disc was demonstrated. Amazing progress has been made in making recordings since then, but I wonder how many present-day recordings will be of interest a hundred, or even ten, years from now. (3276)
Norway (90/05/17)
Today is a national holiday in the Kingdom of Norway, called Constitution Day. On May 17, 1814, following a month's deliberations, a constitutional assembly completed its work and Norway became an independent constitutional monarchy. Previously, it had been joined with Denmark and ruled by the Danish king. Like that of the United States, the Norwegian Constitution divides power among executive, legislative and judicial branches of government but also recognizes the authority of the king. Shortly after the enactment of this constitution, Norway was forced into a union with Sweden that lasted until 1905, but its constitution was kept and has been changed only slightly since it was formulated. It is customary to have children's parades in Norway on this day. Each child carries a Norwegian flag, made up of a blue cross, bordered in white on a red field, with the vertical stem of the cross closer to the left edge. Norway is almost 90 percent as large as Japan, but its population is only 4.2 million. About 70 percent of Norway is uninhabitable, covered by mountains, glaciers and moors. At this time of year, Norway has continual daylight, reminding us of the statement in Revelation 21:25 that there will be no night in heaven. (3277)
John Paul II (90/05/18)
Seventy years ago today, on May 18, 1920, a son was born into the family of a Polish army officer. He was named Karol, the Polish form of Charles. Karol Wojtyla became a priest in the Roman Catholic Church and the archbishop of Krakow. In 1978, he became the first non-Italian pope in 450 years. The word "pope" comes from the same root as "papa" and has the same meaning. Roman Catholic priests are called "Father", or shinpu in Japanese, but this term is not used for Protestant ministers, who are commonly called "Pastor", or bokushi. The most commonly-used name for popes is John. It was the popular Pope John XXIII who convened a Church Council in 1962 and emphasized the need for various reforms. His successor, Paul VI, was followed by a man who broke with tradition by taking a double name, the names of his two predecessors. John Paul I died 34 days after taking office and the present pope chose to be called John Paul II. This doctrinally-conservative pope has become a world traveler and an outspoken commentator on world events. On his 70th birthday today, I pray that his influence will encourage greater love, peace and justice for all of the world's inhabitants.(3278)
Tower of Skulls (90/05/19)
The road from Belgrade, Yugoslavia to the Bulgarian border followed winding rivers along rugged mountains and passed through farmlands on the plains where we saw groups of people working in the fields. The women all wore long, dark skirts and had babushkas on their heads. The highway went through the city of Nis, spelled N-i-s. The name of this city attracted the attention of our family from the first time we saw it on a road sign because all three of our children were then enrolled in NIS, the Nagoya International School, which their parents had helped establish. Nis was the birthplace of Constantine the Great, but what remains in my memory of our visit there is the monument called the Tower of Skulls. In 1809, a group of Serbian nationalists who fought for independence were massacred by their Turkish rulers. To instill fear into the hearts of others and to impress upon them the futility of resistance, this Death's Head Monument was erected. The large, round column in the center of a small building consists of 912 skulls of those who were killed in that uprising. Viewing that monument, we were reminded of the horror of war, the cruel treatment of some human beings toward those of a different race or nationality and the place of Jesus' crucifixion, outside Jerusalem, which is called Golgotha in Hebrew and Calvary in Latin, both of which mean "skull". (3279)
Stephen (90/05/20)
The English word "martyr" comes from a Greek word meaning "witness". A witness is, first of all, a person who sees something. Secondly, a witness is one who testifies what he or she has seen. And the person who is killed for his or her witness is called a martyr. The story of the first Christian martyr is found in the 7th chapter of The Acts of the Apostles. His name was Stephen and he was killed because of his witness. Stephen did not mince words. He spoke very directly, accusing the Jewish Council members of killing the Messiah. As a result of this testimony, he was executed. But as he was being stoned, he prayed for his executioners. The chapter ends with these words: "he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, 'Lord do not hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep." The expression "fall asleep", in this case, means to die peacefully. Can you imagine a person dying peacefully under those conditions? It is quite extraordinary. Yet because of Stephen's strong faith in his Lord and his clear conscience even after a turbulent trial, he was able to die peacefully. We are reminded of the words in Isaiah 26:3, "Thou dost keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee." (3280)
A Worm Will Turn (90/05/21)
Some people who are powerful, talented, well-educated, rich or of a particular race or social status may develop a superiority complex. They may despise those they consider inferior and treat them with contempt. Such people should remember the Japanese proverb Issun no mushi nimo gobu no tamashii, for even the lowliest creatures also have worth and deserve respect. In English, we have the proverb, "Tread on a worm and it will turn". Even such an insignificant and contemptible creature as a worm will turn on its attacker and resist or retaliate. Powerful dictatorships have been overturned because of the "turning" of people treated as worms. Jesus showed love to all people and, in Matthew 25:40, he taught that even the least important people should be as highly respected as he himself. (3281)
Bamboo (90/05/22)
The English word spelled t-a-k-e, is pronounced take. My dictionary contains 34 different definitions of its meaning. In Japanese, there are four different words with that Romanized spelling, pronounced take. One kind of take is a mushroom. Another signifies length or height and a third means a mountain peak. Today's message is about the fourth kind of take, bamboo. Speaking precisely, bamboo is not a tree but a kind of grass, having a hollow, hard-walled stem with ringed joints. This lightweight, rot-resistant material has many uses. It is used in the construction of houses, furniture, tools and baskets. Bamboo hay is used as fodder for livestock and has more protein than most other fodder grasses. Other uses for bamboo include water pipes, ladders, fences, bows and arrows, spears, mats, poles and even musical instruments. Furthermore, bamboo shoots are eaten as food and to describe a person as resembling a "split bamboo" is considered a compliment. What are your thoughts about bamboo? Essays on this theme sent to me will be corrected and included in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3282)
South Carolina (90/05/23)
Ten of the 50 United States of America have two words in their names. How many of them can you name? Four of them begin with "New" and five of them begin with a direction. One of the two states whose names begin with "South", South Carolina, became the eighth state to ratify the Constitution 202 years ago today, on May 23, 1788, so it is listed eighth in the roster of states. However, it ranks 40th in land area and 24th in population. It is a southern state fronting on the Atlantic Ocean. Its name comes from the Latin form of Charles, in honor of Britain's King Charles I. Its second largest city, now called Charleston, was originally named Charles Town for King Charles II. Can you guess for whom the capital city of Columbia was named? Among the main products of South Carolina are textiles, peaches and tobacco. One of the state mottoes is the Latin phrase, Dum spiro spero, meaning, "While I breathe, I hope." The person who continues to hope even at the end of life is a happy person indeed. Such a hope is rooted in faith. The discouraged poet who wrote the 42nd and 43rd Psalms repeatedly affirmed, "I will put my hope in God, my saviour and my God." (3283)
Commonwealth Day (90/05/24)
Nowadays, "wealth" means an abundance of something valuable, such as money or possessions, but an older meaning is happiness or well-being. Thus, "commonwealth" originally signified public well-being but now denotes a self-governing nation or state. In the United States, the states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky are officially known as commonwealths. Today, however, the word is most often used for the British Commonwealth of Nations, which is a voluntary association of Great Britain, its dependencies and associated states, and certain sovereign states that were former dependencies. This 24th day of May, the birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born in 1819, was first celebrated as Empire Day in 1902, but changed to Commonwealth Day in 1959. The originator of the concept of the British Commonwealth of Nations, a leader in the establishment of the League of Nations and the United Nations, was the South African soldier and statesman, Jan Christian Smuts, who was born on this day in 1870. Hopefully, the day is coming when all the nations of the world will be united into a single commonwealth in which the wealth of the whole world is more fairly shared for the greater well-being of all people. (3284)
Announcement (90/05/25)
Today's message consists of an announcement regarding this telephone service in the coming months. Since beginning this service in 1980, I have been absent from my home in Nagoya for shorter or longer periods of time on various occasions, but the service has continued during my absence. Once again, this summer, my wife and I plan to return to the United States for a visit. We expect to be gone from Japan for two months. During that period, these taped "Daily Word" messages will continue to be transmitted as usual, both by telephone and on the display terminals of NTT's CAPTAIN network, using recycled or revised messages of former years. However, I will not be able to send out written copies of the messages each week as I do now. On the other hand, on June 13th, I plan to send out copies of the following eleven weeks' messages at one time to those who request them. If you wish to receive this group of messages, please send me a postal money order (yūbin kawese)for ¥800 or deposit that amount into the postal transfer account (yūbin furikae kōza) of Deiri-Wa-do, Nagoya 3-37078 before June 8th. Following our return in August, I will again send out the messages each week as at present. I hope you will continue to enjoy the messages--whether by ear or by eye--while I am away. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3285)
Sofia (90/05/26)
At the border between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, a section of the highway had a roof over it. Under the roof, along the road, were counters where entry formalities and custom inspection took place. First we had to exchange money to obtain a visa to enter the country. Then, we were required to purchase car insurance because our insurance, which was recognized by all other European countries, was not valid in Bulgaria. So we bought a policy for one week. We spent the night on a hillside outside of the city of Dimitrovgrad. The next day, we drove to the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, where there is a large mausoleum of Georgi Dimitrov, the former Bulgarian Communist Party leader and premier, in front of which a uniformed, armed soldier was continually on guard. We were more interested, however, in the Orthodox Church in the center of the city, St. Sophia. In contrast with Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, there were no seats or pews in this church, for the custom of Orthodox churches is for worshippers to remain standing throughout their worship. Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom and In I Corinthians, chapter 1, the Apostle Paul wrote that, although the Greeks look for wisdom, he preached a message that seemed foolish to them for, he continued, "what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom." (3286)
Moral Freedom (90/05/27)
The rapidly changing political and social conditions in many countries today clearly reveal how mistaken policies on the part of national leaders have negative effects on common citizens. In the same way, the wrong decisions or sins of parents cause hardship in the lives of their children and how we of the present generation treat the environment will certainly affect future generations. The ancient Jews illustrated this principle in a proverb quoted in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, chapter 18: "The parents ate the sour grapes, but the children got the sour taste". In this chapter, however, the prophet emphasizes that this proverb gives no excuse to shirk individual responsibility. All of us were born into a certain situation with particular abilities or disabilities that we did not choose and our lives are limited or enhanced by our heredity. Nevertheless, we can effect changes in our situation by our own choice and effort. We do not have to follow in the mistaken paths of our ancestors. We also are able to depart from the good example of our parents because we have moral freedom. The prophet teaches that God will judge us according to our individual moral choices, not those of our ancestors, and urges us to turn away from our sins, which bring God's judgment, and find new life by obeying his word. (3287)
Memorial Day (90/05/28)
This last Monday of May is a holiday in the United States called Memorial Day, a day to remember and honor relatives and friends who have died--particularly those who died in the armed forces while serving their country. Memory is a precious and amazing ability, but like other abilities it may be developed and improved with use. The Roman orator and philosopher, Cicero, said "The memory deteriorates if not used regularly", so it is well for you to try to remember the new English words and expressions you learn in these messages. You probably know the Japanese proverb that "a regularly used hoe does not rust", tsukau kuwa wa sabinai. To keep healthy, we must exercise both our bodies and our minds. People with warm hearts will not only remember those who have died. They will also remember living people who are suffering in the world today. (3288)
Gaijin (90/05/29)
In recent years, there has been discussion about the usage of the Japanese term gaijin and of its English translation. In classical Japanese, this word was sometimes used to denote a person to be viewed with hostility, but it is now used mainly as a shortened form of gaikokujin. The usual translations of gaijin, literally meaning an outsider, are foreigner, stranger or alien. Each of these words have a slightly different nuance. Both "stranger" and "foreigner" may apply to one who comes from another area as a resident or visitor, but "stranger" stresses the person's unfamiliarity with language and customs and "foreigner" emphasizes the fact that the person speaks a different language, follows different customs, or bears allegiance to another government. "Alien", as opposed to "citizen", emphasizes allegiance to a different authority. In order for Japan to develop a healthier international spirit, some of her citizens need to change their attitudes toward gaijin. I would be interested to read your opinion regarding the Japanese attitude toward strangers, foreigners or aliens, both in the past and at present and how it is related to Japan's place in the international community. I will correct essays sent to me and print them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3289)
Links Threaten Spring (90/05/02)
Conscience or Rules (90/05/03)
Terms Meaning Zero (90/05/04)
Alcohol and Ice (90/05/05)
Paradoxes (90/05/06)
Abu Hachi Torazu (90/05/07)
Fast Food (90/05/08)
Chewing Gum (90/05/09)
Awa Tea (90/05/10)
Industry (90/05/11)
One Way (90/05/12)
Mother's Day (90/05/13)
Kagyū Kakujō no Arasoi (90/05/14)
Football/Soccer (90/05/15)
Gramophone (90/05/16)
Norway (90/05/17)
John Paul II (90/05/18)
Tower of Skulls (90/05/19)
Stephen (90/05/20)
A Worm Will Turn (90/05/21)
Bamboo (90/05/22)
South Carolina (90/05/23)
Commonwealth Day (90/05/24)
Announcement (90/05/25)
Sofia (90/05/26)
Moral Freedom (90/05/27)
Memorial Day (90/05/28)
Gaijin (90/05/29)
I/Aye/Eye (90/05/30)
Greenland (90/05/31)
May Day (90/05/01)