Intolerance Day (92/04/01)
The English word "tolerate" comes from a Latin word meaning
to "bear". It may mean to endure or to allow. It is sometimes
equivalent to the Japanese phrase "to see with a big eye", 'ōme
ni miru'. But to tolerate or to be tolerant also implies
recognizing and respecting the rights, opinions or practices of others
even when they are different from those of the majority. Because
of the intolerance of majority groups in many countries of the
world today, including Japan, minorities face unfair and
sometimes cruel discrimination, persecution or even expulsion from
their homelands. Some people are very tolerant outwardly or in
public, but their intolerance is seen in their private lives.
Intolerance is a deep-rooted evil which all of us need to be
conscious of and work to eliminate. In at least one city in the
United States, this 1st day of April has been designated
Intolerance Day. The purpose was "to confine intolerance to the most
appropriate day of the year, April Fool's Day". Intolerance is
not merely foolish, it is sinful and in this global age, all of
us should seek to follow the "Golden Rule", found in Matthew
7:12: "Always treat others as you would like them to treat you".
--Clark Offner (3900)
Cardinal (92/04/02)
Today is April 2,1992. The interesting combination of Chinese characters meaning "butterfly pair", pronounced 'chōtsugai', signify a hinge. A hinge is the joint on which a door or gate swings, a kind of pivot. The English word "cardinal" is derived from the Latin word for hinge. Its basic meaning is something of pivotal importance. In the Roman Catholic Church, a cardinal is an important church official ranking just below the pope. The characteristic mark of a cardinal is the red hat he is qualified to wear. In fact, "cardinal" also denotes a deep red color, and a bright-red North American bird is called a cardinal as is a player on the major league baseball team from St.Louis. Cardinal numbers are those generally used in counting, such as 1, 2, 3 and so on, but when expressing order or succession, we use ordinal numbers such as first, second, third, etc. In these "Daily Word" messages, I have made it a practice to use cardinal numbers when citing dates because that is literally the way they are written. However, since ordinal numbers are also commonly used in dates, from now on I may sometimes make use of them, depending on my mood at the time. Thus, today is April 2, 1992. --Clark Offner (3901)
Rubber Checks (92/04/03)
A recent report in an English-language newspaper in Japan contained the expression "rubber checks" in its headline. Checking my English-Japanese dictionaries, I was surprised to find that this word was not listed. Can you guess what a "rubber check" is? In this case, "check" means a written order to a bank to pay money from the writer's account, a 'kogitte', in Japanese. And a "rubber check" is a check that bounces. (This informal meaning of "bounce" 'is' found in the dictionaries.) A check bounces when there is not enough money in the bank account to pay the amount listed on the check. Most banks impose a penalty on those who write such checks, but the special bank used by members of the United States House of Representatives does not, so representatives may overdraw their accounts for years without any penalty. The news item reported that the names of 355 current and former representatives who had written rubber checks will be publicized. It is unfortunate when elected representatives of the common people take advantage of or misuse privileges that are not available to those who elected them. But while we criticize our elected representatives, we should recall the words of Thomas Carlyle, who wrote, "In the long-run, every government is the exact symbol of its people, with their wisdom and unwisdom." -- Clark Offner(3902)
My Silhouette (92/04/04)
As you know, the relationship between the pronunciation and spelling of English words is very irregular. One reason is that words entering English from various languages which use the same or similar alphabets often keep their original spelling even though the English pronunciation is different. For example, the English word silhouette, spelled s-i-l-h-o-u-e-t-t-e, is derived from the name of a French author and statesman who lived 250 years ago. A silhouette is a profile portrait cut out of black paper. One day when my wife and I were visiting a sightseeing spot in China six years ago, a young man approached us and, while walking alongside of me, began cutting a piece of black paper with a small pair of scissors. Very deftly, he manipulated the scissors with his right hand while holding the paper in his left as we walked along. After finishing cutting, he quickly pasted the black cutout on a piece of heavy pink paper and showed it to me. It was my silhouette, in which my glasses and beard were clearly visible. He wanted me to pay him for it, which I did. Although I forget how much it cost, I was amazed at his skill in cutting out that facial form as we walked along. Somewhere among my mementos, that silhouette may be found. -- Clark Offner (3903)
High Priest (92/04/05)
In many religions, those persons qualified to perform rituals are called "priests". In Christianity also, traditions that emphasize rituals, including the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches, have "priests", but the religious leaders of most Protestant churches are usually called "pastors". Priests serve as mediators between people and God. Following the rituals commanded in the Old Testament laws, common people brought sacrificial lambs to priests who offered them on the altar to God as atonement for sin. According to the New Testament, however, such ritualistic sacrifices are no longer needed because the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, provided the atonement for the sins of the whole world. The Letter to the Hebrews, in particular, shows how Christ fulfilled the Old Testament ritualistic law. In chapter 7, he is described as the High Priest who does not need to make repeated sacrifices for, according to verse 27, "He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself." Christians believe that the death of Jesus, the Christ, on the cross opened the way of salvation for all people--salvation based on the character and work of God and not on rituals performed by sinful people. -- Clark Offner (3904)
Nisoku no Waraji (92/04/06)
Blacksmiths used to forge horseshoes from iron rods that they put in the fire until they were red-hot. A busy blacksmith might have many irons in the fire, so the expression "many irons in the fire" came to mean a person who is very busy or who has a number of options from which to choose. A person who holds positions in various organizations may also be said to have "many irons in the fire" or to wear different "hats". A pastor, who is director of a kindergarten, who also lectures at a university and heads a fund-raising committee for a welfare agency wears many "hats". In Japanese, instead of irons in the fire or hats, such a person might be said to wear two pairs of straw sandals, 'nisoku no waraji o haku'. Conscientious politicians, businessmen or pastors who wear different hats will take care to keep their various responsibilities completely separate. --Clark Offner (3905)
Credit Cards (92/04/07)
The English words creed, credence, credulity and credit are all rooted in the same Latin word meaning to believe. A creed is a formal statement of religious belief. Credence means belief, and credulity is a disposition to believe too readily. Credit means belief in the truth of something and is now used to denote the particular belief in a buyer's ability and intention to fulfil financial obligations. Buying goods on credit has become common in recent years and is now even more popular since the advent of credit cards. Using a credit card, a person may easily obtain expensive items even if she or he cannot pay for them when the purchase is made. Eventually, however, payment must be made and those who use credit cards unwisely will be embarrassed when payment is due if money is not available, just as people who presume on the mercy of God may be upset on the coming Day of Judgment. What do you think about credit cards? Do you ever use them? What are their advantages and disadvantages? Do you consider them basically helpful or harmful? If you write a short essay in English on this theme and send it to me, I will correct it and print it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. --Clark Offner (3906)
El Greco (92/04/08)
Today, April the 8th, is the anniversary of the death of the most influential master of Spanish painting. The date and year of his birth is uncertain, but April 8, 1614 is said to be the date of his death. He was born on the Greek island of Crete and his name was Dominicos Theotocopoulos. There are a number of variations of his name, but fortunately, his real name is not commonly used. Rather, he is known simply as El Greco, literally meaning "the Greek". After studying in Venice, he established himself in the Spanish town of Toledo. His religious paintings reflect a kind of Spanish zeal and set new patterns for artistic expression with their flamelike lines, elongated and distorted figures and vibrant color contrasted with subtle grays. Later Spanish masters were deeply influenced by this Greek painter. Incidentally, one of the dictionary meanings of "Greek" is "something that is unintelligible". The phrase, "It's all Greek to me", meaning "it is beyond my understanding" was first used in Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, but it is commonly used today also. The New Testament was originally written in Greek and some people may consider it "Greek" even when translated into their native tongue, but serious readers will find it inspiring and even life-changing. --Clark Offner (3907)
Broccoli Cabbage (92/04/09)
Recently, an acquaintance brought us some broccoli she had grown in her garden. Since we were not at home at the time, she left it with a note. Two days later, we read a newspaper article about a chemical found in broccoli that is effective in combating cancer so we have been eating and enjoying it with an added incentive. Broccoli, a kind of cabbage, comes from an Italian word meaning "cabbage tops". More precisely, it is a variety of cauliflower which is derived from Italian words meaning "cabbage flower". The word "cabbage" comes from a French word meaning "head". A vegetable that resembles miniature cabbages is called "Brussels sprouts". "Cabbage" is a slang term for money, especially paper currency, which may be called "cabbage leaves". A stupid person may be called a "cabbage head" and boxers who have suffered too many blows to the head may develop "cauliflower ears". In Mark Twain's 'Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar', we find the interesting observation that "Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education." As I aim for variety in these "Daily Word" messages, I feel a close affinity to this quotation from Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking Glass'. "'The time has come,' the Walrus said, 'To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing wax, Of cabbages and kings.'" --Clark Offner (3908)
Tonics (92/04/10)
A tonic is something that invigorates, refreshes or restores, so certain medicines or drinks may be called tonics. A recent news article noted that many hardworking adults in Japan suffer from tiredness, chronic fatigue or emotional stress. This is the reason for television ads for tonics, so-called energy drinks, that help people regain vitality. The article noted further that adults are not the only ones bothered by fatigue who see those advertisements. A study of grade school children in the Tokyo and Kinki regions indicated that a majority of them find it hard to wake up in the morning and more than 20 percent reported having stiff shoulders, difficulty in falling asleep or dizziness when standing up. More than 37 percent of elementary school boys have used tonics and 9.2 percent drink them often. Japanese school children are under constant pressure, studying to compete in examinations and going to cram schools after school rather than playing with friends or exercising outdoors. It may be that Japan's "healthy" economy and "healthy" educational system has been developed at the expense of the physical, and possibly moral, health of many of its citizens. -- Clark Offner(3909)
Colombian Friends (92/04/11)
Needless to say, one of the highlights of our trip to China was our visit to the Great Wall which winds for some 2400 kilometers across that country. But actually a different kind of highlight occurred along the way to that huge fortification. The tour bus we boarded stopped en route for passengers to have a light lunch at a restaurant. A Caucasian lady with her two children and her mother happened to share the same table with my wife and me. In the course of our conversation we found out that they were from the South American country of Colombia. I mentioned that the only persons from Colombia that we knew were two brothers who attended the same small university we did in Dubuque, Iowa forty years previously. You can imagine our surprise to find that those boys were cousins of this lady. She herself was the niece of the Colombian ambassador whom she was now visiting. She gave us a bit of information about our former friends but said her uncle, who was also their uncle, would be able to tell us more, so she suggested that we call him. That evening, after our return from the Great wall, I called the Colombian Embassy and spoke with the ambassador. He told us about his nephews and assured us he would relay our greetings to them when he returned to his homeland for the Christmas holidays. During our trip to China, we were again made aware of the providence of God. -- Clark Offner (3910)
Palm Sunday (92/04/12)
The word spelled p-a-l-m is pronounced 'päm' because the "l" is silent. A dictionary defines "palm" as the "inner surface of the hand, between the wrist and the fingers". Certain kinds of trees having leaves in the shape of palms are called palm trees and their leaves, or fronds, are also called palled palms. In the Church Calendar, this Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday, commemorating the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem a few days before his arrest, trial and death. Palms are considered symbols of victory or triumph and, according to John 12:13, crowds of people greeted Jesus waving palms and shouting "God bless the King of Israel!" That event is known as the Triumphal Entry. Some people welcomed Jesus in to the capital city hoping he would become the leader in reestablishing an independent Jewish state; others envisioned the beginning of the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus disappointed them. He did not come as a conqueror astride a whole horse. Rather, he rode on a lowly donkey, a symbol of peace. The moral authority of this humble carpenter-turned-preacher threatened the political authorities of his day and he was eliminated. Many of his followers who have sought to bring peace and justice into hostile, tradition-bound societies have suffered a similar fate. The struggle between entrenched injustice and moral renewal continues today. -- Clark Offner (3911)
Jack-of-All-Trades (92/04/13)
Jack is a common nickname for John although it comes from the Hebrew name Jacob, for which Jake is the common nickname. In the New Testament, the Greek form of Jacob is translated into English as James, for which Jim is the common nickname. Jack is also used as a common noun for a man. A sailor is a jack-tar and one who cuts down trees and transports them to the mill is a lumberjack. A jack-of-all-trades is a handyman who can do many different kinds of work, but there is an English proverb that "A jack-of-all-trades is master of none", meaning that the man who can do many things, such as carpentry, plumbing and repairing machines is not a skilled workman in any one field. The comparable proverb in Japanese comes from the world of art: 'tagei wa mugei', many talents, no talent. Both versatile persons and specialists are valuable in society. --Clark Offner (3912)
Art (92/04/14)
The short English word "art" has a wide meaning. A very practical skill or craft may be called an art, but the word is more often used for activities related to beauty rather than practicality. In universities, the arts, sometimes called liberal arts, are usually contrasted with the sciences. The fine arts, in particular, are creative expressions aiming at beauty rather than utility. The concept of beauty, however, varies from person to person and from people to people. One way to try to understand people of a different culture is to consider their works of art. For your essay this week, I am suggesting that you write about art or the arts, including painting, poetry and music. Art is a means of heartfelt communication. What kind of art do you prefer? Do you enjoy producing works of art yourself? Do you appreciate the artistry of others? You may wish to compare or contrast Oriental/Japanese and Western/ American art. What do you think are their similarities or differences? I will read and correct essays on this theme 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. --Clark Offner (3913)
The Titanic (92/04/15)
In Greek mythology, the Titans were a family of giants so the English word "titan" denotes a person of great size, strength or achievement and "titanic" is used to describe something or someone very large or very strong. "The Titanic" was the name given to a famous British passenger liner, the fastest ship afloat at the time, which was considered almost unsinkable. Many notable persons from the United States and Britain were among the more than 2,000 passengers on that ship during its maiden voyage when, eighty years ago today, on April 15, 1912, it sunk after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic, resulting in the tragic loss of 1,517 lives. Investigations indicated that the ship was trying to make a new speed record even though warnings had been sent about the dangerous conditions in that area. It was also found that the ship did not carry enough lifeboats and that safety procedures had not been followed. Furthermore, other vessels in the area were slow in responding to distress signals. Such accidents as this should remind us that we do not know when our lives will end. It is well for us to remember Jesus' advice to his disciples in Matthew 24:44 to always be ready, because the end may come at a time when we do not expect it. --Clark Offner (3914)
Patriotism (92/04/16)
'Patěr' is the Greek word for "father" and a number of English words are derived from this root, including patron, patriarch, patrimony, paternal, paternity and patriot. A patriot is a person who loves, supports and defends his or her country or fatherland. Like pride and faith, a healthy patriotism is a good thing, but when it becomes unbalanced or extreme it can become the cause of great evil. A French novelist [Guy de Maupassant] has called patriotism "a kind of religion...the egg from which wars are hatched." Excessive pride, militant faith and immoderate patriotism have been the cause of hostilities, but a lack of these qualities is also unhealthy. As a reaction to the ultra-patriotism that characterized this society fifty years ago, many Japanese have not developed a wholesome patriotism. Seventy-seven percent of the citizens who responded to a recent nationalwide poll indicated that they believe it is necessary to promote patriotism in Japan. This is a 12 percent increase over the previous high of 65 percent recorded in 1972. Love for one's country is a good thing, but as nationalistic feeling is again on the rise in many areas, we need to emphasize respect for the human rights of all people regardless of national origin or of political or religious beliefs. --Clark Offner (3915)
Nikita Khrushchev (92/04/17)
World leaders who attend the United Nations General Assembly are happy if their presence there makes headlines in newspapers around the world, but one leader gained world fame, or notoriety, not by his meaningful speech but by taking off his shoe and banging the heel on the desk in front of him in the assembly hall. That newsworthy event occurred in 1959. Do you remember who the shoe-banger was? He was Nikita Khrushchev, who was born 98 years ago today, on April 17, 1894. Mr. Khrushchev became first secretary of the Soviet Communist Party following Stalin's death and, in 1956, delivered a secret report denouncing Stalin's policies and personality. He became premier the following year. As a staunch Communist, he was convinced of the triumph of communism over capitalism. "Whether you like it or not", he said, "history is on our side. We will bury you." "Each year humanity takes a step towards Communism. Maybe not you, but your grandson will surely be a Communist." He called writers in the Soviet Union "engineers of the human soul" because they sought "to educate the people correctly" and "instill in them progressive ideas." I do hope the engineers of Soviet nuclear power plants did a better job than their "engineers of the human soul." -- Clark Offner (3916)
Radio Beijing (92/04/18)
When I eat lunch at home I usually listen to a shortwave radio while eating. Along with the Voice of America, the BBC and Radio Moscow, I sometimes listen to broadcasts from Australia, Pyongyang, Taipei and Tokyo. Before our trip to China, I used to listen to programs on Radio Beijing. I also wrote to that radio station, asking for some information and informing them of our expected trip. Their reply included the requested material along with an invitation to visit their station during our visit. Thus on our last day in China, we took a taxi to the Radio Beijing offices and asked for the lady who wrote the letter. As a result, we were not only shown around the studios but an interview with me was taped for a later broadcast. In the interview, I was asked our impressions of China. Following the interview, I was disappointed to hear the testimony of the interviewer who said she had been educated in a Christian mission school, but she supported the Communist movement because she felt that the Communists were putting into practice the ideals Christianity preached. I was reminded that true religion is not merely believing the right doctrine or making a verbal profession of faith. A healthy religious faith involves practical action as well as lofty theory. -- Clark Offner (3917)
Easter Sunday (92/04/19)
According to the biblical story of creation, God created the world in six days. Having finished his work, "He blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a special day" [2:3]. This is the reason given in the Ten Commandments why people should observe a day of rest, called the Sabbath, on the seventh day [Exodus 20:11]. Jews continue to observe Saturday as the Sabbath, but Christians gather in Churches on Sunday to worship God in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week. Today, Easter Sunday, the Sunday of Sundays, is the most important day in the church calendar on which Christians celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death. Humanly speaking, we cannot imagine a person rising from death, but Christians believe not only in the infinite power of God, the Creator, but also in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the Savior. In his discourse on the resurrection in I Corinthians, chapter 15, the Apostle Paul wrote that if Christ was not raised from death, there is no Christian Gospel and the Christian faith is a delusion. Although we cannot explain the resurrection scientifically, we may experience the new, victorious life it signifies through our own faith in God through Jesus Christ. -- Clark Offner (3918)
Niwatori o Sakuni (92/04/20)
"Knife", spelled k-n-i-f-e, is one of many English words that begin with a needless, silent "k" before an "n". A knife is a cutting instrument having a blade. There are many kinds of knives, including small pocketknives, jackknives and larger hunting knives. In the kitchen, chefs may use a paring knife, a bread knife or a butcher knife and butchers use large meat cleavers to cut thick pieces of meat. In the 'Rongo' (Analects of Confucius) we find the statement, 'Niwatori o sakuni izukunzo gyūtō o mochiin', Why use a meat cleaver to cut up a chicken? The implication is that a big implement is not needed to solve a minor problem. A musket is an old-fashioned shoulder gun and an English saying advises us "Take not a musket to kill a butterfly". Even so-called superpowers should choose appropriate means to counter insurrections or opposition. --Clark Offner (3919)
Queen Elizabeth II (92/04/21)
Sixty-six years ago today on April 21, 1926, a baby girl was born to an English couple in London. She was named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, which were the names of her mother, great-grandmother and grandmother respectively. Upon the abdication of her Uncle Edward when she was ten years old, her father became the king and she became the crown princess. When her father, George VI, died in 1952, she became queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Princess Philip, have four children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Queen Elizabeth II has now been reigning for forty years, the sixth longest reigning monarch in British history. Along with the many privileges of royalty are the burdens of constant public exposure and Britain's royal family and the monarchy have been the subject of considerable criticism in recent years. What are your thoughts or impressions about Queen Elizabeth II, her family and the British monarchy? How does it compare to the imperial household in Japan? I will correct essays on this theme sent to me and print them in "Daily Word" Echoes. This is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. --Clark Offner (3920)
Queen Isabella (92/04/22)
Yesterday's message was about a present reigning queen, born 66 years ago, named Elizabeth. Today's message is about another queen, born 541 years ago, on April 22, 1451. Her name was Isabella, which is the Italian form of Elizabeth. She was the daughter of John II of Castile and when she married Ferdinand, the son of John II of Aragon, these two kingdoms were united. In 1492, when their armies defeated the Muslim region of Granada this couple, known as the Catholic monarchs, became the rulers of all of Spain. They made a concerted effort to make Spain a firmly Catholic country by expelling all Jews and Muslims who refused to convert to Christianity. Three weeks ago, exactly 500 years to the day after the Jews were banished from Spain, the present king of Spain and the president of Israel pledged closer ties in a symbolic reconciliation ceremony in a synagogue in Madrid. It was this same Queen Isabella who became the patron of Christopher Columbus and agreed to finance his first voyage across the Atlantic, the same year that Jews and Muslims were expelled from Spain. Columbus and those who followed him also sought to force their religion on the native inhabitants of the Americas, but true faith cannot be generated by compulsion. --Clark Offner (3921)
Conservative (92/04/23)
Listeners to and readers of these daily messages should know from their own experience that meanings of words may change depending on their context. A recent news item, for example, noted Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's "triumph over conservatives." As I read the article, I wondered about the meaning of "conservative". Traditionally, this word is used for so-called rightists who favor capitalism and oppose the radical reforms proposed by so-called leftists. In this news report, however, the "conservatives" were "hardline leftists" who insist upon keeping the radical changes effected under former Chairman Mao. Because they want to maintain, protect or conserve the ideology of past years, they are called "conservatives" in China today. Politically or religiously, those who insist upon maintaining the status quo in an effect to protect a certain tradition or ideology rather than truly considering the genuine problems and needs of the people are reactionary opponents of healthy progress. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus criticized the ultraconservative religious leaders of his day who insisted on simply maintaining rituals while ignoring more important matters, including justice, mercy and honesty. --Clark Offner (3922)
Windmills (92/04/24)
When we think of Holland, we think of windmills. A windmill is a mill or other machine that relies on wind power for its source of energy and it is common to associate these picturesque structures with long arms reaching into the sky with the Netherlands. For over 600 years, windmills have been used to keep the sea from reclaiming land the Dutch people have cultivated behind their dikes. There were once more than 9,000 windmills in that country, but today there are less than 1,000 and many of them are deteriorating from lack of use. One problem is that genuine windmills can only work when the wind blows and windy days have been decreasing in Holland. Also, now that steam and electric power are available, there is no need to depend upon these traditional wind-powered pumps. According to a recent report, less than 60 windmills regularly work more than one day a week, mainly to mill flour or to entertain tourists. As is the case with some traditional structures or customs in Japan, people must decide the value of trying to prolong their existence just for tradition's sake after they have outlived their usefulness and original purpose. If windmills are not kept active, they will quickly age and lose their ability to function. This is also true for human bodies and minds. -- Clark Offner (3923)
The Only One Who Bowed in Greeting (92/04/25)
One Saturday a few months ago, I attended a board meeting in downtown Nagoya. As is my custom, I went to that meeting by bicycle. On my way home after the meeting, I noticed that certain streets were lined with policemen. Wondering about the reason, I stopped to inqiure of a policeman and was informed that, shortly, the Emperor and Empress were expected to pass by. Questioning the officer further, I found out that the imperial couple were scheduled to leave from the governor's official residence in about ten minutes. I decided to change my usual route home to pass by that residence where, years ago, I had met with the previous prefectural governor. Needless to say, both sides of the narrow street in front of the residence were lined with people awaiting the departure of the limousine. I parked my bicycle and waited with the others. Right on schedule, escorted by policemen on motorcycles and other cars, the imperial limousine came through the driveway and onto the street. As the car passed in front of me, my eyes met those of the smiling Empress who was waving her hand in greeting behind the closed window. After the car had passed by, I wondered if I had only imagined a humorous glint in her eye as I came to the realization that this one, tallish, big-nosed foreigner was the only one who bowed in greeting while all her Japanese compatriots were waving their hands.-- Clark Offner (3924)
Children of Abraham (92/04/26)
The first words of the Old Testament in both English and Japanese translations are the same: "In the beginning". Grammatical differences, however, result in a different word order in the first sentence of the New Testament. In Japanese translations, the first words are: 'Aburahamu no ko'. In the Bible, "child of Abraham", has a special significance. Abraham was the patriarch of the Jews so, physically, all Jews are children of Abraham, including Jesus. Some Jews considered the fact that they were children of Abraham put them in a special, privileged category, but both John the Baptist [Matthew 3:9] and Jesus [John 8:31-40] disapproved of that attitude. In his Letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul made clear who the real children of Abraham were. He taught, in chapter 3, that the true children of Abraham, who are heirs to the Old Testament promises of God, are those who have the kind of faith that Abraham had. He insisted that salvation does not come through physical lineage nor obedience to the law, including performance of rituals. Rather, it is the result of faith. Even as Abraham trusted God and followed God's leading even when he didn't know where he was going, his spiritual children are those who do likewise. "The real descendants of Abraham," he wrote, "are the people who have faith" [Galatians 3:9]. -- Clark Offner (3925)
Tabi no Haji (92/04/27)
Are you acquainted with the Japanese proverb, 'tabi no haji wa kakisute'? Could you explain to a foreigner what it means? Literally, it states that "shame is discarded on a trip". In Japanese society, a sense of shame has an important restraining effect on people's actions. On formal occasions and when surrounded by like-minded people, Japanese are constrained not to be impolite or immoral. When these restrictions are absent, however, as when on a trip where one is unknown, there is a tendency to throw caution to the winds and behave quite differently. Frankly speaking, some Japanese tourists have given Japan a bad reputation as a result of this tendency. Although many Japanese proverbs have an English counterpart, it may be significant that there seems to be no equivalent proverb in English. --Clark Offner (3926)
Pollution of Nature (92/04/28)
Tomorrow is a national holiday in Japan, called 'Midori no Hi'. Of course, 'midori' may simply identify the color "green", but it also has a wider meaning. It may denote the greenery of nature, also called verdure. Traditionally, Japanese have had a deep respect for nature and even venerated natural phenomena, but in recent years this attitude seems to have changed, considering the littering of public places and the pollution generated by both factories and individuals. Japan has been said to be poor in natural resources, but there are two natural resources in which it excels: Its industrious people and its natural beauty. I hope this intelligent, industrious nation will boldly confront the problem of how to decrease pollution and protect the beautiful natural environment for the benefit of future generations and as an example to other nations. What are your thoughts relating to the past and present Japanese attitude toward nature? What do you think of the increasing problem of pollution and what can or should be done about it? What can we do as individuals to preserve the health and beauty of our environment? I will correct essays on this topic sent to me and publish them in "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. -- Clark Offner (3927)
Cardinal (92/04/02)
Rubber Checks (92/04/03)
My Silhouette (92/04/04)
High Priest (92/04/05)
Nisoku no Waraji (92/04/06)
Credit Cards (92/04/07)
El Greco (92/04/08)
Broccoli Cabbage (92/04/09)
Tonics (92/04/10)
Colombian Friends (92/04/11)
Palm Sunday (92/04/12)
Jack-of-All-Trades (92/04/13)
Art (92/04/14)
The Titanic (92/04/15)
Patriotism (92/04/16)
Nikita Khrushchev (92/04/17)
Radio Beijing (92/04/18)
Easter Sunday (92/04/19)
Niwatori o Sakuni (92/04/20)
Queen Elizabeth II (92/04/21)
Queen Isabella (92/04/22)
Conservative (92/04/23)
Windmills (92/04/24)
The Only One Who Bowed in Greeting (92/04/25)
Children of Abraham (92/04/26)
Tabi no Haji (92/04/27)
Pollution of Nature (92/04/28)
Catfish (92/04/29)
Punch (92/04/30)
Intolerance Day (92/04/01)