March
Lafcadio Hearn
Saving Daylight
Warming Up
Niagara Falls
“Great Decisions”
Women and Men
Palm Sunday

March
07/03/01

As a verb, “march” means to walk in a formal military manner, but when used as a noun, beginning with a capital M, it denotes this third month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is derived from the Latin word for Mars, the ancient Roman god of war and the name given to one of the planets which circle the sun. In Japanese, the names of the days of the week are related to the sun, the moon and the planets of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. Because Mars was identified with Tiw, the Norse god of war, the third day of the week became Tuesday in English. Mars was considered the guardian of the Roman state, the second-ranking god after Jupiter, and during the month of March, various festivities were held in his honor. March was originally the first month in the ten-month Roman calendar. It was after two additional months were added to the end of the year and then moved to the beginning of the year that March became the third month of the year. Spring begins this month on the vernal equinox, which is a national holiday in Japan, the middle day of a week in which visits are traditionally made to the graves of departed family members who have crossed the river to the “other shore” (higan). In English, we have a saying that “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” to indicate the change of the weather that often occurs during this month. Considering the world situation at the present time, let us work and pray that military forces will soon march back home and that any “god of war” who may be acting like a lion now will soon change and become like a lamb. (1041)

Lafcadio Hearn
07/03/06

Many public and private schools in Japan today employ native speakers of English from the West to teach English. In this way, students are able to learn the correct pronunciation of English words, which many non-native speakers find difficult to imitate. One of the earliest and certainly the most famous such teacher was an Irish-Greek author and American journalist named Lafcadio Hearn, who came to Japan in 1890 and taught in Japanese schools for 14 years. He married a Japanese woman and became a Japanese citizen, named Yakumo Koizumi. Mr. Hearn’s most enduring work, however, was not transmitting Western concepts to Japan but emphasizing and enlivening Japanese legends and folk tales that were in danger of being lost. He was deeply impressed with the “strangeness and charm” of Japan, considering it a “fairyland” and referred to the Japanese as “the most lovable people in the universe.” The books he wrote in English contained many stories of local legends regarding Japanese phantoms and other tales that were a part of Japanese tradition. The city of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, where he began his teaching in a Middle School, now has a small museum in his memory, displaying old books, photos and manuscripts next to the house in which he lived over a century ago. The city has become a tourist attraction and holds a national speech contest for high school students to read Mr. Hearn’s stories in English. Lafcadio Hearn’s example of a man whose influence developed in unexpected ways and has continued long after his death should stimulate all teachers to think about the impact of our attitude and activities on the lives of those around us. (1042)

Saving Daylight
07/03/10

One meaning of “save” is to conserve, or to prevent the loss of something. People may save money by depositing it in a “savings account” in a bank and save time by using a vehicle rather than walking. In the United States of America and a number of other countries, a certain period during the spring and summer seasons, called “Daylight Saving Time,” is designated to take advantage of the longer daylight hours. Clocks, watches and other time-related devices are turned ahead one hour in the spring and turned back to “Standard Time” in the fall to “save daylight” for an additional hour. This custom was first observed during the First World War in order to conserve electrical power. The practice was again introduced during the Second World War, after which individual states had to decide whether or not to continue the custom and during what period. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act which required states that observed Daylight Saving Time to begin and end on dates determined by the federal government. To solve the confusion regarding whether we turn the clock ahead or back in spring and fall, the saying “Spring ahead, Fall back,” was composed. Until this year, the officially designated times to change the clocks were 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and the last Sunday of October. This year, however, a new system is being introduced, which should result in more energy being saved. The dates for changing our clocks this year are the first Sundays of March and November. Whether or not we change our clocks to enjoy an extra daylight hour, we should remember the words found in the New Testament book of Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 15-16 and make good use of the limited time given to us. (1043)

Warming Up
07/03/14

It is common for athletes to “warm up” by exercising or practicing before an official game begins. On cold days, we feel better if we are able “to warm up” the room by turning up the heat. At this time of year in the northern hemisphere, the outdoor temperature is “warming up” also, which makes us feel more comfortable. But at the present time, this “warming up” is not limited to a certain area or to certain people. Scientists are informing us that the whole world is “warming up” and it is suspected that this global warming is caused by the activities and lifestyle of human beings in industrialized countries. The widespread use of coal, petroleum and gasoline as power generators has resulted in both a warmer and dirtier atmosphere. In 1997, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change met in the Japanese city of Kyoto and adopted the Kyoto Protocol, which requires countries to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide by 6-8% below 1990 levels. Although it is the world’s richest and most powerful country, which should provide a good example for the rest of the world, the United States of America has not signed that Protocol. If this global warming is not stopped, it is predicted that, by 2100, seawater levels will rise between 8 and 88 centimeters, which would change the coastline of many countries, forcing the removal of many houses and causing many other changes. A warmer atmosphere caused by polluted air and water may promote the growth of diseases and the insects that carry themespecially in underdeveloped countries. Warming up our bodies and our homes may be justified, but warming up the whole world should not be done without careful, prayerful consideration. (1044)

Niagara Falls
07/03/17

Two of the three largest countries in the world are located on the continent of North America. They are Canada and the United States of America. The international boundary in the eastern section of these adjacent countries is formed by four connected lakes and their connecting rivers. These lakes, along with Lake Michigan, which lies entirely within the United States, are a part of the Great Lakes, which form the largest area of fresh water in the world, with a combined surface area of 95,000 square miles (246,050 square meters). The names of these four lakes are: Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The river which connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario is called Niagara River, from a Native American word meaning “neck” (of land). This river flows over a huge escarpment, which has become one of the most spectacular spectacles in North America, attracting tourists from around the world. These Niagara Falls, which are divided into American Falls and Canadian Falls, can be viewed from either country on the opposite sides of the river, and there are cities in both the state of New York and the province of Ontario, named Niagara Falls. The American Falls are 167 feet (51 meters) high and 1060 feet (323 meters) wide and the Canadian Falls are 158 feet (48 meters) high and 2600 feet (792 meters) wide. After flowing over the Niagara Falls, the water continues its journey to the Atlantic Ocean by means of the St. Lawrence River. The areas on both sides of the river near the Niagara Falls have been developed as national parks and the falls are used to produce hydroelectric power. So it is that natural wonders may be utilized as well as enjoyed. (1045)

“Great Decisions”
07/03/22

One of the “Continuing Education” classes my wife and I are now attending once a week is called “Great Decisions.” In that class, a guide prepared by the Foreign Policy Association to gain a better understanding of significant world issues is used. Each class includes a talk by a member who has had personal experience and engaged in research related to the subject, a relevant videotape and free discussion among those in attendance. Thus far, we have covered the following topics: “The U.S. in the Middle East,” “Climate Change and Global Warming,” “Mexico: Neighbor in Turmoil.” The next topic is: “International Migration in a Global Economy.” Problems related to the large number of illegal immigrants in this country are the subject of current articles in newspapers and magazines, discussions on television and the focus of attention of both congressional committees and the administration. Three different words may be used to denote the movement from one country or region to another: “migrate” is the more general term; “emigrate” emphasizes the leaving of one country to settle in another, while the emphasis of “immigrate” is on the country entered and implies a more permanent settlement in the new area. Many factors are involved in the present development of immigration related to the economic and political situation. The global flowing of goods, capital and information is accompanied by a rising volume of immigration and developed nations seek to apply restrictive measures to limit international migration. “Great decisions” are required to stop illegal border crossings and to appropriately deal with those living and working here illegally. (1046)

Women and Men
07/03/26

There are many different ways to divide human beings. They may be separated according to country, race, education, financial status or religion. Unfortunately, in the history of all cultures, certain groups of people have been given special privileges while others have been rejected or downgraded. Prejudice and discrimination have been characteristic of all peoples. Probably the most obvious division among human beings is related to gender or sex. Today, the place of women in society and in religion has become a controversial topic. A woman is seeking to become a viable candidate for president of the United States of America and the place of women in the traditions of both Islam and Christianity is being questioned. Must women dress in a certain manner, wear headscarves and be completely subservient to men? Can they be given responsible positions in companies and governments? Should they be permitted to receive higher education? Can they be officially ordained as pastors, priests or bishops? When quotations from the Bible are used to support or question a particular position, the situation and purpose of the passage when it was written must be taken into consideration, but the words of Galatians 3:28 indicate that, among Christians, there should be no divisions based on race, social status or gender. Having lived in Japan for over half of my adult life, I am well aware of the traditional and current differences in the social and religious perspectives of Japan and the U.S.A. But I found a recent report on other differences between women and men in the U.S.A. of interest. It indicated that men die younger than women, that more men develop cancer and die from it than women, but more women develop heart disease and die from it than men. (1047)

Palm Sunday
07/03/30

Some calendars include the names of special days or holidays along with the numbers that indicate the days and months. Of course, the particular special days and holidays noted vary, depending on the country and the preference or plan of the printer. Often, holidays are printed in a distinguishing color, which has generated the term “red-letter days.” In church calendars, “Good Friday,” commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion, and “Easter,” commemorating his resurrection, are the most important days of the year. In my pocket calendar for this year of 2007, April 8 is marked “Easter,” the preceding Friday is “Good Friday” and April 1 is not “April Fools Day,” but “Palm Sunday.” “Palm Sunday” is the Sunday before Easter, the beginning of what is called “Holy Week,” when Christians are reminded of the final week of Jesus’ life, as recorded in the first four books in the New Testament. For some reason, from ancient times, the large leaves of palm trees have been used as emblems of victory, success or joy. In the 1st century B.C., the Latin poet, Horace, wrote of the "victor's palm" and the expression "bear the palm" means to win the prize in a contest. In all four Gospels, the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding not on a horse but on a donkey, symbolizing peace, and accompanied by a crowd of cheering people who took branches from trees and laid them in the road before him, is recorded. According to John 12:13, it was palm branches they took when they greeted Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” And it is in commemoration of that joyful event that the Sunday before Easter is called “Palm Sunday.” (1048)