Monthly Archives: August 2017

Thanksgiving

Each year America has a holiday in November that has taken on almost a religious reverence which we call Thanksgiving. We give this holiday so much honor that it ranks with us along with Christmas and Easter as an important holiday in the hearts of family and as a nation. But this holiday, so rich with tradition, has it origins in the earliest days of the founding of this nation.

The early years of the explorers to come to the American continent were difficult ones indeed. Those explorers, we now call The Pilgrims, faced harsh weather, unpredictable relations with the natives, disease and other challenges as they carved out homes from the wilderness they found here. Because their earliest homestead were in the northeast, the winters were harsh and their ability to build houses that could keep them warm and to find sufficient food was a constant worry to the men and women trying to raises families in America.

So anytime they received help from the native population, it was viewed as a gift from God and accepted with the greatest of joy and celebration. A Native American chief by the name of Squanto saw the plight of these new neighbors and saw to it his tribe helped these young families to survive. Besides providing food and wisdom about how to build structures that could keep them safe in the winter, Squanto taught them to fish, how to prepare eel and other strange sea creatures they harvested and how to farm.

This act of friendship was the origin of our revered holiday of Thanksgiving. The Virginia Colony established the tradition of holding a day of collective prayers of thanksgiving, and that tradition continues today. Except it is not just a day of thanksgiving for the kindness and generosity of Squanto to our forefathers. We take advantage of this day of reverence and thanksgiving to be grateful for all the good things that God has blessed this nation with.

The foods we use to celebrate Thanksgiving were ones that the pilgrim travelers found native to this country and the foods that, with the help of Native American teachers, they learned to capture, harvest and prepare to feed their families and prosper in their new home. Turkey was a game foul that was in ample supply to the pilgrims once Squanto showed them how to hurt the bird with reliable success.

The vegetables we love to have on our traditional menus also had their origins in the early lives of the pilgrims. Potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, green beans and all the rest were vegetables that the pilgrims had to learn to harvest, farm and prepare from natives of the land. So in many ways, our modern holiday, despite the dominance of football games and the upcoming Christmas holiday, retains the atmosphere of those early celebrations.

And the meaning of the holiday, despite commercialization, has been retained. Americans have much to be thankful for. The abundance of the land, the health of the most prosperous economy on earth and a society that is free and able to encourage freedom in other cultures are just a few of the things we celebrate at this holiday time. But for most of us, it is a time to gather family and friends near and be thankful to God for our health, for the blessings of jobs and for the privilege all Americans share to be able to live in the greatest nation on earth where opportunity is ample that any of us can make it and do well if we work hard at our chosen area of expertise. And these are things truly worthy of giving thanks for.

have sooo many things to thank God for, but I’m mostly thankful for my lovely family, my life, my friends, my health, the sacrifices others have made for my freedom in the country I live in, and true connection with people and surroundings ( the last one is a gift)…

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”
― W. T. Purkiser ―

Halloween

Halloween has long been a favorite holiday. For decades, little ones have dressed up in their costumes on Halloween night to go door to door throughout the neighborhood begging candy from their neighbors.

Unfortunately, Halloween is not as safe as it once was. Running around after dark leaves children vulnerable to accidents and malice. While mom and dad might have been able to accept the homemade cookies from the lady two streets over, now they have to examine their children’s treats for needles and razor blades. And those who have corrupted the fun of Halloween to a night for malice and mischief have left some parents hesitant to send their little ones out at all.

However, with a few precautions, you can make sure that the Halloween spirit lives on for at least one more generation.

Stay close

You might remember going trick or treating with a group of friends while mom and dad stayed home to pass out treats. However, in today’s changing society, it is simply not a good idea. Stay close to children at all times, particularly younger ones, and make sure that everyone stays within view while trick or treating. If taking out a large group, have children choose a Halloween “buddy” to stay with the entire time.

Set rules

There will be less dissension in the ranks if you set up the rules for Halloween night ahead of time. Make sure your children know before you head out what is acceptable and what isn’t. This includes curfews, how far they can go trick or treating, rules about eating treats, etc.

Be visible

While the neighborhoods will be swarming with children out trick or treating, many drivers may not take the extra precautions while driving and will continue to cruise through at normal speeds. To make sure your child is visible to drivers, look for costumes that reflect the light or have your child carry glowsticks or flashlights when trick or treating.

Check the treats

Sadly, you will want to wait to get home to eat any of the treats because you will want to inspect them first. Discard any treats that are unwrapped or whose wrappers have been damaged. Look carefully for anything out of the ordinary. Avoid any homemade treats unless you personally know the person that made them – and then be careful if your child has any allergies.

Be a watchdog

While Halloween is known for costumes and candy, in more recent years it has also started attracting a crowd with more malicious intents. While some may limit their mischief to covering trees in toilet paper or smashing pumpkins, others can do even more vandalism and damage. And with so many children running around, many being only loosely supervised, there are plenty of opportunities for child predators to take advantage of the situation. Keep an eye out on the neighborhood, and report any suspicious activities to police.

If you plan for Halloween and set up some ground rules, you can help ensure that everyone has a wonderful holiday. That way, Halloween can continue to be enjoyed by children everywhere.

“Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue.”
– Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow (1999)–

Abraham Lincoln

e would like to think all of our presidents of the United States were truly great men and to be sure, just handling the awesome responsibility of the presidency takes a special kind of individual. One of the unique and great things about the system of government in America is the concept of citizen leadership. This is the idea of an ordinary citizen rising up and becoming president for a while and then returning to private life.

But of the handful of men who have held that office, a few have stood out for their great achievements and leadership in a time that changed the country for ever. And one of these truly great presidents was Abraham Lincoln. Probably more than any other president, Lincoln had to handle an internal civil war that was far more than shouting and name calling. This was a dispute that could have torn the country in half and starting a rupturing that could have resulted in dozens of small weak independent states instead of the powerful nation we know as America today.

It was Lincoln’s leadership, his commitment to values and his strong moral fiber that made it possible for America to find its way through that war and then to begin the healing process that would eventually lead the nation back to unity once again. Lincoln’s term of service from 1860 until his death was one of considerable challenge. If he only had the problem of dealing with the attempt by the south to succeed from the union and his ability to keep those states as part of the American national territory, he would be lauded as a great American indeed.

One of the little known leadership styles that Lincoln used to his advantage in the organization of his presidency was his appointment of talented national figures from opposing political parties to be part of his cabinet. Lincoln felt that he needed to have close advisors from the opposing viewpoint to keep from having his presidency become insulated from the American people and one sided. By gathering members of the “loyal opposition” into his trusted inner circle, Lincoln was always aware of both sides of every issue which made him a stronger leader.

But that is not even his greatest accomplishment or the one that we remember him for the most. His bold and unchanging opposition to slavery is without any doubt his greatest contribution to the history of America and indeed to world history as well. When he was willing to put everything on the line to stop this barbaric social sin, Lincoln made a stand, against the popular opinion of the time in many cases that he would be the figure to bring slavery to an end.

It was not a stand that came without cost. The civil war was one of the bloodiest and costliest in the nation’s history if for no other reason than all casualties; on both sides were casualties of America. It would take many decades for the ravages of that horrible war to be repaired. The schism between north and south continued for decades and is still a part of our national personality in this country.

But the end result was what Lincoln wanted to be his legacy. By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation to make the end of slavery permanent, Lincoln followed that up with the passing of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments which made permanent the freedoms that were hard fought and won in the Civil War.

The freedom that was won for so many black Americans in that war permanently enshrined the memory of Abraham Lincoln as one of our greatest presidents in the hearts and minds of all Americans. Small wonder the monument honoring him on Washington’s national mall is one of the most revered spots in the nation and one that thousands flock to each year to give respect for this great president that made liberty and freedom a reality for all Americans, not just a few. And his face on Mount Rushmore is well deserved so the very mountain itself shouts out, this is one of the greatest leaders in the history of this great country.

Holidays | Entertainment

Veterans day

Veterans Day is a Public Holiday in the United States of America, and commemorates all those American military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces since the country came into being.

November 11th of every year is designated as Veterans Day, but must not be confused with Memorial Day which is also a Public Holiday to commemorate all those US military men and women who laid down their lives in the service of their nation.

On the first anniversary of the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a statement which outlined the sacrifices that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces made to get Germany to agree to an Armistice, and thereafter the United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4th 1926 for the President of the United States of America to issue an annual proclamation calling for the observance of November 11th to honor all American veterans who had served the country.

The date selected has special significance as it was at the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when all hostilities in World War I ended and when the Armistice with the state of Germany went into effect. Like most other countries that fought that war with Germany, the United States of America also observed Armistice Day but in 1954 it was renamed Veterans Day.

May 13th 1938 saw another US Congress Act being passed which proclaimed that November 11th be declared a public holiday to enable the citizens to honor those who had served in the United States Armed Forces and dedicated to world peace. Then in 1945 an American veteran of World War II, Raymond Weeks from Birmingham, Alabama thought it fit to extend Armistice Day to all United States Armed Forces veterans and not to just only those who laid down their lives in World War I.

Raymond Weeks was a very persevering personality and he led a delegation of World War II veterans and met with General Dwight Eisenhower who apparently was moved by the idea and thought it was worthwhile to have one National Veterans Day to honor all those veterans who had served in the United States Armed Forces.

Weeks led the first of such celebrations in 1947 at Alabama and annually thereafter, until his passing away in 1985. And his crowning moment of glory was when President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Presidential Citizenship Medal at the White House in 1982 for being the driving force behind this very honorable national endeavor. President Reagan who read from a speech prepared by Elizabeth Dole at the presentation ceremony declared that Raymond Weeks was the “Father of Veterans Day”.

Subsequently in keeping with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the Fourth Monday of October in 1971 but after 1977 it was moved back to its original day of November 11th in 1978 and remains so till today.

Your acts of bravery, selflessness, and unconditional love for this nation will always be remembered. Today, we salute our veterans and thank them for their dedication and patriotism!
Happy Veterans Day!

Labor Day

It’s The End Of Summer, So Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?
Many of us have probably wondered throughout the years why we celebrate Labor Day, though we have not made any concentrated effort to find out. It is a tradition that we accept with no questions asked. Some may not even be aware that Labor Day is more than just the end of summer activities.

Labor unions were the first to celebrate the beginning of the Labor Day tradition in the US. A union leader by the name of Peter McGuire originated the idea of setting aside a day for workers to gather in unity. On September 5, 1882, the inaugural Labor Day parade with all its finery was held in New York City, and a decision was made by the labor unions to designate a date between Independence Day and the Thanksgiving holiday. The first Monday in September was chosen for future celebrations.

As the idea circulated in the United States, some states declared this day a holiday even before the first Monday in September was designated a national holiday.

President Grover Cleveland signed the bill to honor Labor Day. The date was chosen to be that of the first Monday in the month of September. What makes this memorable is that Cleveland was not a support of the unions. In fact, at the time he signed the bill, he was attempting to repair some damage to his political career that he had previously suffered when he sent troops to stop a strike that was sponsored by the Railway Workers Union that caused 34 workers to lose their lives.

In Europe, China, and other countries in the rest of the world, it is May Day, the first day of May, that they hold celebrations similar to the North American celebration for Labor Day.

In the 1950’s approximately 40 percent of workers belonged to labor unions in the United States. Currently that figure is approximately 14 percent. As a result, Labor Day is celebrated more as the unofficial way to end the summer than as a labor union holiday. Just about all schools as well as businesses (including the US Government) close on Labor Day to allow people to have one more barbecue before it begins to turn cold. It used to be symbolic, also, as the beginning of a new school year, but with many schools returning the middle or end of August, the day has lost its significance in that respect, though it is still a closed holiday for schools.

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“No man needs sympathy because he has to work, because he has a burden to carry. Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
~Theodore Roosevelt~

Easter

The Essential Message of Easter.-
Regardless of whether you are an Episcopalian, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist or “Christian” of some stripe, the festival of Easter is the highlight of our year. With its themes of His triumph over death and His resurrection, we prepare ourselves for the Ascension of our Lord.

It is important to remember that Salvation is not just a historical event that took place in the distant past to other people in other places. The same spiritual energies that were available during the Resurrection are available to us in the here and now. Easter is truly an opportunity for re-birth for those who grasp on to it.

The Easter season is looked upon with great anticipation by people who are interested in their own spiritual growth and well being. The rituals we observe allow us time for reflection, prayer and penitence, which can lead to our own rebirth.

The early Christians no longer focused on the exodus from Egyptian Bondage, but on a new kind of exodus from the bondage of sin to the new life of our Risen Lord.

Sometimes during the weeks preceding Easter we have a feeling of discomfort, of sadness. We walk around moping, not quite understanding why. This is because in a way, we are in mourning. We are mourning the loss of a part of our essential selves, even though our sinfulness is something we need to eradicate, we still mourn its loss. Why? Because the behavior patterns of sin are known to us, we feel oddly comforted by the familiarity of them.

Sinfulness lies deep within a person; it is an attitude, a willingness to turn ones face away from the Creator. Often times we are not even conscious of this shift away from God. It is only after one comes to the realization that he has turned his face away and separated himself, can he hope for perfect reunification. But how do we move from our deeply flawed state of sin to one of reconciliation? The followers of Christ have been furnished with the cure. Once and for all, Jesus has paid the price for us to redeem ourselves. Through the saving action of Christ, each of us has been reconciled to God.

The spiritual energy of the Easter Season affords us a unique opportunity to grasp hold of our own redemption. We need to remember that life is a series of stops and starts, of spiritual advancement and spiritual retreat. We have “spiritual growth spurts” throughout our lives until the day we die. I hope that this Easter you will take the opportunity to explore the reason for the season in your own life.

About the author.-
Copyright 2005. Sharon Serot , CEO Terra Sancta Guild. Find a wide selection of Christian and Inspirational gifts for any occasion. http://www.terrasanctaguild.com.

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.
~Robert Flatt~

Earth day

Every 22nd of April all of us celebrate Earth Day; a day focused on cultivating understanding as well as appreciation for the planet, regarding nature. As it was back in the 70s after the movement started, same goes with it today, the campaign to memorialize, safeguard, and also keep the earth is more crucial. In the world today, the hue and cry for the Earth is even much more important.

From the exploitation of rainforests, air pollution, acid rain, water toxic contamination, overpopulation, and also the continuously diminishing supply of fossil fuels that our entire world by now operates on, lots of people are going for a long close look on the future as well as the things they can do in the present.

Staying conscientious about our use may be the starting point. Whether it’s water, a bar of soap, the meals we cook, and even the energy we all use to operate our households each and every day. Keeping away from wastage of any sort, maximizing the use of our sources, and becoming clever concerning our options for our homes is just where it commences. Here is where we’re able to make the most impact on minimizing our carbon presence and being able to help maintain a ecological existence.

As a result, to make smart choices for our households possesses a much larger effect that individuals would ever guess. Choosing to go with energy-saving lamps; tankless water heaters, low-flow furnishings such as aerated faucets, shower heads, and also toilets; energy-efficient windows; and house appliances that will use less without affecting their effectivity, from dish washers to our dryer and washer combinations. Altogether, these regular attributes in a home can certainly considerably decrease our usage of water, gas, and electrical power amongst other things.

Have the gas tankless water heater for instance. Lowering our usage of propane is evident with this appliance. By reduction of the power wastage from having the water temperature in a standard storage-tank type water heater 24 hours a day whether or not unnecessary, certainly is the most simple, most elegant choice. It is but just one way of having the ability to exercise going eco-friendly beyond Earth Day from a achievable way.

A lot of these heaters can certainly considerably impact your power usage. Discounts on natural gas consumption for the water heaters can easily more than compensate for the better rate of the products. That is a slow way to regain your money yet it’s a good and also environment-friendly method of carrying it out.

Such water heaters have been shown as providing great power savings and unlimited hot water. They may be efficient as there is not any energy used in maintaining a tank full of water hot. The only time any electricity is utilized , is the moment hot water is simply used.

Using small yet still wise techniques and also systems into our day-to-day lifestyles can certainly create significant difference. Slight adjustments in the way we all live our lives and look into our utilization of the planet’s resources is normally our obligation as human beings and as citizens of the world.

Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favorable comparison with the products of Nature, the living cell of a plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life.
– Thomas Alva Edison

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Valentines day

The origins of the Valentine’s Day go back to the times of Roman Empire. People who lived in that time believed that February 14th is the day to honor Juno, who is the Queen of Roman Gods. Juno is also considered as the Goddess of marriage and women. During that time, the lives of girls and boys were flowing in two separate tracks. The only time they received the chance to get together was on 15th of February. On this day, the names of girls were written in paper slips and kept inside jars. Then every boy was asked to pick one slip out of them. This symbolizes their togetherness.

By the time when Claudius II started ruling Rome, it was identified that most of the young men prefer to stay with women and they don’t take the decision to join the army as a result of it. As a result, he ordered to cancel all the engagements and marriages, which were taking place in all parts of the country. At this moment, Saint Valentines, who was a priest in Rome helped Christian martyrs to marry in secret. However, this act was revealed and Saint Valentine was beaten to death. The ban was lifted back in 270 and people got the opportunity to get together with their partners again. In order to honor the sacrifice done by Saint Valentine, 14th of February was named as the Valentine’s Day.

The concept of Valentine’s Day became extremely popular among people who lived in every corner of the world. Most of the people think that the Valentine’s Day is a day that is dedicated for couples. However, people who aren’t in romance can also think about celebrating this special day. In other words, singles don’t need to spend this special day on their own. The Valentine’s Day can be spent in the company of good friends.

Whether you make the decision to celebrate the Valentine’s Day with your lover or your friends, you are provided with plenty of activities to take part in and enjoy. For example, the couples can think about going to a movie and enjoying a romantic candlelight dinner. On the other hand, singles can think about getting into their best casual outfits and going out to spend the day with friends. They can play bowling or any other similar sport.

On Valentine’s Day, a large number of gifts are also being exchanged among people. Most of them tend to give roses to their loved partners. However, there are individuals who prefer to give other sorts of gifts, such as chocolates, t-shirts, and ornaments on this special day. Therefore, Valentine’s Day can be considered as one of the best day of the year to share love and happiness.

“Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
– Robert Heinlein, Author

Christmas

Everyone loves the holiday season. It is a chance to spend time with family and friends and have a break from the everyday routine. The Christmas holiday is a time for decorating the house and filling it with smells of mince pies. Young children get excited at the thought of all those presents waiting to be opened under the Christmas tree. Preparations can be hard work for those in charge but it is all worthwhile.

Planning in advance is the key to a successful and stress free Christmas holiday. Shopping for gifts at the last minute is a sure fire way to raise the blood pressure! Many people shop by mail order or on the Internet in order to beat the crowds. The only last minute shopping that needs to be done is perishable food items. Christmas dinner can also be prepared in advance to a degree with the aid of the freezer. The cook should leave other family members to do the dish washing afterwards!

Most people like the traditional way of doing things and that includes decorating the tree on Christmas Eve. Some people also like to attend church on Christmas Eve and the carol service can be a moving experience, setting the mood for the Christmas holiday. Christmas dinner is usually turkey with all the trimmings. Turkey can be dry, so it’s a good idea to have a stuffing with apples and sage and plenty cranberry jelly. Roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, sprouts, bread sauce and thick gravy are the perfect accompaniments followed by Christmas Pudding and brandy butter sauce. For those preferring something less rich, cheese and crackers is ideal.

Deciding what to buy children can be difficult. There is so much choice but many parents are on a budget. Young children will often spend more time playing with the gift wrapping than the actual present! The little gifts put into the Christmas stockings are sometimes, the most appreciated. Whatever the present, the thought of Father Christmas coming down the chimney is the highlight of the Christmas holiday.

It’s tempting to overindulge in food and drink during the festive season. Membership of fitness gyms tends to go up during the month of January with everyone desperately trying to lose the pounds they gained over the Christmas holiday. Drinking too much is more of a serious problem, especially at the office party. No one wants to start the holiday with a hangover!

Although the commercialization of Christmas is often decried, shopping is an important and central activity to some of the intangible magic of Christmas. It is at the malls or downtown stores that some of the favorite sights, sounds and scents of Christmas can be experienced. The decorations at Malls and retail establishments are usually very fanciful and eye-catching, especially to children, with the many colorful and twinkling lights. It’s also a wonder for both adults and children alike to look at the numerous tinsels, baubles and figurines such as fairies, angels and little babies that adorn the main Christmas tree in the center of shopping malls and others in department stores. These trees are usually extremely well embellished with decorations that are arranged in a very professional way that most shoppers can’t replicate in their own homes. It’s therefore a delight for them to stare at such trees in wonder and amazement.

Along with the wide variety of decorations in retail establishments, there also is the sound of music playing, bells ringing, the laughter and wishes of Merry Christmas from shoppers that also create a special atmosphere and add to the magic of Christmas. Even the sound of cash registers in the background adds something to the special feeling shoppers have at Christmas time.

And of course there’s always a Santa Claus that children can meet and tell what they want for Christmas, and also have their picture taken. Sometimes Santa Claus may distribute Christmas gifts to children, telling them that because they have been very, very good they are getting an extra special early Christmas present.

The ability to delight children by telling them stories about Santa Claus, as well as making them see and talk to the jolly old fellow, puts a lot of magic and excitement into Christmas. Once the tradition is started, or from the first time that children have been told the story, it becomes something that they look forward to every year during the Christmas season.

There’s also the sound of music from choirs or school groups who often give open performances singing Christmas carols and songs in malls and downtown areas of towns. Families and others who are out and about will pause to listen or to sing along with these groups. Shopping is undoubtedly an enjoyable activity for most people during Christmas, but merrier and more memorable times are enjoyed when time is spent with family, friends and colleagues during the season. Before Christmas Day arrives, there usually are parties at home and at work, an evening out with friends and other occasions to get together and share the spirit of Christmas. The presence of special Christmas music and people dressed in holiday attire provide a different atmosphere and contribute to the magical feeling of the season.

Another thing that is different at Christmas is the scent from a fresh Christmas tree, of gingerbread and other cookies baking and other food preparations that are specially done at Christmas time. Most people who select a real Christmas tree instead of an artificial one for their homes do so because of the wonderful scent it provides. For many people, that scent from a Christmas tree is what puts Christmas into everything else.

Another popular scent at Christmas comes from the popular Christmas song ‘Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire.’ The actual roasting of chestnuts by families during the Christmas season may be a rare occurrence these days but it is occasionally done in some downtown areas and in bakeries and confectioneries that make fresh products everyday.

All these events, activities, happenings, sights, sounds and scents of Christmas and the holidays create special and unforgettable memories. And who can deny that a pleasant memory is always something that is truly magical.

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”
Roy L. Smith

Columbus day

Legacy of Columbus

If you thought back to the first things you ever learned about the history of America, the one that jumps out is that Columbus sailed the ocean blue and discovered America is 1492. While the date is correct, we later learned when our study of history became more scholarly that there is some dispute about whether Columbus discovered America at all. So what is the real legacy that this legend of Columbus has given to the American culture that has made him such a revered figure in cultural history?

So much of the Columbus story is approximate that, at first review, we would almost relegate the story of how Columbus discovered America to the level of a myth that borders on superhero worship. But Columbus was not a myth. There really was an explorer named Columbus who carried out three bold journeys across the ocean and during those journeys, he did indeed discover “the new world.” His ships really were named the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria and he did indeed embark one of those three voyages in 1492.

The legacy of Columbus then is more than just the facts of his exploratory journeys and their outcome. There is reason to believe that Columbus’s fabled “discovery of America” did not occur on North American soil but somewhat further south of here, somewhere in the Bahamas. But the legacy of Columbus lies in his spirit and the challenge he took on that is part of the American spirit and one we identify with so strongly.

Part of the legend was that Columbus embarked on this trip for the new world despite the prevailing “scientific” belief that the world was flat. Now research in recent times have surfaced sufficient documentation to show that sailors of that time never did believe that teaching. Their extensive knowledge of navigation and astronomy, which is crucial for any successful sea voyage, was sufficient for sailors to know that the earth was round and that they would never “fall off the edge.” However, the image of those brave men launching out to sea, against the advice of popular opinion, to find something new and exciting so connects with the American spirit of discovery and adventure that this myth persists as part of the legacy of Columbus.

Americans do have a tremendous sense of discovery and adventure and a deeply seated need to conquer new lands, to reach out beyond their own grasp and to do the impossible. This was the spirit of Manifest Destiny which gripped the nation long before there was any reason to believe that this meager band of colonists had the resources to settle a great nation. Americans always have had such a firm belief in themselves and a core faith that they could do the impossible. That part of the American spirit is what connects to Columbus’s setting out on these bold missions facing certain dangers so he too could discover new lands and have great adventures.

The legacy of Columbus also lies in the American desire to explore. Even though the source of the quotation is only a science fiction show, the “mission” of the fictional space ship “The Enterprise” sums up a deep desire in the heart of all Americans.

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her five year mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before.

For Americans, the mission of James Kirk is a perfect restatement of the mission of Christopher Columbus. And it is the mission of America which has driven this country and its citizens to discoveries and achievements that have never been done before. It is that spirit of Columbus in all Americans that is one of the things that have made this country great.

“Be a Columbus, smell the fragrance of the new lands and discover them!”
― Amit Ray, Peace Bliss Beauty and Truth: Living with Positivity

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