Opinion

World You Asked For!” Suddenly, with the “canal to the world” built and various sectors of the American economy and government eager to venture out into “the rest of the world”, who could have anticipated what all that might entail? Likewise, bearing in mind that the American citizenry was made up by individuals and descendants who came here from all over the “outer” world, is it surprising that the United States might encounter resistance to an international venture that met resistance at home, as well as abroad? Get ready world, here we come! As complex as the American citizenry was in the first 15 years the 20th Century, it was more than matched by the complex network of alliances and disparate segments of hatred that marked Europe at that time. It took one event to burst the bubble and send those segments in all directions.

“What was happening at home, while you were in Panama?” While Congress and the Army Corps of Engineers workforce were tied down in Panama, big things were happening back home. From the formation of workers’ unions, and eventual at-traction of some of them to the Soviet Union, to the founding of the NAACP to the 16th Amendment and the tax on personal income, there were developments back home that were equally negative and positive as the “dig” through the isthmus.

Proverbs 18:15 “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Education is defined as “the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.” Another definition I really like is “an enlightening experience.” With a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education and two years of graduate school ( one year in Industrial Education and a second in Education), I stand amazed at how ignorant I am. The more I learn, the more I hunger.

On the quest to raising good humans, I realize that most people tend to use the holidays as a teachable time for kids. We encourage the need to do good for others who might have less than we do as we donate food, toys, money and help in our communities and beyond. We do this on overdrive in November and December because these months are within the “season of giving.” And while I wish this was more of a year-round notion; I still jump on board with my own three kids to embrace the season as a time to do for others with no expectation of gain. Many of the best ways to help others costs nothing at all, aside from some time and effort.

‘“Go West Young Man” Becomes “Go Any Direction You Want”’ As noted in our discussion of the impact of Turner’s theme of “closing the frontier”, Americans’ visions of the future went off in all directions. Following the termination of the war with Spain, those wandering eyes began to be focused on a specific dream and an intriguing new project: “what if we could find a way to travel by water, not land, from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea”? While the broader American population was still reeling from the excitement of the Wright Brothers’ launching of their first plane (December 17, 1903), those in the business world and Congress were drawing their excitement from conversations of the possibility of developing this new world power, the United States of America, with a means of extending its financial and technological power around the globe.

Colossians 3:15-17 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”