True
True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and good will. — Eleanor Roosevelt Here’s a fascinating fact: Homo sapiens are too new a species and lack enough genetic diversity to have races. Science has proven: There is not one gene, trait, or characteristic that distinguishes all members of one race from all members of another. We can map any number of traits and none would match our idea of race. This is because modern humans haven’t been around long enough to evolve into different subspecies and we’ve always moved, mated, and mixed our genes. Beneath the skin, we are one of the most genetically similar of all species. Research also shows: Penguins, for example, have twice as much genetic diversity as humans. Fruit flies have 10 times as much. Even our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, has been around at least several million years. There’s more genetic diversity within a group of chimps on a single hillside in Gomba than in the entire human species. Somewhere along the line, in primitive times, the notion of ‘race’ arose. In less educated days, some decided certain tribes, genders, religions, etc. were superior, and everyone else was not only inferior, but should be subjugated. Those archaic attitudes are great ways to offend folks while causing tension, animosities and various forms of hell on Earth. Of our country, the ‘Leader of the Free World,’ Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A number of people still think of the United States as being overwhelmingly English, Protestant, and white. This erroneous idea influences their whole outlook.” As begun in California, such misleading ideas can be fixed. One by one, individual by family by community, by town and commonwealth, we can MEGA [Make Everyone Great Always] instead of MAGA, opening space for the real Maga [Latin and Sanskrit for magic] as achieved by two Olympians in this post’s video [see below]. BTW, as elections approach, I like another lady, Gracie Allen’s recommendation: We favor putting Congress on a commission basis. Pay them for results. If they do a good job and the country prospers, they get 10% of the extra take. If you’d like to Zoom Chat about this post, Let me know. A marvelous story of these two Olympians’ determination to win the top prize. An uplifting, joyful, yup, inspiring conclusion. Click on image to view how Qatar’s Barshim and Italy’s Timberi achieve resolution, or watch here [05:11]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjSCT97GSsA Here, Barshim and Timberi explain their choice for “humanity, solidarity, unity..” [3:11]: View. ***** Special Dates ***** Monday, October 11: Indigenous Peoples Day As some prepare to celebrate Columbus Day on October 11, we’ve got to get real about who really found the continents he thought were India [later named for the Italian mapmaker Amerigo Vespucci]. After all, people had been walking here from Asia, across the Bering Land Bridge [where they lived and farmed and hunted] for over fifteen thousand years. This explains why Columbus met what he called Indians settled here when he arrived. According to Ivan van Sertima’s They Came Before Columbus, centuries before the slave trade, Africans sailed to and influenced Meso-American cultures. Further, Lief Erikson’s Vikings reached Greenland [part of North American continent] five centuries before Columbus. Scandinavians then continued west and settled along the Canadian coast. Read more. Ah well, would be nice to know what the people who really discovered these lands called them. And Columbus Day can be a time to discover Italian culture, history and cuisine [yum]. Map Sources: Pansepol.it & Quizziz.com Celebrate! Tuesday, October 12: National Farmer’s Day and National Savings Day . Visit a pumpkin patch and pick your Jack O’Lantern then add to your savings account. Wednesday, October 13: National M&M Day Did you know 340 million M&Ms are produced daily and the first blue M&M’s appeared in 1995? Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. This post’s featured image is also presented without text in the SkyScapes collection. Shop Here
Peace
We will have to want peace, want it enough to pay for it, before it becomes an accepted rule. Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt’s words really resonate on this anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, one of so many in human history. Think of Pearl Harbor. Think of Germany’s Gypsy, Homosexual, Jewish Holocaust. Think of the decimation of this hemisphere’s first people. A 100,000 year war waged by our species now leaves us without another. See How Neanderthals and Humans Battled. Also see The Neanderthals War. While wars between humans have been brief by comparison, the longest include: The 781-year-long Christian invasion of the Iberian Peninsula The 681-year-long Greco-Roman vs. Persian [Iran] battles The 675-year-long Byzantine-Bulgarian wars in the Balkans The 602 years, five months, one week and four days of the Christian Crusades Here’s More Whew! Mrs. Roosevelt believed, ”The basis of world peace is the teaching which runs through almost all the great religions of the world. Love thy neighbor as thyself.” And some have also, historically advocated the conquest and killing of those viewed as different. Eleanor Roosevelt asked, “When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?” Personal peace is a start. What if more and more: Resisted guilt. Didn’t compare themselves to others. Challenged their ‘musts’ and converted ‘shoulds’ to ‘coulds.’ Took breaks from the hustle-bustle and visited tranquil places. See More Ways to Find Peace of Mind and Inner Calm. Predator-Prey is Earth’s MO [Modus Operandi, Method of Operating]. All animals and some plants kill other living things to live. That said, here’s a thought [illustrated in part by playing the original Super Mario]: What if Earth’s kill-or-be-killed conditions are a kind of test, a puzzle? What if a blissful after life is the reward for figuring out how to create on Earth all that’s promised in heaven, Eden, Paradise? What if Earth is, as some suggest, Purgatory where failure-flunking requires a re-do? Here’s another question: What price would you pay for more peace? Succeed and Soar! Remember September 11 is also “Make Your Bed Day” September 12 is Grandparents Day September 15 is International Day of Democracy September 17 is National Constitution Day Image by pikepicture Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here