Friday; September 4

On this date in 1922 the Finish runner, Paavo Nurmi, set a world record in the 2000 meters (1.2 miles) with a time of 5 minutes 26.4 seconds. This time knocked about four seconds off the mark that had been set four years before it and was an exceptional time for 1922. Yet, if we take a look at the modern record books, we realize it is a glacial pace compared to Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1999 time of 4 minutes 44.79 seconds. In retrospect, maybe Nurmi wasn’t all that good. Folks, that last comment was said with tongue-in-cheek because Paavo Nurmi was that good! The “Flying Finn” won nine gold and three silver medals over three Olympics Games in the 1920s. He is also credited with setting almost two dozen officially sanctioned world records and another dozen or so unofficial records. Yes, he truly was a world class athlete for his day. No, his times may not compare to what are being posted today, but he made the most of the talent he had using the techniques and equipment at his disposal.
The reason I bring up some early 20th Century athlete is to remind us that we should be careful judging our ancestors’ accomplishments and beliefs based on modern standards. Just as we would expect modern athletes to be more advanced than those from centuries ago, we should probably assume that modern society should be more advanced (and civilized) than our forefathers. To judge their lives based on our knowledge doesn’t do us or them any good. No, I am not trying to justify or defend what our forefathers believed, but neither will I criticize them for not knowing what we know today. Could they have done better – absolutely – but belittling their accomplishments (or the lack thereof) doesn’t make us better. Let’s build on their advances and learn from their mistakes so that we can become the best that we can be today!
Think About It!

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