Monday; October 12

If there has been a guy that has taken a beating during my lifetime it is Christopher Columbus.  When I was a child, not only did we have a day that honored his accomplishments, he also helped a lot of us pass history.  How many of you marked western history by rhyming, “In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue”.  However, in the past couple of decades, not only has Columbus lost his reputation, in many places, he has lost his day.

Now, I am not going to get into a spat with anyone about what Columbus stood for, but I have to admit that much of his modern impression is based on what others (especially those who are quite vocal) think about him.  A “hero” has lost his place in society and in many of our minds because of what others believe.  As I thought about this, it reminds me that Columbus is not the only one whose reputation has been diminished by the opinions of others.  How many of us think less of our friends and neighbors – not because of what we know or observe – but because of what other people say about them?  I am not saying that we should admire Columbus or respect the people in our community, but let’s make sure our opinions are shaped by our knowledge – not beliefs and innuendo shared by others.  Let’s be aware of our values and make assessments based on our assessments.

Think About It!

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