Life’s Like That - October 18, 2009 » Columns » San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Columns

October 17, 2009

Life’s Like That - October 18, 2009

By Jerry Bullock The San Marcos Record Sat Oct 17, 2009, 01:57 PM CDT

Columbus Day ... Oh for the simpler times when we learned that "In fourteen hundred ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue," and we were proud of it. I remember him as the intrepid visionary sailor who believed the world was round when conventional wisdom said it was flat and who had enough faith in his belief to get aboard a ship and sail away.

Now we find that he brought evil and pestilence to this new world and should be roundly condemned for his efforts. He should have just stayed home. Another hero destroyed by the modern revisionist historian bent on making the world of the 15th century comply with the political correctness of the 21st century.

Well, I'm sorry but I for one am glad he came. Our forefathers may have made some mistakes and might does not make right but I am glad they expanded their world and ours.

I am glad that Christopher proved that the world was round. I know the ancients knew that long before Christopher and that the truth was hidden by the obstinence of the church in Western Europe. I know that Leif Eriksson probably sailed along the eastern coast of America long before Columbus and that ages before him people crossed the Bering Strait and moved across the continent. None of that takes away from the daring of Columbus and his gallant crew.

There are people today who still believe the earth is flat. Some who believe the moon landings were nothing more than an Orson Wellesian dramatic presentation made into a TV miniseries. I am glad that there are those who are willing to go "where no man has gone before," men and women who circumnavigate the globe in space shuttles, balloons, airplanes and under the seas. They are all living examples of the inquisitive spirit that set Columbus on his trek across the Atlantic.

How dull the world would be if there were no spirit of inquisitive unrest that drives people to new frontiers. How sad it would be if that spirit were to die for fear of the unfortunate outcomes that may attend the adventure. How fickle we are in our condemnation when accidents and failures occur. All high adventure is fraught with danger. No great thing can be accomplished unless there are men and women willing to risk their all.

I for one will hail Columbus as I did in a more innocent age when I was a child and the world still counted old Christopher a hero. He will always be a hero to me and I am glad he came. I am glad that he set the stage for many new nations and from those nations has come far more good than ill.

We give him one holiday each year. It has become a time of sales and shopping so when you think of old Chris have good thoughts about a great man who, if nothing else, meant well.

Jerry Bullock has written his weekly column for the Daily Record for more than 20 years. Jerry is a retired Air Force colonel, an ordained Baptist minister, professional counselor, military historian, speaker, and writer. He is a native Texan tracing his Texas roots to the days of the Republic.

Text Only

Columns

A Word About Recycling - Jan. 22, 2012
Not-so-good news. Some of you may have seen an article on this, but we did not.

January 22, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 22, 2012
January 22, 2012
A Word About Recycling - Jan. 15, 2012
A few items, concerning other countries, contained in a recent Resource Recycling eNewsletter we found interesting.

January 15, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 15, 2012
What will Heaven be like? This age-old question has been answered in many ways. Heaven has been made the butt of thousands of jokes. These usually begin with three people approaching those pearly gates and having a conversation with Peter, the apostle and holder of the keys to the blessed land.

January 15, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 8, 2012
A whole week has passed since the New Year began. Hold up your hand if you have already broken one or more of your resolutions. Okay. you can put your hands down now.

January 8, 2012
A Word About Recycling - Jan. 8, 2012
As we go forth in this new year, here's a couple of items from Resource Recycling pertaining to Texas towns...

January 8, 2012
Life's Like That - Jan. 1, 2012
As I began thinking about today’s essay I sensed a presence of the ghost of New Years past. I’m at the age of “if I make it ‘til …” So, if I make it ‘til Sunday I will have been around for 80 changes of the calendar.

January 1, 2012
Life's Like That - Dec. 25, 2011
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Geseende kersfees, Gezur Krislinjin, Bon Nadali un Bon Any Nou, Joyeux Noel these words ring out all around the world today …

December 25, 2011
A Word About Recycling - Dec. 18, 2011
With Christmas coming soon, one of the pictures we have in our minds of Santa is the one which Coca-Cola had early on in their ads. Thus this item in the Resource Recycling eNewsletter caught our eye,

December 18, 2011
Life's Like That - Dec. 18, 2011
Christmas time is a good time to give thought to the veteran next door, or he or she may be living in your house.

December 18, 2011
More Columns Headlines

Columns

Search Results

Life’s Like That - October 18, 2009

Site Map

Contact Us