Reconciling Faith and Science

Einstein with Georges Lemaître 

 

In a science classroom in Detroit, 1964, I listened to the teacher explain about the Big Bang Theory of how the universe came into existence. As a person of reason and intellect, I was intrigued of this scientific idea.

At the same time, age nine, I was taking seriously the Bible and particularly the Book of Genesis in which the first couple of chapters describe the creation of all things.

Being a person of intellect and religious conviction, I found no conflict between the science and the religion.

I sat in that classroom as the teacher continued to explain and I thought to myself “So, that’s how God did it!”

I know, there are many people who will feel more comfortable choosing either the science or the Bible as their landing of belief. But I claimed both, eagerly and excitedly.

I saw the Genesis account as a larger, macro-level description of the fundamental aspects while the science provided the “nuts and bolts” of the cosmic operation.

To offer a somewhat inelegant metaphor, imagine looking on Mapquest for a particular address, in this particular case 1621 E 3rd St Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Our first big-picture view shows most of North America and some other areas.

But it does not show details such as individual State names and national roads.

A next level in provided state names along with a few city names and locations.

Those two map pictures situate us in the “Genesis, big picture view”. We will now move toward the science, micro-level view of things.

We see more detail. More city names and some roads begin to appear like a hard boiled egg cracked.

The next picture shows yet more detail, just as science would provide.

Well, now let’s jump to a closer view of things where we see very definable local streest and even some businesses in the area.

Through these map pictures we have traveled from the big picture, Genesis style overview to the scientific “nuts and bolts” street names and business locations to describe our identified address.

Just to further reconcile the religious and scientific approaches to creation, I offer the following information…

Georges Lemaître (born July 17, 1894, Belgium—died June 20, 1966) was a Belgian astronomer and cosmologist who formulated the modern big-bang theory, which holds that the universe began in a cataclysmic explosion of a small, primeval “super-atom.” (from Encyclopedia Britannica).

Mr. Lemaître was also a Catholic Priest.

The Big Bang Theory was not contrived by earth-bound misfits detached from spiritual influence; contrarily, it was postulated by a well-educated priest nurtured in God-focused faith.

Genesis provides the overall narrative.

Science reveals the specifics as to how God “knit it all together”.

The Faithful are Still in the Pews

 

image from Masterbundles.com

I have been reading the Bible diligently since I was nine years old, thanks to my grandmother, Nell Leach, my stepfather, George Eckenrode, and my pastor at the Alliance Baptist Church in Detroit with whom I argued much after each of his sermons.

My grandmother, Baptist, insisted I go to church.

My stepfather, Catholic, introduced me to Bible Commentaries which were available at the Monteith Public Library in Detroit.

My pastor, with whom I argued, seemed to have an emotionally manipulative approach to preaching while I was looking for a “reasoned out” approach in keeping with Apostle Paul’s approach found in Acts 18: 4 “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”

Over these last sixty-one years of paying attention to preachers, church attendance, faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus, and “Christian culture” in general, I have not seen a decline in authentic Christian belief.

          Contrarily, I have noticed those who had attended church from a sense of peer pressure, family expectation, or some other less than spiritual conviction, to finally release themselves from the burden and discontinue attendance.

   I have noticed a decline in attendance of salespeople seeking out prospects, politicians laundering their reputations, and lonely people looking for romantic dates.

Church was never intended by Jesus or the apostles to be a place of commerce, political campaigning, or romantic conquest.

Unfortunately, without all of those people of self-serving motivations, our congregations seem much smaller than they did in the nineteen sixties and nineteen seventies.

But I assert that the decline in attendance is much, much less a result of people losing faith and more the result of church no longer serving wealth and power seekers.

The faithful are still there; in the pews, serving the poor, feeding the hungry, and not even expecting a trophy for doing so.

Earth Day, April 22, 2026

 

Earth set from Artimis II
NASA image

Greetings inhabitants of Earth…

 Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day.

You can view my video here…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jasaw33Gh7o

Job 12:

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.

That is poetic language for sure. But it speaks a truth. Just as the native or original Americans believed, just as the following Native American Proverb teaches…

‘Treat the Earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.’

And also from the world of Confucius…

“If the foundations of living are strengthened and are economically used, then Nature cannot bring impoverishment. But if the foundations of living are neglected and used extravagantly, then Nature cannot make the country rich.” Xunzi, a student of Confucius.

Most, if not all ancient civilizations recognize the sacredness of nature.

On this Earth Day, may we also recognize the sacred aspect of nature, created by God, in some way. Even if it is merely taking a walk and enjoying the birds as they chirp.

Congress is the Principal Aspect of a Non-Monarchical Constitution

 

 

 

As I am an enthusiast of American history and founding documents, my wife is always diligent about discovery of items that relate to such interests.

Here I picture a coffee mug upon which is printed the first ten amendments to the Constitution, also known collectively as “The Bill of Rights”.

According to the National Archives the first ten amendments to the Constitution were ratified and became effective on December 15, 1791.

It is worth noting that the U.S. Constitution was originally ratified June 21, 1788.

More than three years earlier than the Bill of Rights.

I do not suggest that the Bill of Rights to be a mere afterthought.

But, given a recent sharing of a meme on Facebook indicating “The Constitution does not give you rights. It precludes the government from taking them from you.”

That is true but so seriously simplistic as to diminish the truer sense of the Constitution.

Faithful to the Declaration’s promise of a non-monarchical form of government, the Constitution provides for a means of government equitably distributed between legislative, executive, and judicial aspects.

While the Preamble describes the scope and purpose of the Constitution, its various Articles, sections, and clauses jointly construct a means by which the States, and therefore, people can engage with certain predictable circumstances.

The Constitution provides Congress with much legislative authority. I believe Congress to be the primary source of the will and consent of the governed while the Executive is an agent of Congress (see foot note in italics regarding Neil Gorsuch) to see to it that the laws are faithfully executed.

The Judiciary being the final authority, short of further amendment or legislation, when there is argument to resolve.

I fear that many voters and others are under the erroneous understanding that every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November that we elect a quadrennial monarch to govern, not according to consent of the governed, but according to whim of a faction of the governed that won the election.

I fear that Congress, the framer’s primary Constitutional provision, is thereby set aside as an incidental aspect to be kept in a closet along with the Constitution and brought out only for ceremonial occasions, such as The State of the Union.

I advocate for a return of primacy of Congress, an agency of the Executive, and a prudent expansion of the Judiciary to a sufficient number of Justices such that personality and celebrity of those Justices is well subordinated to published opinions. Perhaps majority and dissenting opinions remain anonymous.

 

Gorsuch quote…

Article I of the Constitution vests all federal legislative power in Congress, and Article II charges the executive branch with seeing that Congress’s laws are faithfully executed. In a very real sense, then, when it comes to legislative power, Congress is the principal and executive officials are the agents

Found on page 14 of the Gorsuch concurrence of the Supreme Court Opinion…

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_new_3135.pdf

1969, Detroit, Boblo Isalnd, and Miss Bombardier: A Micro Memoir

 

 

Twiggy

Miss Bombardier (pronounced Bomb-bar-dee-yaa), the girl recently from Quebec, and expected to return, sat next to me in seventh grade art class at Carsten’s Elementary school in Detroit, 1969.

That's me...1969

Both of us enviously mature at the age of thirteen. Well, at least she seemed so mature. Her natural height exceded mine and then she also wore heels, most usual, and also she was accompanied by peerless self-confidence and vocabulary that could intimidate a classical novelist.

I respectfully addressed her as Miss Bombardier taking care to not presume familiarity with which to even speak her first name, as it seemed a gentlemanly manner to observe. She donned hair style similar of the famed model Twiggy, though brunette rather than blond, and clothing style, also similar, yet more elegant than Twiggy’s, and yet more impressive was her intellectual capacity; all of this left me perplexed as to why she seemed so infatuated with me. But I was smart enough to not ask questions.

Boblo Island Boat

As we approached completion of seventh grade we discussed attending the class-trip to Boblo Island, an amusement park on the Ontario side of the Detroit River. It was our agreement that we would attend together, as an adventurous duo, me, originally from the State of Tennessee, and she, from Quebec. We both giggled when she described it as an international diplomacy summit, and then quickly caught our serious selves and regained our studious composures.

My grandmother, by whom I was raised, provided me with spending cash for our rides and other amusements and sufficient money with which an aspiring gentleman could entertain a date with an impressive meal and a proper tip.

It turned out that, like me, Miss Bombardier was not amused with rides and games of the popular amusement park, though we did appreciate the zoo. But what impelled her emotional interest was the dance pavilion.

We danced together many tunes played by a Dixie band, she, waving her arms and bouncing off the floor with enlivened grace, her bulbous earrings swaying pendulum-like with each landing and succeeding jump, smiling at me the whole time, her giggles interrupted only briefly to babble something in Quebec French, which I did not understand, nor did I ask questions regarding. If she was happy and entertained, I felt accomplished.

The dance pavilion

Later, after dinner, sitting on a bench awaiting the boat for the return home, Miss Bombardier, wearing t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, thrust her left leg over my right leg and, lifting my ever-present ink pen from my shirt pocket and wagging it back and forth before me, enthusiastically instructed me to “Draw a flower on my knee, Charles”. I immediately and with great care obliged with a daisy.

The ride back on the boat, evening to night, found us on the top deck looking at a navy-blue night sky bespeckled with stars and a cool breeze to evaporate the heat of the day. We listened to the lapping of waves against the hull of the boat while the bands played on a deck below us.

Miss Bombardier, full of smile and quite impulsively, kissed me affectionately on my right cheek and then whispered something in Quebec French, which I did not understand, except, of course, my name “Charles” which she spoke with such a fetching accent.

But I did not wish to ruin an ephemeral seventh-grade affectionate moment under such majestic conditions by asking questions.

I’m sure her memory of the event had evaporated as quickly as steam from the surface of coffee by the time she and her family had returned to Quebec.

But still, I wonder how long she allowed that flower to reside on her knee.

My Fatigue with Religious Leaders Enabling Civilian Leaders toward UnChristian Conduct

 

image from https://www.montroselutheranchurch.org/

Esther, of the Old Testament book “Esther”, was never a Christian…a Christ follower.

Heroic as was Esther (Hadassah being her “birth certificate” name) we continue to speak of her by her oppressor’s name given to her.

But my immediate point is heroic as she was, in her historical context, she never claimed to be a Christ follower. Of course, I acknowledge that she lived hundreds of years before Jesus and thus never had opportunity to hear his teachings.

But those of us who claim Jesus have much opportunity to know the teachings of Jesus.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide the attitudes, the teachings, and the sacrificial conduct of Jesus.

For sure the writings of the Old Testament are inspired by God and useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.

But when there is a conflict of moral discernment, those that profess Jesus should land with the Jesus teaching rather than try to find some Old Testament words that will provide faux justification for them to behave in ways undistinguishable from the world.

Moses said that there should be no work on the sabbath. He said that anyone who worked on the sabbath would die. And he lived up to that notion when a fellow caught picking firewood on the sabbath was put to death (Numbers 15:32-36).

Jesus did some of his best work on the sabbath, in the synagogue, healing people.

As a Christ follower, where do you choose to land?

Moses said to not eat gentile food. Jesus often had dinner with gentiles.

As a Christ follower, which teaching is to be followed.

Moses said to throw a stone at a woman caught in adultery. Jesus saved that woman.

As Christians, do we subscribe to Jesus’ teachings or a “pick and choose” selectivity of Scripture to excuse our self-centered goals and pursuits?

I continue to become increasingly fatigued of religious leaders who pick and choose words from the Bible to enable and excuse civilian leaders to behave in ways that are indistinguishable from those that they denounce.

A true revival of religion among Christians will be achieved when Christians actually open the gospels and read for themselves the attitudes, teachings and conduct of Jesus. And then seek to follow that model in all that we do.

Indiana Poll Worker Oath and Personal Integrity

 

May 5th is Primary Election Day in Indiana.

One of the very first items to which we, as poll workers, attend is the taking of the poll worker oath.

The very first and foremost item (of eleven) of the oath is the following:

“I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Indiana.”

I am hoping everyone who decides to be a poll worker will take their oath seriously.

A couple of interesting Constitutional provisions, one from the United States Constitution and one from the Indiana Constitution…

United States: Article VI Clause 3 last sentence…

“ but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

Which is notably similar to a provision within the Indiana State Constitution:
Article 1

Section 5. ”No religious test shall be required, as a qualification for any office of trust or profit.”

Section 4 is quite compelling also…

“ No preference shall be given, by law, to any creed, religious society, or mode of worship; and no person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support, any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent.” (History: As Amended November 6, 1984).

These provisions are explicit in language and without any conditions such as “provided that”, or “except in the case of”.

Just remember, if a poll worker, you will be taking an oath to support the Indiana State and United States Constitutions which contain those  provisions.

As we take the oath, we do not get to pick and choose which parts of those Constitutions we will support and those we will not support.

The oath applies to all, equally.

Personal integrity matters.

Good Fruit Speaks for Itself: Addressing Authentic Humility

 

Authentic humility, avoiding hubris, is to seek the will of God.

Words from Isaiah 58:3...    

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’

See, we even want attention for our humility!

Now, that is ego! That is the church equivalent of Mohamed Ali singing float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. That is John Lennon saying “We’re more popular that Jesus.”

The Isaiah words later continue…

“Is not this the kind of humility I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,

That is the humility that Jesus taught.

Not a self-serving, “hey look at how humble I am” fake humility.

But a Jesus-focused, attitude of serving others, authentic humility, that does not need to demand attention because it will be self- evident.

As Jesus taught…”each tree is recognized by its own fruit.” (Luke 6:44)

Let us grow good fruit that will speak for itself.

On the Delusion of "supply and demand"

 

For sure on a page in a textbook in a classroom of first semester Economics, a price will emerge where the supply and demand curves intersect. But I assert that, while that is the tendency, real life scenarios complicate that overly simplified mantra.

Last night while Sherry and I were having dinner at a local restaurant, positioned across from the toll road exit, we were two of ten customers in the establishment. The waitstaff approached with a menu. We considered options, checked the prices, and placed our order.

Shortly after our food arrived at our table we learned, from casual conversation with staff, that a bus of approximately fifty  people would soon arrive.

And they did so.

The bus pulled in from the toll road, the passengers unloaded and filled the chairs in the restaurant.

I was very happy for the restaurant and the staff who would have a great night of tips.

But and this relates to the “supply and demand” misconception…

Though demand had increased from ten customers to about sixty, the menu prices remained static, unchanged.

The doctrine of "supply and demand" finds a more accommodating home when applied to macroeconomic circustnaces on a curve unencumberd by microecominc asynchronistic activities.

The problem is that most of the economy, by far, happens in the local, microeconomic transaction arena.

It may seem like a minor blip in the generalization of supply and demand, but I assert that such contrarieties happen consistently throughout the economy such that the “supply and demand” economic mantra is less an economic law and more of a “perfect world” aspiration.

Generations of Iranians Will Not Forget

 

picture from britannica.com

Many people, especially descendants of navy folk stationed at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, will never release from their family stories that tragedy.

The assassination of John F. Kennedy, November 22, 1963, lives in the minds of baby boomers and other generations who still demand the unveiling “of what actually happened” though it may be just as the Warren Commission reported.

I still remember the Kent State shootings May 4, 1970. That circumstance holds the same personal trauma as the Kennedy assassination.

Of course, we still remember, and with “how dare they” personal insult, the September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda attacks.

The January 6^th, 2021, attack on the Seat of United States government, the Article I branch of government, the first and most well-described branch, will continue to be a “day of infamy” for myself and many others.

Our emotional fixations to these moments in history are recorded not only in textbooks but also in personal world-view constructs, affecting our perceptions and judgements not only about the people guilty of involvement in those evils, but, unfortunately, also the broader, innocent, populations that they may inadvertently represent.

I am convinced that many generations of Iranians will carry within their emotional selves the bombings currently taking place in their land. They will associate those bombings with many subsequent, though innocent, generations of Americans.

There may be a day when this war will be over for most of us in the United States. But I suspect that its effects will reverberate through many generations of Iranians, some of whom may be inspired to “regain their honor” when we least are prepared.

Paul and Linda Wed March 12, 1969 a Micro Memoir

 

It appears from the picture that, along with Heather, Martha (Paul’s sheepdog) attended the wedding as well.

Nostalgist that I am, and in an attempt to situate the reader nastalgically, I report from my memory…

On March 12, 1969, as I sat in the library at Carstens Elementary school in Detroit I listened to WXYZ radio station. The news item of the day was the wedding of Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman.

This came as a mild “Well, how about that!” kind of surprise.

Ah, the last of the Beatles to tie the knot, skip the broom, or otherwise cement their futures in marital adventure.

I provide a Youtube video of the day…

Take care that you don’t miss Linda cuddling the kitten.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3Ofne04C5s

And then later that same day I watched the Grammy Awards show during which Simon and Garfunkel won for Best Record of the Year.

You can view Art Garfunkel as he, alone, accepted the award for Record of Year “Mrs. Robinson”. His very brief speech recognized Paul Simon as his best friend and described him as “who wouldn’t wear a tuxedo today.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py_5NQ2Fvbg

And while I am at it, enjoy that award winning song here at this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1BCAgu2I8&list=RD9C1BCAgu2I8&start_radio=1

Machiavellian Denial of Jesus

picture of Machiavelli from National Geographic
Jesus from free art

 

Many people, subscribing to
a design of Machiavellian opportunism, will claim…

“Jesus was a nice guy, but his teaching just won’t work in today’s world.” They will then describe today’s world as filled with so many people without morals, shame, or any sense of social regard that turning the other cheek will invite not only a slap on that other cheek as well, but then also a lawsuit claiming those two cheeks instigated the squabble in the first place.

I assert that the culture in which Jesus delivered his teaching, and faithfully modeled it, was as much or worse for absence of morality.

In the midst of unscrupulous tax collectors taking advantage of people, the wealthy storing up yet more wealth in warehouses in disregard for others around them, men divorcing wives merely because they had outlived child-bearing age and were no longer useful, Jesus taught a code of ethics and morality that  insisted on charity, forgiveness, and restraint of self-serving actions. Jesus lived and modeled that teaching himself.

In the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 20) we receive this instruction: “ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

To claim Jesus with our lips as if it were some litmus test of patriotism, to attend church so that we can feel good about ourselves and appear to be of respectable reputation and then abandon the teaching of Jesus for its presumed impracticality is to deny Jesus himself.

I assert it is to deny Jesus.

Regarding an encounter the rich young ruler had with Jesus…

 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.   ( Matthew 19:21,22)

Authentic acceptance of Jesus requires some sacrifice, some cross carrying. Jesus never commanded his disciples to seek comfort, convenience, and accumulated wealth.

Appropriating a cliché, I say, in a world of Machiavellians…be a Jesus.

No Religous Test and Theodore Roosevelt's Description of Good Citizenship

 

 

photo from https://www.emersonkent.com/speeches/the_man_in_the_arena.htm

Upon accepting appointive office as a member of a County Tax Board, I am required to take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. When I serve as a poll worker, I take such an oath upon that day as well.

Taking my oath seriously, I figure that I ought to be familiar with that Constitution I have sworn to defend.

I periodically read through the Constitution the way some read through the Bible or revisit novels they have previously enjoyed.

In doing so recently, I happened upon this gem of a Constitutional right. It rests within the third clause of Article VI…”The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be Required as a Qualification To any Office or public Trust under the United States”.

That last part…” but no religious Test shall ever be Required as a Qualification To any Office or public Trust under the United States”.

This right, embedded in the Constitution which was ratified June 21, 1788 (years before the ratification of the Bill of Rights; December 15, 1791), is the preeminent Constitutional right, relative to the Bill of Rights.

This right is explicit in language and without any conditions such as “provided that”, or “except in the case of”.

This right is unequivocal in its meaning and application; no religious Test shall ever be Required.

A good citizen will abide by this preeminent, explicit, and unequivocal Constitutional right.

Good citizenship was described by Theodore Roosevelt in his speech “Citizenship in a Republic” which he delivered in Paris, France on April 23, 1910. I provide a quote from that speech…

“The good citizen will demand liberty for himself, and as a matter of pride he will see to it that others receive liberty which he thus claims as his own. Probably the best test of true love of liberty in any country is the way in which minorities are treated in that country. Not only should there be complete liberty in matters of religion and opinion, but complete liberty for each man to lead his life as he desires, provided only that in so he does not wrong his neighbor.”

Theodore Roosevelt was a man of high intellect. He mastered the languages of French and German. He was also familiar with Latin and Italian. This former President, famous for his “gung ho” bravery and attitude, also modeled the importance of multilingualism.

Theodore Roosevelt was a man of positive regard for minorities of different faiths and different opinions. His only qualification was that “he does not wrong his neighbor”

I conclude that neither the text of the Constitution, nor the heart of Theodore Roosevelt views minorities, those of different faiths, opinions, or languages as a problem.

Domestic enemies are not those people who look different, speak differently, or worship differently.

Domestic enemies are those who would deny others the fullness of their Constitutional rights. Domestic enemies are those who would wrong their neighbors.

The good citizen will see to it that others receive liberty which he thus claims as his own.

The full Roosevelt speech “Citizenship in a Republic” can be read at the following link:
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-the-sorbonne-paris-france-citizenship-republic

The quote I use is from paragraph thirty-one, if I have counted correctly.

God Cannot Be Manipulated Toward Apocalypse

 

Image from Library of Congress

From June 5 to June 10 of Nineteen Sixty-seven, almost fifty-nine years ago, Israel and Egypt were at war with each other. This war included some other Arab countries.

Much that I have read regarding this war indicates that the Soviet Union had helped arm the Arab countries and instigate them toward action against Israel.

This easily could have become a World War. In fact, in 1967, I remember hearing such fears on the news via television and radio.

Most problematic to me, I heard preachers proclaim that the apocalypse was near because these nations involved in this war represented Biblical geography. At the age of twelve, as a churchgoer, and reader of the Bible, especially the teachings of Jesus, I found that type of preaching to be egregiously irresponsible and insufficient of accurate Biblical information and purpose.

I don’t know if these preachers wanted to sell books, get more viewership, or just further sensationalize public fear.

Jesus taught love for enemies, peacemakers are blessed, and, as he spoke to Peter when he was being arrested, “Put the sword away!”

Regardless of the motivations of the fear-prompters, the 1967 “Six Day War” did not spark a World War nor did it trigger the apocalypse; nor will this current war in the area of Biblical geography manipulate God into premature, if ever, apocalyptic action.

Actually, I think the events reported in the Book of Revelation already took place, roughly two thousand years ago, but that is for a good Bible study session.

Pray for peace!

Put away the sword!

Much Ado About a Language Colonially Imposed Upon us by Kings James to George III

 

King George III from Royalisticism,blogspot.com

Thorvald (brother to Leif Eriksson) spoke Old Norse.

According to my eight-grade history book (The Free and the Brave by Henry F Graff), Thorvald, with his Viking adventurers, landed on the shores of North America hundreds of years before other Europeans or those folk from Great Britain.

And while it was the English language that sailed on the Mayflower to Plymouth rock (or elsewhere), the first prominent European language came over on the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María, all carrying the Spanish flag.

Of course, early in the European adventures on the American continent Portugal and France also contributed language and other cultural attributes.

But, also, let’s be sure to recognize the indigenous languages already present here as those Europeans and Great Britains arrived.

Furthermore, recognize the languages forcibly brought over from Africa.

Assuredly, English is what most of us in the United States grew up learning, writing, and speaking.

Now consider this, those colonists who separated from Great Britain in 1776 did not create English as a language original to this continent. That language, even used to compose the Declaration of Independence, was imposed upon this continent by those same powers that the colonists were rejecting.

At this point, many may think “Well, they used English to write the Declaration merely as a matter of convenience.”

I agree. More to my point, I think all language is merely a matter of convenience rather than as an indicator of patriotism or nationhood.

Perhaps, if we are so invested in making a language which traveled from across the Atlantic centuries ago to be our nationally recognized language, we should all learn Old Norse as that was the first European language on this continent.

Those that insist that English is the only authentic language of the United States are willfully self-subjugating to the residual colonial effect of the Empire of Great Britain.

Far from rolling in his Royal grave at St. George’s Chapel in England, King George III is having quite a boisterous last laugh even as we approach our semi- quincentennial celebration.