Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, February 16, 2019

7

THE WORLD AROUND US

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 16, 2019 

BLACK HISTORY IS 
AMERICAN HISTORY AND 
WHY WE STILL NEED TO 
REMEMBER IT.

SUSAN HENDERSON

Editor/Publisher


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges


YEAR OF THE PIGWHAT DOES THE YEAR 
OF THE PIG SYMBOLIZE?

[Nyerges had a pet pig, Otis, for 
19 years. Nyerges is the author 
of “How to Survive Anywhere,” 
“Extreme Simplicity,” and other 
books. For information about 
his books and classes, go to www.
SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

 

 A pig represents luck, overall good fortune, 
wealth, honesty, and general prosperity. The 
pig symbolizes a hard-working, peace-loving 
person, someone who is truthful, generous, patient, 
reliable, trusting, sincere, and giving. The pig 
represents a sociable person who has a good sense 
of humour and understanding.

 When I learned that this was the Year of the Pig 
beginning February 5, I called it the Year of Otis, 
for my pot-bellied pet who was with me for 19 
years before he died.OTISIt was the spring of 1993 
when Otis came into our family. My wife and I had 
talked about getting a pig, and the pot belly “craze” 
was fading out. Though we toyed with the idea of 
breeding pot-bellied pigs, Otis had been neutered, 
so that was not a viable idea. But that was OK, 
because we fell in love with Otis right away. We 
learned a lot about the nature of “pig-ness” during 
Otis’ life. In fact, this was partly why we got Otis 
in the first place – we were going to learn about 
the nature of pig-ness, which is also an aspect of 
human-ness. We learned that he certainly had a 
good memory, especially as it related to food. He 
once discovered a bag of carob pods that I had 
in the living room, and he nearly ate half the bag 
before I caught him. After that, any time he got 
into the house, he always went right to that spot 
where the carob had been. Though we’ve heard 
that pigs are very smart, you can’t really compare 
them to dogs, for example. Dogs might not have 
pigs’ great memory, but they seem smarter due to 
their loyalty to their masters. I’m sure that Otis 
always recognized me from other people, but 
loyalty? I don’t think so. Pigs don’t seem to want 
or need close affinity to people in the way that dogs 
do. Nevertheless, later in his life when Otis was 
mostly alone, we did develop a “closeness.” Yes, 
Otis was a pig, and yet he was such an individual! I 
learned to know what his sounds and grunts 
meant, so I knew when he was happy, when he 
felt threatened, when he was worried, and when 
he liked (or disliked) someone. His range of vocal 
sounds was broad and fascinating. My vet once told 
me that Otis lived well over twice the average life 
for a pot-bellied pig. He’d gotten much slower in 
his last two years, and became slow and unsteady 
on his feet. I felt a great empathy for Otis. He was 
a big guy, for sure, but his personality was such 
that he always seemed like a little boy. When Otis 
was dying, I thanked him for the good life we had 
together, and I whispered in his ear that everything 
was OK, and that I loved him. He just grunted his 
friendly “oink” in return. Otis never got up, and 
he died a week later, on Hannukah. YEAR OF 
THE PIGI spent New Year’s Eve for the Year of the 
Pig at the Puti Meditation Center in Alhambra, 
with Helen. It was open to the public, but about 
as close to a family gathering as you can get. The 
meals was made by the various members, and we 
began by sharing a home-made meal. There were 
some dance performances by the teens, and much 
socializing and talking. About 45 minutes was 
spent chanting one of the healing chants. From 
the large TV screen in the center, we watched 
a message from the founder Master JinBodhi, 
who extolled everyone to treat each other well, 
which not only makes the world a better place 
but also improves one’s karma.Though 95% in 
Mandarin, I was still able to follow the majority 
of the commemoration because of the degree of 
pantomime used – recall that words are only a 
small part of total communication—and I also 
received period translations from Helen.Bodhi 
Meditation was founded by Meditation Master 
JinBodhi in 1991 with a mission to impart 
practical, effective meditation techniques as a 
way of strengthening the energy of the physical 
body, and to inspire the spiritual mind so as 
to bring greater health and joy to the world 
at large. He adopted the 12 Great Vows of 
the Medicine Buddha and began teaching the 
practices of Bodhi Meditation, embarking on a 
journey to liberate humans. Buddhism has been 
around for about 2,600 years, a bit longer than 
Christianity, and both have resulted in countless 
sects which espouse one aspect or another of the 
basic tenets.

Two years ago, I 
wrote an editorial in 
this paper regarding 
Black History Month 
and why we still 
need to remember it. 
I re-read the article 
the other day and 
decided to publish 
parts of it again 
because nothing 
has changed since its initial publication, in 
fact, it has gotten worse. Just today (Friday), 
the person holding what used to be the 
position that was held in the highest esteem, 
manipulated race and human weakness in 
order to get his way. It doesn't matter that 
Donald Trump's particular target this time 
was not African American's, his hatred and 
bigotry is becoming a metasticizing cancer 
in our society. He stirs the pot of hatred 
constantly and seasons it with lies and half 
truths. Case in point: His flat out lies that 
illegal immigrants are murderers, rapists 
and thieves, responsible for the crime in this 
country totally ignoring the FACTS that do 
not support his claim. He is quite satisfied 
to paint all illegal immigrants with a broad 
brush in the same way he took great pride in 
spreading the lies about President Obama's 
citizenship. And that, dear people, is the 
reason why we need Black History Month, 
Mexican American Heritage Month, Asian 
American History Month and a month for 
every ethnicity that history and misfits have 
attempted to distort their value in this society. 

Yes, the times are becoming more disturbing 
by the day. I can honestly say that for the 
last two years, I have not rested with the 
peace of mind that should come from living 
in America. Former California Governor 
Arnold Schwarzenegger hit the nail on the 
head when he suggested that if Trump went 
back to The Apprentice, “…then people can 
finally sleep comfortably again.” 

Nevertheless, February is Black History 
Month a time when most of the nation 
takes a moment to reflect on the significant 
contributions of African Americans, so I 
thought I’d dedicate this space to the answer 
to the question that I’ve heard throughout 
my life from Whites, Blacks and just about 
everyone else: “Why do we need (or still need 
or ever needed) an African American History 
Month? 

Reprinted from MVNews 2/4/2017

“This week, as the national observance of Black 
History Month begins, history will undoubtedly 
repeat itself. Someone, somewhere will ask 
the question: Do we still need Black History 
Month?

For some, particularly 20-somethings born 
in what has been called the post-racial era 
of America, there is no need to continue that 
month-long observance that grew out of Negro 
History Week in February 1926. To them, it's 
nothing more than a robotic tradition that trots 
out the same figures and facts every February.

For others, older generations and historians 
for example, there is a fear that facts about 
African Americans in U.S. history will be lost 
without Black History Month. As an example 
of that fear, that group can point to 2015, when 
McGraw Hill had to do some serious damage 
control after its high school world-geography 
textbooks included an embarrassing map 
description as part of its lesson on U.S. 
immigration patterns that read : "The Atlantic 
Slave Trade between the 1500s and 1800s 
brought millions of workers from Africa to the 
southern United States to work on agricultural 
plantations." (If you can’t see what’s wrong 
with that statement, call me!)

The annual debate about the need for Black 
History Month likely won't end in 2017. Yet no 
matter which side of the discussion you land on, 
we would all do well to remember that Black 
history is American history and there remain 
lessons to be learned from our past. Lessons 
that can help us understand one another and 
perhaps bring us closer together.

President Gerald Ford officially recognized 
Black History Month in 1976, and he called 
upon the country to "seize the opportunity to 
honor the too-often neglected accomplishments 
of black Americans in every area of endeavor 
throughout our history."

Forty-one years later, the month-long 
celebration continues and it comes on the 
heels of the opening of the National Museum 
of African American History & Culture in our 
nation's capital last September. The national 
museum cites as one its four pillars of purpose 
that it exists to explore "what it means to be 
an American and share how American values 
like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality are 
reflected in African American history and 
culture."

This month, classrooms across the country 
will share lessons that spotlight well-known 
African American men and women who had 
the courage to stand up for the disenfranchised, 
the moral compass to walk on the right side of 
history. And while we know about Dr. Martin 
Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Frederick 
Douglass and Rosa Parks, there are many, 
many more people, everyday men and women, 
who fought for the freedoms our nation holds 
dear.

This month is in remembrance of them, of the 
indomitable American spirit. The need for 
Black History Month remains and the lessons 
we can learn about our country and ourselves 
during this observance are clear.”

 That article sums it up very nicely. We all 
need to know about each other's culture and 
history so that we will become immune to 
the lies and misinformation people use to 
suppress and otherwise destroy those they 
wish to demonize. 

 So this month, February 2019, we should all 
try to learn more about each other, learn to 
respect other cultures and their contributions, 
learn to accept and embrace what we have in 
common. And more importantly immunize 
ourselves from bigotry and hatred that 
seeks to destroy. After all, Black History is 
American History as is the history of all other 
cultures that make up the fiber of this diverse 
nation. 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder


I MISS MY GOOD FRIEND, TOM FOOLERY 

This past week the Gracious 
Mistress of the Parsonage and 
I were having a conversation.
Of course, it was more like a 
monologue, but you know how that works.

 We were thinking back over the years of our life 
together and reminding ourselves of some of the great 
and wonderful times we have had. The friends we 
have made. The activities we have enjoyed together. 
Of course, there were the grandchildren and my wife 
had a great time talking about the grandchildren and I 
chuckling along with her.

 After a moment of quietness, my wife said rather 
seriously, “Who is the friend you miss the most?”

 Boy, was that a question!

 I had to really think about that, then I mention 
somebody she knew and we moved on to another 
subject.

 However, thinking about that a little bit later I did 
acknowledge that the friend I missed the most was 
Tom Foolery. I guess, as you get older you more or less 
outgrow that friendship. But I certainly do miss him.

 Being older now, and supposedly wiser, I am 
expected to have a certain serious decorum. I am to 
take everything very seriously and professionally. I 
suppose I am seriously a professional geezer.

 Why is it when you get older people expect different 
things out of you?

 I do have fond memories of my high school years 
when I was not expected to be serious minded or 
professional. The great expectation back then was 
to enjoy yourself and have fun. Do not take life too 
seriously, was the motto of my younger years.

 Now that I am older, I have to take life seriously. Who 
came up with that rule? I would like to send him to the 
principal’s office.

 Someone once said in my hearing that 60 was the 
new 40. I do not know what that means, but I like to 
lean in that direction. Too many people, including my 
wife, take things way too serious. Where is the fun in 
that though?

 I do remember quite fondly my friend Tom Foolery. 
We had a lot of fun together and enjoyed each other’s 
company totally.

 I think, even at my age that a little bit of Tom Foolery 
is not going to hurt me in the least. Of course, my ribs 
might ache because of all the laughter involved. That it 
is a small price to pay.

 I was thinking about my friend, Tom, when I was 
at the post office this past week. Every once in a while 
I have to take a package to the post office to have it 
mailed.

 This day the line was quite long and the service people 
were working as hard and fast as they could. However, 
too many people had problems that could not be solved 
in a moment.

 The line got longer and longer, the people inhabiting 
the line grew a little grouchy and grumpy, and I could 
hear some of the complaining behind me.

 I notice loads of problems in life, but if standing 
in line for a long period is the worst of my problems, 
I certainly have a wonderful life. Not everybody goes 
along with that idea. Especially, the people standing 
behind me.

 Pretty soon, one of the lady managers from the back 
came out to try to assist in the service. She said, “Is 
anybody here for pick up?”

 I do not offer any logical excuse or explanation for 
what I said. Just that, the noodle soup upstairs was 
boiling and my mouth was unlocked at the moment.

 I said to the lady, “Are you handling the pickup?”

 “Yes I am,” she said very professionally as she walked 
over towards me.

 “Are you available?”

 Walking towards me, she said, “Yes.”

 Quite seriously, I extended my hand and responded 
to her, “Where would you like to go?”

 She stopped in her tracks and looked at me and 
immediately behind me the customers began laughing 
and clapping their hands.

 “I gotcha,” I said to the lady who was smiling at me. 
The crowd continued to laugh and give me thumbs up 
as she returned to the back part of the office.

 Everybody in the crowd was talking cheerfully and 
laughing and I knew I had done my job.

 Tom Foolery and I had made a difference among all 
those people. Whatever it takes to get people laughing 
and forgetting about their problems is a good deed.

 As I was going out people clapped and one dear old 
lady said to me with the biggest smile on her face, “I’m 
available too.” It made the crowd laugh even louder.

 I do not want to retire my good friend Tom Foolery 
because there is too much sadness in the world. People 
do not know how to laugh anymore and they do not 
know what a real joke is. All this political nonsense and 
hatred going on has just about run its course.

 What we need is a little bit of laughter today and that 
is where my friend Tom Foolery and I step in.

 Solomon puts this in a very good perspective. “A 
merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken 
spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

 There are too many broken spirits in our world today 
and too few merry hearts. My commitment is to try 
to help with the merry heart syndrome along with my 
good friend Tom Foolery.

 Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God 
Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives 
with his wife in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-
687-4240 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church 
web site is www.whatafellowship.com.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com