On a quote and Juneteenth
“For someone visiting earth for the first time, the real treasures here would all be free. The smell of a sunlit prairie, the taste of a cold cup of spring water, the crunch of trackless snow underfoot. These are some of the earth’s supreme treasures. On intergalactic maps, if there are such things, the place where we live must surely be designated as a magical garden in space, a place of astounding beauty.” –Steve Van Matre
From Wiki: “Steve Van Matre (born March 20, 1941) is an American environmental activist, author and educator. He is the founder of the Earth Education movement and chair of the Institute for Earth Education.” Two thoughts, The quote reminds me if the Garden of Eden in the Old Testament. Also I find myself appreciating the Earth’s natural treasures more as I age; as you begin to “step off the stage” professionally and socially, a beautiful natural environment can be a consolation.
Regarding the new U.S. national holiday of Juneteenth, marking emancipation from slavery in the mid-19th century, the word seems to me to be the first national holiday that uses a portmanteau for its title, a combination of June and 19th. I watched some of speeches about it today, The only problem I had with one of them was that someone mentioned equality of outcome for all ethnicities. No, success and wealth should be based on merit and hard work, at least after the age of eight or at most 18. We should still take care of others, but people who earn success should be allowed to have more than others in a capitalist economy.