Costa Rica has never had a war, but once it almost did. The armies of Costa Rica and Panama were facing each other on their borders. A new recruit, farmer Ramirez, was given a bugle. The poor fellow was so nervous that instead of CHARGE, he intoned RETREAT. The two armies broke into laughter, the war was called off and Retiro (Retreat) Ramirez became a national hero in two countries!
Archive for the ‘13 History’ Category
Proper Historical Perspective for Understanding Spanish Conquest of New World
In 13 History on 2011/03/31 at 12:46 PMCrimes are not to be measured by the issue of events” says Cicero, “but from the bad intentions of men.” Superficial, biased statements are common decrying colonization in America by Spaniards. To understand it you will have to read original sources and endeavor to re-visit the historical scene by re-examining Spanish writings, searching in them for the motivations which impelled the Spaniards and established them in certain relationships with the Indians. With the pen as the tongue of the mind, the writings should mirror the self-image or images, real and distorted, of the Spaniards in their contacts with the Indians. Read the rest of this entry »
Ironies of History
In 13 History on 2011/03/26 at 6:12 PMSaint Francis de Sales said to the young cleric, Richelieu, “My son, leave Versailles and return to your parish and be a good priest.” However, Richelieu succumbed to the pomp of the court of Versailles. As he grew in power and wealth, Richelieu was powerfully impressed by a simple cleric called Vincent de Paul. When Richelieu died, he left all his fortune to St. Vincent de Paul to feed the poor. (Vincent’s soup kitchen’s fed 20,000 persons a day in Paris; all of whom were starving veterans of the Thirty Years’ War, in which Catholic Cardinal Richelieu, putting his power before God, had given aid to the Protestant forces to defeat the Catholic forces.
Question: Do you think he bought himself a ticket a heaven?
Revolution
In 13 History on 2011/03/26 at 6:04 PMWhen the cook goes into the chicken yard, grabs the chicken and rings its neck, all the chickens in the chicken yard squawk. But once the chicken is in the pot, peace and quiet returns to the chicken yard.
Truth to Ponder 