Wave(s) of the Past

W
hen it comes to world events, it’s helpful to keep things in
historical perspective. For example, here in the US, the news
often focuses upon two, important issues: 1) illegal
Mexican/Central American immigration; and 2) Islamic terrorism. To put
things in historical perspective, the Spanish were exploring the New World
before Martin Luther began, in 1517, to reform the Catholic Church; and
the Islamic Ottoman Empire began twenty-five years after the death, in
1274, of philosopher/theologian Thomas Aquinas and ended, in 1922—an
outcome of World War I.

From this—historical—perspective, is it any wonder that the population

and inculturation of Muslims in both Europe and the US should increase
over the years? Or that the population and inculturation of
Mexican/Central Americans in the US should increase?

The march of time and of history continues on . . . and these two, great
empires of (historically) recent times—the Spanish and the Ottoman—will
continue to influence US and European population and culture for many
years to come.

Here in the US, some people believe that the US should be English only;
meaning there should be one, official language in the US: English. But, for
all practical purposes, the US is already a bilingual nation: we use both
English and Spanish. (One need only examine common warning signs or
product packaging found in the US in order to note this.)

Although we are familiar with the fact that English settlers celebrated
America’s first Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621, Spanish
explorers celebrated what could be considered America’s first
Thanksgiving south of present day El Paso, Texas in 1598.

Twenty-three years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, the Spanish

were celebrating thanksgiving in America . . . at a distance of over 2,000
miles west of Plymouth.

America has a rich Spanish history, which many Americans fail to

appreciate, and the current influence of Hispanic persons and Spanish
culture in the US is simply the continuation of this history.

Europe has a rich history long influenced by Islamic culture, beginning

only twelve years after the Prophet Muhammad’s death in 632. Muslim
persons and the Islamic culture will continue to influence Europe for many
years to come.

The (historically recent) demise of these two, great empires is the

historical event that has given rise to today’s news about illegal
immigration and Islamic terrorism.

The old cause we see the effects of.

Time, and history, marches on . . .