Page 11 - Palm City Spolight - December '20

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Palm City Spotlight, Page 11

Book Review from page 10 achievement was staggering.” Alexandria’s museum and its followers included many of history’s most noted
its library housed “most of the intellectual inheritance of achievers. In the works of Shakespeare, Montaigne,
to maintain the faithful’s commitment to sacred dogma, Greek, Latin, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Jewish cultures Galileo and others can be seen their interest in its
the philosophy embodied by Epicureanism and described ever assembled; at least a half-million papyrus rolls principles, but the stories of others who gave their lives
so beautifully in Lucretius’s elegant poem was the most were carefully and systematically organized, labeled and – often in terribly cruel ways at the hands of the church
dangerous possible enemy. But for those known as shelved according to a clever new system that its first – are touched upon here in several examples that attest to
“humanists,” who had come to doubt what they perceived director, a Homer scholar named Zenodotus. seems to the impressive research invested in this book by author
as the hypocrisy of a corrupt church, Epicureanism had have invented: the system was alphabetical order.” It is Stephen Greenblatt. Although scholarly in scope, it is
a strong attraction. considered even today to have been perhaps the greatest thoroughly fascinating and richly rewarding. Greenblatt
Many a determined humanist was to die a terrible death storehouse of knowledge ever assembled in one place. is also the author of Will in the World: How Shakespeare
at the hands of the church, and the ongoing efforts by And in the city itself, pagans, Jews and Christians lived Became Shakespeare, another book I very much enjoyed
the Catholic church to protect its position described by harmoniously for more than six centuries, just as their and have reviewed.
author Stephen Greenblatt in The Swerve, are engrossing cultures lived in their documents side by side on the There is another great man who, when asked his
and impressive in their historical detail, clearly the library shelves. philosophy of life, replied, “I am an Epicurean.” Evidence
result of enormous research. But once the movement had Then, in A.D. 300, Emperor Constantine decided of that is reflected in a passage in one of his many
begun it was not to be stopped. The Renaissance and the to adopt the fast-growing Christianity as the official writings: “…Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Reformation were born, and the world would never again religion of Rome. Almost a century later, in A.D. 391, his We remember it from our Declaration of Independence.
be the same. successor began to take a harder line approach to religious The man was Thomas Jefferson, who owned five copies
To be sure, the church’s battle to control the minds of affairs, an attitude which inspired others to do the same. of Lucretius’s On the Nature of Things.
its “faithful” had started long before Poggio’s discovery His spiritual representative in Alexandria decided Another of our nation’s documents, the Constitution,
in 1417. For me, one of the most powerful sections in the to turn against those in the city’s population who reflects the Founding Fathers’ understanding of at least
book covers an event about which I had learned nothing in worshipped their pagan gods. When the pagans objected, one aspect of Epicureanism in its commitment “to
all my years of schooling, including college. It occurred at the Christians took violent action, turning to slaughter the clear separation of Church and State … a lesson
the close of the fourth century. But first, the background: and then destroying the magnificent museum and library that some, even in today’s American society – and in
“Starting as early as 300 B.C., the Ptolemaic Kings that was the very pride of the city, their purpose being to our highest court – seem not to have learned in the
who ruled Alexandria (the capital of Egypt) had the eradicate books – and education itself – and to demand considering of forcing one group’s beliefs on others.”
inspired idea of luring leading scholars, scientists, and instead blind devotion to the church’s sacred dogma. Finally, it is ironic that perhaps the institution that
poets to their city by offering them life appointments at When they had succeeded in ridding the city of benefited most from the reintroduction by Lucretius’s
the Museum with handsome salaries, tax exemptions, fine pagans, they next turned against the Jews, to expel them grand poem of the Epicurean philosophy was the Catholic
food and lodging, and the almost limitless resources of from the city. At this, one of Alexandria’s most highly church itself, which, after more than 16 centuries of
the library. respected and admired citizens, a legendarily beautiful dominance through fear, has grown to serve a laity
“The recipients of this largesse established remarkable woman named Hypatia – world-renowned at the time more vast than it could ever have dreamed – not by
high standards. Euclid developed his geometry in for her attainments in astronomy, music, mathematics embracing by any means the full Epicurean principles
Alexandria. Archimedes discovered pi and laid the and philosophy – stepped forward and objected to this (most especially its rejection of an afterlife), but by
foundation for calculus. Eratosthenes posited that the unwarranted attack on the Jews. The Christians dragged turning instead to a focus on love ... and, in the case of
earth was round and calculated its circumference to within her from her chariot, stripped off her clothing, her skin the current Pope, an apparent acceptance of love’s wider
one percent; Galen revolutionized medicine. Alexandrian was flayed off with broken bits of pottery, and her corpse manifestations.
astronomers postulated a heliocentric universe; was burned.
geometers deduced that the length of a year was 365-1/4 The destruction of the great library and museum of
days and proposed adding a ‘leap day’ every fourth year; Alexandria was the beginning of the end of the education
geographers speculated that it would be possible to reach of the masses throughout Christendom. Libraries were
India by sailing west from Spain; engineers developed shut down, and books became less popular or ignored –
hydraulics and pneumatics; anatomists first understood until “the world changed,” sparked by the discovery of
clearly that the brain and the nervous system were a unit, Lucretius’s homage to Epicureanism.
studied the function of the heart and the digestive system, Poggio was one of that philosophy’s strongest
and conducted experiments in nutrition. The level of advocates. In the decades and centuries to come,
Pet Matters

by Pat Deshong, President of Furry Friends commitment to animals. The award has historically been
Adoption, Clinic & Ranch, December 2020 presented at the Gimme Shelter Gala in February, but due
to Covid-19, Furry Friends was forced to postpone their
“ For the Love of annual fundraiser.
Animals” features real Pictured is Herme de Wyman Miro with her most recent
stories happening at Furry adoption from Furry Friends, “Tiny,” the Yorkie.
Friends in Jupiter. We are “Animals can transform people’s lives and the people
The Humane Society of we honor with this award do the same. This award is a
Greater Jupiter/Tequesta chance for our community to see the selfless acts Herme
and the only no-kill shelter de Wyman Miro has done to help save rescue animals in
open to the public in northern our area, including her most recent adoption of one of our Lynx is 14 years old and will Lois came to Furry Friends with
Palm Beach County. We’ve come around to you in time. She her five babies and was an amazing
been rescuing, rehabilitating, rescue Yorkies,” said Pat Deshong. does require a trip to the vet each Momma to them all. This girl is
and re-homing the homeless When considering adding a furry family member to month to get an injection. She sweet, silly and promises to be loyal
animals in our community your family, please visit our Palm City Ranch at 4841 S.W. has been with Furry Friends for and loving for all her days to come.
for more than 30 years. Zarrella Street or our new Jupiter Adoption Center at 100 awhile and needs a home to call Lois is a great companion and loves
Our not for profit 501c3 Capital Street in the Jupiter Commerce Park. PLEASE her own. Please consider adopting to be close to you (ok she insists) and
organization consists of our CALL 561-747-5311 PRIOR TO VISITING EITHER a senior cat. She deserves a leans in for some love.
Jupiter based adoption center, veterinary clinic (open to the LOCATION DUE TO COVID19. special home filled with love She loves dancing to your
public), thrift boutique, and Palm City Ranch. Blessings to you for your support and faith in us… all and patience. Please contact the favorite tunes, car rides to Starbucks.
ranch at 561-972-1194 to make She is good with dogs of similar
for the LOVE of animals! an appointment to meet Lynx. energy and mindsets and of her
choosing. Thanks to our wonderful
board members, Lois’s adoption fee
has been sponsored. She will also go
Patricia Deshong, President home with a Conair goodie bag!
Ways to donate (tax ID #59-2111273):
1. Mail a check made payable to Furry Friends to 100 Capital
Street, Jupiter, FL 33458.
2. Visit www.furryfriendsadoption.org
3. Call us with your credit card information at 561.747.5311
ext. 3
“Your donation creates the possibilities to make miracles
happen for our Furry Friends”

On November 16, 2020 our President, Pat Deshong,
awarded The Queen of Palm Beach Herme De Wyman Miro
with the prestigious CIGO award.
Furry Friends created the CIGO award to honor people
who best exemplify the nonprofit’s mission: to rescue,
rehabilitate, and re-home abused and abandoned dogs
and cats. The CIGO award was named after the Palm
Beach County Sheriff’s Office K-9 killed in the line of
duty on Christmas Eve in 2018. The CIGO Award stands
for Courage, Integrity, Genuine, and an Outstanding Paid Advertisement