Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture.
The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.
But no.
Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die.
You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.
A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery.
Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said."
We are at our best when we serve others.
Be civilized.
Credit: Ira Byock.
Environmental and marketing idiocy! This mailing arrived today promoting a “contest” at Bass Lake Resort. A waste of resources on so many levels, beginning with this battery powered contest number.
3 weekends in a row with NO SECUhttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.syracuse.com/news/2021/07/walsh-declares-skyline-apartments-unfit-for-human-occupancy-again-after-inspection.html%3foutputType=amp
3 weekends in a row with NO SECURITY last month. No wonder the stairwells are toilets and drug dens again! I warned this was happening. Why did Walsh & Bey allow the situation to deteriorate again? #publicsafetypriority1#janetformayor https://t.co/AYQvG3uVsB
Congratulations to Khalid Bey on his primary victory.
He, Ben Walsh and I are providing voters with three distinct perspectives on priorities for our city - mine being public safety, delivery of essential city services to all neighborhoods & support of our existing businesses.
Fireworks - Legal vs Illegal, Syracuse, NY - YouTube Thank you, Syracuse Police for clarifying this. Don’t risk injuries & fires. Celebrate with legal fireworks. Come together for public displays #syracuseunited#janetformayor#publcsafetyprioritynumber1 https://t.co/kpthE4xm6n
Memorial Day: Remembering those who served in our military and gave all.
In 2021, we remember them along with the frontline COVID workers who gave all in health care, grocery stores, trucking-everyone who sacrificed, so that we could go on. Thank you all!
Stabbing yesterday evening near Skyline. Walsh, Bey, Greene, we need more police! Public safety should be first priority of city government. Public safety will be my first priority as mayor!
Six fires in vacant homes over the weekend. On top of the surge in violent murders, we now have a surge in arson. Walsh, Greene and Bey, provide adequate funding to Police and Fire. As mayor, I will make Public Safety my number one priority!
2 to 4 million $ for city-wide reassessment is too much. Now let's mobilize our community orgs to help residents in over-assessed homes with assessment appeals, and let's not overlook the fact that crime drives property values down. Public safety should be priority 1
The verdict is in. We should trust the process of our legal system. But this is not the end of discussions that should be taking place in every community, including Syracuse. Let us pray for healing and understanding.
Sad to learn of Ambassador Doug Barclay‘s passing. He was a terrific mentor and friend. RIP. Sincere sympathies for the Barclay family from me and George. #SalmonRiver#DougBarclay#SU