POLITICS, the 'City-Life' and why history REALLY DOES MATTER . . .

I just read in one of the Saint Petersburg (Florida) "City-Life" magazines about the pre-U.S. History of this great little stretch of sand called Pinellas County Florida.

I read about the aboriginal settlers who from the year 500 B.C. (likely earlier!) would fish on the Gulf of Mexico coast-line for shell-fish and lived a subsistence-level sea-life.

I also read about the next wave of Indian settlers who came down from the Mississippi coast and continued this sea-faring life.

Finally, I read about how in 1528 (36 years after the "Reconquista" in which Spain drove out the Islamic invaders from the Spanish peninsula . . .) a Spanish explorer named Panfilo de Navarez, some 600 Spanish men and women and (sadly . . .) an unknown number of African slaves landed in this sandy peninsula called Pinellas County.

This original conquest by Spain was then followed in 1539 by Hernando de Soto who brought 520 soldiers with him and re-named the Tampa Bay waters as "La Bahia de Espirito Santo" (English translation is "Bay of the Holy Spirit").

Reflecting on this history, I am always struck by how the history of regions play vital importance in their future.

In the popular movie "Gangs of New York" violence and corruption once ruled the New York City area, and now, as a native-born New Yorker who grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, I am struck by how New York City is to this day ruled by violence and mayhem.

Similarly, the Spanish heritage in Tampa Bay (which pre-dates the U.S.A. by some two and a half centuries) has resulted in a strong Catholic presence and even a strong Spanish cultural heritage that boasts the world's largest collection of works by noted surrealist Spanish painter Salvador Dali!

And again, just as there were slaves in the initial conquest of St. Petersburg, so also has this city struggled throughout its history with both racism and de facto segregation.

So, for good (Catholic and Spanish culture . . .) and for the not-good (European enslavement of Africans), this city is marked by its history.

May the LORD bless and keep you in each of your respective cities.

Love always in Christ Jesus, Rob J. King, Spanish and Irish-English CHRISTIAN