Banana Splits

It seems as if every where we turn these days there is bad news. Violence. Terrorism. Oil spills. Racial profiling. Economic upheaval. Floods. Job losses. Where does it end? Where will it end? When mountains of turmoil are knocking at the door and, in many cases, actually inside the house, what is a communicator to do? One essential strategy is to tell the truth. Do not sugar coat things. Be honest. And be even-handed in presenting the facts. Another vital strategy is to create channels by which various publics are able to connect with each other in order to collectively address the issues and problems they share and that may seem insurmountable. I would like to suggest a third strategy. It has to do with noting that the despite the challenges before them, the reasons for genuine concern and the difficult consequences publics may be facing, there remain good things - big and small - in the world that can and do bring smiles to young and old alike no matter what else might be going on. This brings me to banana splits.

First of all, I acknowledge there may be those in the world who do not like banana splits even though I can not help but think such a group has got to be among the smallest in existence. That said, particularly in these times of great challenge, this is a treat for which the word "yummy" was no doubt invented. Three scoops of ice cream, several toppings, a few cherries, nuts, if you are so inclined and, of course, the foundation of this delightful concoction: the banana. Dig in and lose yourself for a little while. It won't make the problems of the world go away but it will put one in a better frame of mind in which to face them.

In the name of being a truthful communicator, it should be noted that even the banana split is not without controversy. There are those who claim it was invented in 1904 by a 23-year-old pharmacist from Latrobe, PA, named David Strickler. Others credit Stinson Thomas, a chief dispenser at a department store in Boston, with the invention in 1905. My guess is this will probably be one of those disputes of history that will never be resolved. This is why I tip my hat to both Strickler and Thomas. Just a few years after bananas were first imported to America in 1902, one or both of these gentlemen were inspired to take this fruit and use it as the basis for what has become a timeless treat. So, here's to banana splits. And here's to taping into a smile-invoking treat as one way of giving us the resolve to deal with other, far less positive realities of the world.