It’s Labor Day, September 7, 2020. The first parade was in NYC on Sept. 5, 1882. It was held to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” aka unions. This one day a year is set aside to celebrate unions and the rest of the days are spent trying to bust them up. What kind of a day will this Labor Day be? Answer: whatever you want it to be. I’ll raise my glass to unions, although I’ve never been a member of one. This is also Grandma Moses Day, National Grateful Parent Day (I am one of those), National Beer Lover’s Day (me too), National Feel The Love Day, National Acorn Squash Day and Salami Day. Lots of good stuff on this list. Now to some history. On this day in 1512 Medici’s discharge Niccolo Machiavelli from Florence. I bring this event up to provide you a quote from the founder of political science. Niccolo said, “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” This is the day 1800 It becomes illegal for women in Paris to wear trousers without a Police permit (annulled 2013). In 1837 on this day, In Alton, Illinois, abolitionist printer Elijah P. Lovejoy is shot dead at the age of 34 by pro-slavery mob while attempting to protect his printing shop from being destroyed a third time. And, on this day in 1874 the 1st cartoon depicting elephant as Republican Party symbol, by Thomas Nast. This is the day in 1962 that Eleanor Roosevelt , 1st Lady from 1933 to 1945 dies at 78. I’ll end this post with a few of her quotes: “Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.” “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” I’d say she was a pretty smart lady. The rest of the day is up to you. Stay safe. Abide
