It’s now the 20th day of October 2020 and so far it’s been filled to the brim with chaos. My hope is that like the mythological Phoenix, we will rise from the ashes and find ourselves in a better place. We can ignore most of it by tuning it out and focusing on today which happens to be International Chefs Day, Information Overload Awareness Day, National Call In Day For Health Reform, National Day Of Writing, National Suspenders Day and National Office Chocolate Day which is my pick because it’s the day with chocolate in it. Now to some history: On this day in 1774 American Continental Congress orders discouragement of entertainment. Say what? They passed the Articles of Association and in Article 8 they banned certain activities including “all horse-racing, all kinds of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibitions of shows , plays and other expensive diversions and entertainments.” On this day in 1864 US President Lincoln formally establishes Thanksgiving as a national holiday. On this day in 1917 US suffragette Alice Paul begins a 7 month jail sentence for protesting women’s rights in Washington. He treatment in jail becomes the turning point in the fight for women’s right to vote. Finally, on this day in 1942 “Durham Manifesto” calls for fundamental changes in race relations. Take a few minutes and google it and read about what it was. This is the birthday of John Dewey. He was a philosopher, educational theorist and author. John said, “Luck, bad if not good, will always be with us. But it has a way of favoring the intelligent and showing its back to the stupid.” That’s been my observation too. This is the day that Herbert Hoover, our 31st President died at the age of 90. He said, ” Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.” That’s enough of my rambling around for this day. Don’t do anything stupid today. I’m going to try not to. Abide.
