We are now in the time/space of September 21, 2020. While the calendar says it’s Tuesday, to those of us who are retired, it’s just another Saturday. In human history, the concept of retirement is new. During the 18th century, the life expectancy was between 26 and 40 years so there were few people who lived long enough. Rome gave a pension to retired soldiers. Retirement as we know it has only been around 100 years or so. It’s fitting that this is World Gratitude Day. It’s also International Day of Peace, Miniature Golf Day, National Chai Day, National Pecan Cookie Day and Pause The World Day. Now to what happened on this day. In 1348 the Jews of Zurich Switzerland were accused of poisoning the wells. Remember that the only people who could lend money in the Middle Ages in Europe were Jews which provided a motive for all kinds of atrocities. On this day in 1792 the French National Convention passed a proclamation announcing eh formal abolition of the French monarchy. In 1984 the Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser becomes the 1st successful daily newspaper in the United States. On this day in 1827, according to Joseph Smith Jr., the angel Moroni gave him a record of gold plates, one-third of which Joseph translated into The Book of Mormon. To that I say, “really?” This is the day in 1902 that Chief Joseph of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nez Perce died. Reading his quotes is a sobering experience. You get the feeling for our history that you didn’t get when you studied the sanitized version of it in school. Chief Joseph said, “I do not believe that the Great Spirit Chief gave one kind of men the right to tell another kind of men what they must do.” “Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself – and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty”. And “our chiefs are killed. The little children are freezing to death. My people have no blankets, no food. My heart is sick and sad. I will fight no more forever.” Abide.
