This day’s name is March 8, 2023. I’m in a good place. 2023 got off to a rocky start for me but now the sails are filled, the sea is calm and it’s smooth sailing. I seldom use nautical metaphors despite spending 4 years in the Navy. Today is Discover What Your Name Means Day, Girls write Now Day, International Women’s Day, National Be Nasty Day (don’t celebrate this one), National Peanut Cluster Day, National Proofreading Day, and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. “Stephen” is a Greek name meaning “garland, crown”. OK, I guess. Moving on. On this day in 1531 Henry VIII was recognized as the supreme head of the Church of England. When religion and politics are married, only bad things happen. On this day in 1782 the Ohio militia killed 90 Native Americans in what is known as the Gnadenhutten Massacre. The attack was in response to Indian raids on settlements. The Indians they killed had nothing to do with the raids, were unarmed and had been converted to Christianity by Moravian missionaries. Oh well. On this day in 1855 the 1st train crossed the 1st suspension bridge at Niagara Falls. On this day in 1894 the state of New York enacted the nation’s first dog-licensing law. On this day in 1913 the IRS begins to levy and collect income taxes. This is the day in 1916 that the US invaded Cuba for the 3rd time to protect the interests of the sugar plantations owned by Americans. On this day in 1917 the US Senate introduced the Cloture Rule which required a two-thirds majority vote to end debate. On this day in 1934 a Edwin Hubble photo showed that the universe has as many galaxies as the Milky Way has stars. The first dead person today is Hypatia who was Greek philosopher who died in 415 AD. She said, “Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fantasies. To teach superstition as truths is a most terrible thing.” I’ll finish up with two quotes from President William Howard Taft who said, “Too many people don’t care what happens so long as it doesn’t happen to them.” “No tendency is quite so strong In human nature as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people.” Abide.
