The Earth has rotated into the sunlight of December 17, 2020. I’m recovering from yesterday’s frivolity. Troprock music mixed with generous portions of red wine, food and friends produces good memories and a slow start to this day. Life is good. Today we have a very short list of events: Wright Brothers Day, Pan American Aviation Day and National Maple Syrup Day. If it’s any consolation, December is National Fruit Cake Month. Now to history. The first interesting event happened in 1398 when Tamerlane captured Delhi, defeating Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud’s armies by setting camels loaded with hay on fire and charging them at the Sultans armored elephants. Wow. In 1790 on this day the Aztec calendar stone was discovered in Mexico City. In 1821 Kentucky abolished debtors’ prisons. I’ve often pointed out how difficult life was for Jews in Europe. In 1862 General Ulysses S. Grant issues order #11, expelling Jews from Tennessee. In 1895, the Anti-Saloon League of America was formed in Washington, D.C. I don’t think I would have been a good fit with this group. This is the date in 1903 that the Wright brothers made their 1st sustained motorized aircraft flight at Kitty Hawk. This is the birthday (1929) of William Safire who was a self–described “right wing pundit”. He said “Never assume the obvious is true” and “The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.” Good advice in both quotes. This is also the day in 1933 that Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama, died at 57. I’ll end with a Dalai Lama quote “Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.” A good way to end this post. Abide
