It’s now the 11th day of December 2023. Sophocles said, “Not knowing anything is the sweetest life.” The English poet Thomas Gray said, “Ignorance is Bliss”. The Stoic philosophers all agree that if something is beyond your control, that you shouldn’t worry about it. Just for today, for the next 20 hours or so, ignore all the chaos and just think and be happy. We can leave the chaos driven depression for another day. Today is Green Monday, Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day, Kaleidoscope Day, Magnum P.I. Day, National App Day, National Have a Bagel Day, and National Noodle Ring Day. I would love to have a NYC bagel with lox and cream cheese, onions and capers. Probably my favorite breakfast. Now to some history: On this day in 1395 John “Eleanor” Rykener, a male cross-dressing prostitute was brought to court in London for “committing that detestable, unmentionable, and ignominious vice.” This is the only reference to gay sex recorded in medieval England. Verdict unknown. On this day in 1792 French King Louis XVI went on trail for treason and crimes against the state. He would be found guilty and beheaded on January 13, 1793. On this day in 1844 the 1st dental use of nitrous oxide was done in Hartford, Connecticut. On this day in 1917, 13 black soldiers were hung for participating in the Houston Riot. The all-white Houston Police department arrested and assaulted some black soldiers stationed at Camp Logan. The soldiers marched on the Police department, opened fire, killing 11 civilians and 5 policemen. 110 of the soldiers were convicted, 19 executed, 63 sentenced to life in prison. In November 2023 the Army set aside all 110 convictions. I started this post with a quote from Sophocles who I don’t remember using before so here we go: Sophocles said, “Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.” “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is love.” “Ir we always helped one another, no one would need luck.” “What people believe prevails over the truth.” “A man though wise, should never be ashamed of learning more, and must unbend his mind.” “No one longs to live more than someone growing old.” I’ll end on that quote which, in my case, seems to be spot on. Abide.
