September 17, 2023 is now. Good morning. I won’t go into the story because it’s political, but I will go to the punch line: People believe what they want to believe. Sophocles said, “Look and you will find it – what is unsought will go undetected.” Here is my suggestion for today: If someone tells you something outlandish, take a few minutes to verify it before you tell others about it. Moving on. Today is International Country Music Day, National Apple dumpling Day, National Monte Cristo Day, National Table shuffleboard Day, National Women’s Friendship Day, and Wife Appreciation Day. Now some history: On this day in 1394 the Jews were expelled from France by King Charles VI. This was probably a reaction to the Black Plague. On this day in 1498 Tomas de Torquemada, the first Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition died. He was directly responsible for an estimated 2,000 people burned at the stake. His death was widely celebrated. On this day in 1778 the 1st treaty between the US and Indian tribes was signed. On this day in 1862 was the bloodiest day in the American Civil War. The Battle of Antietam left 22,000 dead or wounded. On this day in 1873 students attended the opening class at Ohio State University. On this day in 1928 the San Felipe Segundo/Okeechobee hurricane made landfall as a category 4 storm killing 2,500 to 3,000. This hurricane is why earthen dikes were built surrounding Okeechobee. On this day in 1956 black students entered Clay elementary school in Kentucky. On this day in 1972 M*A*S*H debuted. Today I will use the quotes of the British philosopher Sir Karl Popper who passed on this day in 1994 at the age of 92. Karl said, “Ignorance is not a simple lack of knowledge but an active aversion to knowledge, the refusal to know, issuing from cowardice, pride, or laziness of mind.” “The question is not how to get good people to rule; THE QUESTION IS: HOW TO STOP THE POWERFUL from doing as much damage as they can to us.” “If we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.” “It can’t happen here is always wrong.” You probably have more than enough to think about today, so I’ll stop. Abide.
