It is now September 12, 2023. Seems like only yesterday it was September 11th. Time flies. The days go faster once you’re over the hill. You know the routine by now: think happy, be happy. Today is National Ants on a Log, National Chocolate Milkshake Day, National Day of Encouragement, National Report Medicare Fraud Day, and Video Games Day. September is also Be Kind to Editors & Writers Month and California Wine Month. September 11th is the traditional date of the Battle of Marathon fought in 490 BC when a small army of Athenians defeated the Persian Empire. On this day in 1624 the world’s first submarine was demonstrated for King James I on the Thames River in London. On this day in 1755 Casanova was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment in Venice. No specific reason given and there was no trial. Probably involved with the wrong wife. On this day in 1857 the steamship SS Central America sunk in a hurricane off Cape Romain, South Carolina. It was carrying several tons of gold coins and bricks from the California gold rush. It was recovered in 1988. On this day in 1944 US troops entered Germany for the 1st time. This is the day in 1958 that the US Supreme Court ordered the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas to integrate. I remember the chaos. On this day in 1960 John F. Kennedy stated that he did not speak for the Roamn Catholic Church, and neither did the Church speak for him. Electing a Catholic President was a big deal. Today’s quotes come from South African anti-apartheid leader Steven Biko who said, “You can beat me or jail me or even kill me, but I’m not going to be what you want me to be.” “The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” “I would like to remind the black ministry and indeed all black people that God is not in the habit of coming down from heaven to solve people’s problems on earth.” “A community is easily divided when their perception of the same thing is different.” That is a powerful observation and a good place to stop. Abide.
