March 6th, 2022. Since man’s inhumanity is now the focus of attention, I’ll begin with a couple of quotes about “war”. Herodotus said, “In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.” George McGovern said, ‘I’m fed up with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.” Unfortunately, history shows us that humans seem to like to wear uniforms and kill each other. Ah well. This happens to be Alamo Day, National Frozen Food Day, National Oreo Cookie Day, National Dress Day, and White Chocolate Cheesecake Day. Plenty of sweet celebratory events. Now the history of this date: This is the day in 1810 that Illinois passed the 1st state vaccination legislation. On this day in 1831 Edgar Allen Poe was kicked out of West Point for disobedience of orders. He refused to attend formations, classes, or church. It’s Alamo Day because this is the day in 1836 that the Alamo fell. After 13 days of fighting 1,500-3,000 Mexican soldiers overwhelm the Texan defenders, killing 182-257 Texans including William Travis, Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett. In 1857 in the Dred Scott Decision, the US Supreme Court on a 6 to 3 vote ruled Africans cannot be US citizens. This decision was overruled by the 14th Amendment passed after the Civil War. This is the day in 1899 that “Aspirin” (acetylsalicylic acid) was patented by Felix Hoffmann at German company Bayer. On this day in 1950 Silly Putty was first sold. Today I’m reading the quotes of Pearl S. Buck who stopped living in 1973 at the age of 80. Here are a few of her observations: “The test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless members.” “None but the ignorant can be bored by life. To the lovers of learning, life is pure adventure shared with adventurers.” On this day in 1935 Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. died in 1935. I’ll end with a his quotes: “The mark of a civilized man is his willingness to re-examine his most cherished beliefs.” “I like to pay taxes. With them, I buy civilization.” “Young men know the rules, but old men know the exceptions.” Abide.
