Friday

                        Musings and History

Quote of the day:

“My grandfather was killed at Custer’s Last Stand. He was camping in the next field and went over to complain about the noise.”

                                                 Joey Adams

I have never bought the premise that Moses and the Hebrews were lost for 40 years in the deserts east and southeast of Egypt.
The Egyptians for centuries had been squabbling with the Assyrians (present day Syria) or the Hittites (present day Turkey) for the control of present day Israel, Lebanon, Syria, the Jordan River valley and surrounding lands. There is no doubt that the Hebrews knew of this during their Egyptian bondage and knew that these lands were north of Egypt. North is easy to find, y'all, all you have to do is see the sunrise, put the sun on your right shoulder and you are facing north. Not only that, Moses was a soldier in the Egyptian army and without a doubt knew where these lands were. I read an explanation by a Hebrew scholar that made sense. He maintained that Moses knew that it would be imperative that they have a substantial army before beginning a campaign to capture “The Promised Land”, present day Israel. In fact, God through Joshua instructed the Hebrews to not leave anyone alive that they encountered so there would be no attacks from the rear. Right after the Exodus the Hebrews had no army at all and if they tried to invade, yes invade, up the Jordan river valley they would be slaughtered wholesale by the resident tribes. The scholar says that Moses camped in the desert 40 years to at least double the size of his army, manufacture weapons and train the army in combat tactics and discipline. After this was accomplished they began their campaign and was successful. Works for me...Moses was no dummy, y'all.

          This Date in History   January 13

1776 The so-called Battle of Prudence Island happens on this day. Prudence Island is a barrier island off the coast of Rhode Island that had but one or two structures. It was primarily used as a pasture for sheep with the structure for the shepherds. The British troops had been eyeing the sheep across the waterway hungrily. One night the British decided to cross over to Prudence Island and make off with a couple of sheep, only the pretty ones of course. They rowed over and before they could get ashore they were met with musket fire from a fairly large detachment of militia led by Patriot Captain Thomas King and are turned back, The militia had learned of the planned sheep theft a day or two before and sitting there waiting for them in the dark. The militia just was not going to give up those lovely, sensual sheep.

1128 On this date Pope Honorius II names the Knights Templar, led by Frenchman Hughes de Payens, as the “army of God”. In the year 1118 the Knights was formed to protect the Christians that are on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They took their name from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the beginning there were only 9 of them because of their very strict rules. They had to be of noble birth, take vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. By 1127 the grateful pilgrims had contributed considerable amounts of land and other valuables to the knights. Even though the knights had sworn a vow of poverty as individuals possession of lands by the organization was allowed and the Knights Templar became extremely wealthy. I’ll bet y’all can tell me what comes next. That’s right, in 1307 the Catholic Church led by Pope Clement V along with Philip IV of Spain lusted after these riches and they attacked the Knights Templar the only way they knew how and that was with religion. They dragged up the leader the Knights, Jacques DeMolay up on charges of heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. DeMolay denied these charges of course but with a little persuasion from the rack and hot irons, DeMolay acquiesced and was burned at the stake. That was pretty much the fate of the rest of the Knights. Their valuables and lands were given away to their closest rival, the Knights of Hospitaliers with a substantial chunk going to Phillip IV of Spain, Edward II of England and last but not least the Catholic Church. Later on the Catholic Church admitted wrong doing in this case and said that Pope Clement V was pressured by secular rulers to do what he did. Hey Clement V you jackass, what has the division of worldly possessions got to do with saving my soul? Thank God you have gone on to your reward. It was/is believed that the Knights Templar has possession of the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and a piece of wood from the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. It is the possibility of these objects still being in existence that has made for today’s legends and made Dan Brown, the author of The DaVinci Code a zillionaire.

1842 Early on this morning a British military doctor staggered into a British sentry post near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was the only survivor of a 16,000 British/Indian force that were attacked by extremely pissed off Afghani rebels at Khyber Pass. It seems that the ever Empirical England was attempting to expand their empire from India to include Afghanistan and blatantly interfered to the selection of the ruler of Afghanistan in that he was be a supportive of Great Britain. That 16,000 British/Indian Army was in Kabul to make sure of the transition but soon thereafter the pissed off Afghani warlords began gathering in Kabul and the British/Indian army had to choice but to withdraw. The combined warlords caught up with the British/Indian army at Khyber Pass and slaughtered them almost to a man. Only the doctor had escaped. This did not deter the British, however. They tried again and again were driven out but on the third try they were able make it stick. But not for long, the Afghanis love to fight; it is part and parcel of their makeup. The last total domination of that country was only when Alexander the Great passed through in the third century BC.

1929 Nearly fifty years after his famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt Earp died peacefully in Los Angeles. A little while after the gunfight Wyatt’s Brother Virgil was ambushed riding along a trail and a shotgun blast took out his right arm permanently but he survived. A few days later Wyatt was playing billiards with his brother Morgan when a shot came through the window and hit Morgan in the head and he was dead before he hit the floor. Wyatt and Doc Holiday left Arizona headed to California. But on the way our they killed Frank Stillwell in a Tucson rail yard and Florendento Cruz out in the desert as revenge for the murder of Morgan. Wyatt knocked around the west an occasional bartender even up in Nome, Alaska and was a temporary movie consultant in his life when he passed. He was legend, y'all.

Born today:

1884 US entertainer Sophie Tucker. She said “From birth to 18 a girl need good parents, from 18 to 36 she needs good looks, from 36 to 55 she needs a good personality, from 55 on she needs good money, that’s why I am saving.” Sophie was known as “The last of the red-hot mamas.” I think we could give that title to Brittany Spears these days

Died today:

1929 US western legend Wyatt Earp. He said “Fast is fine, accuracy is everything.” Wyatt was familiar with firearms, to say the least.

1978 US politico Hubert Humphrey. “We should not allow the shortness of funds to prevent the cities from financing needed projects.” Hubert, shut the hell up.

           Thanks for listen   I can hardly wait until tomorrow