My friends (the historical document dealers) had a lovely cocktail reception last night to celebrate the opening of their new office.
I got to speak with a descendant of Gen. Smedley Butler, who knew his ancestor only as a general and not as the person who exposed the right-wing coup attempt against Franklin Roosevelt. (He was quite surprised and said he was going to read more about it.)
There were a lot of fascinating new pieces; clink on the link to see them.
My friend made a truly moving speech about how these documents make history come alive, but the one that really fascinated me was a letter from Benjamin Franklin dated July 23rd, 1776. He wrote to his sister about a mentally retarded relative - his nephew, I think - who had wandered off from Pennsylvania Hospital (which Franklin founded here). In it, he told his sister whether she wanted to keep the young man back in the hospital or in Burlington, New Jersey, he would pay the expenses. It was signed “Your humble and most obedient servant, Benjamin Franklin.”
My friend told me because Franklin had money, he’d taken on the support of his extended family and noted that even during that most engrossing of revolutionary times, he still thought of his obligations.
All I could think of was that even 250 years later, we still don’t have any good way to make sure we take care of the most vulnerable among us.
I am surprised to learn you have a friend who owns a business- Are they truly your friends or did you have to go to the event?
Jeez, Suze, are all the quality trolls taking a long weekend or something?
I’ve had in-person comments almost as insensitive and ignorant. To many in this country, it’s still a personal defect to be poor, even temporarily — until it happens to them, in which case it’s everyone else’s fault.
Wendy isn’t the brightest sheep in the fundie Nativity scene.
She can’t even spell her last name.