Ridley's Believe It Or Not February 12 History Red Hand Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—February 12, 2015 Trust your Thursday is off to a great. As always, I  hope you enjoy the holidays and observances, factoids and relevant quote by Abraham Lincoln,  with a smile on your face, enjoying a bowl of plum pudding, blessed with a positive attitude even though you know you will have to wade through tons of spam in your inbox, and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for a memorable event like Valentines’ Day soon approaching, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient.  You need only contact me for details.
       1. Red Hand Day—observed since 2002 internationally to create awareness of the tragic plight of some 250,000 child soldiers engaged in wars and combat, including such stalwarts of decency as ISIS as the video of a nine year old executing a prisoner shows.
       2. National Freedom To Marry Day—commemorating an unofficial holiday celebrated since 1999 to promote the right of same sex marriages.
       3. 2011 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song on this day in 2011 as part of a 4 week run Grenade by Bruno Mars, a young singer who has sold over 11 million albums and specializes in R&B, reggae and funk music.   
        4. National Plum Pudding Day—celebrating a great way to take your iron and be regular.
        5. Split Rails Not The Nation Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1809 of the “Rail Splitter,” Abraham Lincoln sadly assassinated before he could commence the healing of the nation after the Civil War. 
On this day in
     a. 1909 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a racially  diverse group composed of W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Archibald Grimke, Henry Moskowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, William English Walling, son a former slave-holding family, Florence Kelley and Charles Edward Russell.
     b. 1914 the first stone for the Lincoln Memorial was laid in Washington, D.C.  
     c. 1963 construction on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis was started.
     d. 1999 in an ignore-the-blue-dress moment, President Clinton on strict party lines was acquitted of impeachment.
     e. 2004 in response to a directive from Mayor Gavin Newsome, the San Francisco began issuing same sex marriage licenses.         
Reflections on his birthday by Abraham Lincoln:
1. “Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but, leave him when he is wrong.” Wise words the Blues should heed on this President.
2. “All men can stand adversity, but if you want to test his character, give him power.” How true in the case of executive orders and regulations coming out of D.C.
3. “You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.” Wise words to heed in schemes to redistribute wealth our current president is fixated with.
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© February 12, 2015 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
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