In celebration of human difference, and as a #MidnightMeditations entry, on #ThisDayInHistory was born the American author #EdgarAllanPoe. Some of his poetry was powerfully appealing to me at an earlier point in my life.
Anthropologist #DavidGraeber died on #ThisDayInHistory in 2020. His work remains important for any of us who work for a better world. #MidnightMeditations
For this #MidnightMeditations, let's wish #MelBrooks a happy 99th birthday, as on #ThisDayInHistory in 1926 the great comedian was born in New York City.
I'll post a #MidnightMeditations early as I'm tired. On #ThisDayInHistory in 1869, #EmmaGoldman was born in Lithuania. She was a strong influence on me as a kid for her uncompromising love of #freedom, her #feminism, and for advocating #equality of rights and opportunity for all.
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1905 was born #JeanPaulSartre, the French #existentialist philosopher and #Marxist political activist. #Sartre was a key early influence on my thinking and I continue to find sources of inspiration when revisiting his work.
(An early #MidnightMeditations.)
I'll post an early #MidnightMeditations entry on #SigmundFreud, because he was born on #ThisDayInHistory in 1856, and also because I started my day recounting a bizarre dream to my partner and we had fun speculating on its meaning. Seems most characters in it were really her. πŸ˜‰
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1677, the #Dutch philosopher #BaruchSpinoza died. A pioneer in #HigherCriticism for scripture, #Spinoza's work in #ethics & #ontology inspired #Enlightenment deists & scientists, as well as later perspectivists like #Nietzsche.
#MidnightMeditations
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1895 #FrederickDouglass died. In a time of rising #authoritarianism and irrational #bigotry, we need people willing to light the fires of #revolution once again. Don't sit this out; history is watching us all. #MidnightMeditations