I was perusing books at the library and came upon a biography on Benjamin Franklin called The First American by H.W. Brands, a prolific, sexy Professor from Austin Texas.
I’ve been reading his new book on U.S. Grant, The Man Who Saved The Union, that’s quite good.
When I opened the Franklin I came upon a fact that has always moved me to tears.
It’s where Ben stood on religious liberty. He was the one responsible for the very first synagogue in Philadelphia opening its doors in 1782. That’s not the part that makes me cry though. It was when he died in 1790 at the age of 84, the entire Hebrew congregation out of gratitude for being able to worship without censure walked behind his casket through the streets of Philadelphia. The image of that is a poignant one for me. He’s the one who said, Many have quarrels about religion that never practice it. Wouldn’t that be great on a T-shirt.
I also looked up his little publication called Poor Richard’s Almanack that was filled with now famous Franklinisms like, Haste makes waste and There are no gains without pain. 
Makes old Ben sound like a colonial gym rat, doesn’t it?
There are so many, I had trouble choosing;
After crosses and losses Men grow humble and wiser (We can only hope).
One today is worth two tomorrows.
Three men keep a secret if two of them are dead (so Italian).
Visits should be short, like a winter’s day.
A lie stands on one leg, the truth on two.
Here are couple of diet tips: Eat to live, not live to eat.
Dine with little, sup with less: better still, sleep supperless.
What you would seem to be, be really.
And my personal favorite: Fish and visitors stink after three days. That’s just what I’ve been saying.
If I had to come up with a pithy phrase, what would it be?
Buying a hotdog is not the same as owning one. Hey, I’m new at this.
Ben would have been 307 years old this year. It’s a pity he didn’t actually live that long.
I think President Obama would have had a real pal there. Couldn’t you see Ben auditing a cabinet meeting in his coonskin cap? 
You know Hilary would have immediately wanted one.
Hello Bill, it’s Hill. No I will not hold. Who do we know that hunts?
Besides him. 
Humor, it lightens the load.
SB
