Raoul Wallenberg

1706 – Benjamin Franklin, statesman and inventor, was born.  At the age of 26, he outlined a list of virtues, which he then attempted to emulate in his daily life.  The following is taken from wikipedia:

These are the virtues[13] that Benjamin Franklin used to develop what he called ‘moral perfection’. He had a checklist in a notebook to measure each day how he lived up to his virtues. They became known through Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography.

1. Temperance: Eat not to Dullness. Drink not to Elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation.
3. Order: Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. Waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no Time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity: Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

1931 – James Earl Jones, Actor and the voice of Darth Vader, was born.  If my life was to be narrated by anyone, I would have it be James Earl Jones, followed by Morgan Freeman.  Here Jones is in a scene from one of my favorite movies:  Field of Dreams.

1945 - Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited with saving tens of thousands of Jews from the Nazis, was arrested by secret police in Hungary and never heard from again.  To read more about Wallenberg, click here.  Wallenberg once said, “I encounter one example after another of how relative truth is.”

1956 – Paul Young, Rock singer, was born.  Young was one of my favorites in the early 80s.  Below is a video:  Love of the Common People.