The Devil rarely needs and advocate, but it can be an interesting position to take.

I find it odd to be eighty years old especially with all the health issues I have gone through in my life. I almost think my mission is to confuse my doctors.

The last three years I have been losing weight. I used to hold between 170 and 180 pounds. Now I am down to around 145 to 150 pounds. Appetite is reasonable though less by half. I have not been this thin since I was a teenager. It bothered me more than it does now. Though in a tee shirt it looks a bit scary for a guy 6 foot 3 and a half inches tall. [Grin]

'What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. . . . I will not enlarge further on your national inconsistencies. The existence of slavery in this country brands your republicanism a sham, your humanity a base pretense, and your Christianity a lie. It destroys your moral power abroad; it corrupts your politicians at home. It saps the foundation of religion; it makes your name a hissing, and a bye-word to a mocking earth. It is the antagonistic force in your government, the only thing that seriously disturbs and endangers your Union. It fetters your progress; it is the enemy of improvement, the deadly foe of education; it fosters pride; it breeds insolence; it promotes vice; it shelters crime; it is a curse to the earth that supports it; and yet, you cling to it, as if it were the sheet anchor of all your hopes. Oh! Be warned! Be warned! A horrible reptile is coiled up in your nation’s bosom; the venomous creature is nursing at the tender breast of your youthful republic; for the love of God, tear away, and fling from you the hideous monster, and let the weight of twenty millions crush and destroy it forever! . . .'

Allah Fubar *, Too lazy to read it for yourself? I have thinking for myself for most my life. But I also like reading about other intelligent people. I note you never seem to talk about your own thoughts nor present articles that cover things you find of interest. In fact too few seem to on this forum. So much for any concept of it being about any for of discussion.

When slavery is talked about, very few mention the ones that freed themselves and then helped others escape. This involved thousands at risk to themselves.