Friday Footnote: 13!

 UNFORTUNATE AND UNLUCKY: FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Introduction:

There are three major reasons for the association of Friday the 13th being considered unlucky. One reason is from a Norse legend and the other two are from the Christian religion.

The Norse (Viking) legend relates how twelve of their gods were having dinner while in Valhalla. The trickster god, Loki, wasn't invited but arrived anyway. He caused a disturbance that resulted in the god, Hoor, shooting and killing the god, Balder, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Upon his death, the Earth darkened and mourned.

One of the Christian origins is that when the Last Supper was held, the evening before his Crucifixion, twelve disciples shared the meal with Jesus Christ. Judas, who would betray him, would have been the thirteenth person present at the meal. 

The second Christianity inspired tale concerns the Crusader initiated Order of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon (Knights Templar). They were the order created by a papal edict and charged with the protection of the holy relics and sites in Jerusalem after the Crusades. They also established the first international banking system and financed Christian pilgrims who traveled to the Holy Lands.

On Friday, 13 October, 1307, King Philip IV of France, who was heavily in debt to the order, commanded their arrest and torture before having them burned at the stake. Philip IV then had the papal edict dissolved and revoked.

Francois Sagat's misfortune?  All want to see his buttocks and not his face! 

Background:

All of us, no matter our clothing status or sexuality, have endured predicaments and situations in our lives when we've felt ourselves depressed, doomed, failure and unlucky. For some, those feelings were perhaps, in some way, associated with the number "13." More than likely, the "unlucky number" (13) was in no way related to the circumstance. It happened and our planet continues to rotate (life continued).  

For the Knights Templar, the fate of their established order and the lives of many of their followers was indeed a tragedy and it began on Friday the 13th! An historical fact based on the devious and sinister deed of the French king and his unwillingness to honour his legitimate and valid debt. Some of the Knights Templar survived the abandonment and dissolution of their order and the prestige surrounding it. Even today, numerous rumours and tales of the continued existence of the Knights Templar are believed by some and investigated by others. 

Once again, human nature manages to survive and thrive. We may never know the actual truth; that's the reason we have a convenient word such as "legend." It simply may or it may not be reality. While we know historical facts, we do have the freedom to contemplate and explore alternate theories!

One of the unfortunate reasons that the tale the Friday the 13th catastrophe remains with us now in the 21st Century is that it provides us with an explanation as to what actually happened to the papal order. They were a very exceptional group of warrior-priests who bravely and heroically involved in the care and preservation of the holy sites in and around Jerusalem and the safety of the pilgrims who visited there. 

It is easy to place the blame for their abandonment and destruction on the incompetence and irresponsible actions of King Philip IV. It helps to enhance their legend and their memory throughout history. No one can blame them. The Knight Templar are, after all, above reproach! It is the fault of the French king and it was caused by his selfish greed and blatant lack of any sort of obligation and/or responsibility. 

Undoubtedly, the inefficiency of the monarch did provide a very simple excuse in the minds of many. His reputation was common knowledge among the elite of this time. Besides, he was a flagrant fool who chose greed over his deity.

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His misfortune? Exposing himself in a parking garage!

The above .gif image shows us one of the unfortunate and extremely unlucky predicaments suffered by modern humanity. The depicted man is only an exhibitionist. He's only able to try to confuse, degrade, impose, intimidate and insult sincere and true bare practitioners! His purpose is not to exalt his nakedness. His evil intent is to shock and surprise others, no matter their clothing status and/or sexuality by exposing himself to all. In reality, he, himself, is too afraid, embarrassed and humiliated by his personal nakedness. He is indeed pathetic and needs pity! 

His discomfort and insecurity surrounding his guilt and shame over his body is the fact that he's unsure of his appearance if and when he's clothes free. He is basically apprehensive and vulnerable about his nakedness! He seriously lacks attention and recognition from his peers and resorts to exhibitionism to affirm himself. He has absolutely no courage and no self-confidence whatsoever!

It is indeed regrettable that he has no feelings nor sense of self-esteem or self-worth!

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Perhaps it is time for us all to pause for a moment and consider an examination of this numerical "name game." Is there any other lesson to be learned? After all, none of us wants to earn the designation of "Triple F!" Flagrant fool follower! 

Naked hugs!

~ Roger ~