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I at first thought to write some honest memories of the many derisive phrases about President John F. Kennedy that I heard on the day of his assassination fifty years ago and throughout that week.
My hometown was a Republican town in Indiana and Kennedy was not lauded by all as is currently supposed. He was a Catholic, which was at the time in that locale tantamount to being a cultish lover of the Pope and dedicated to raising the Pope to a position of World Dictator. I'm not making it up. That's how is was back then in that little farming town when I was in my early twenties.
But then I decided not to write about it after all. Who would believe me? Who would believe that a majority of the comments I heard during the week following the assassination were, for example: "It's 'bout time we finally got that Papist bastard out of the White House" and "Good for Oswald!" And much, much more of the same.
No. It's better that I write nothing more here in the blog about the real truth of the matter.
So I won't.
I looked out my bedroom window a moment ago and saw several large puddles of water that had accumulated during the night, and the sky was filled with black clouds from over the mountains. The TV weather forecasters had last night reported that a big storm system was headed this way and would bring both showers and heavy downpours to the Tucson area over the coming two or three day period.
So I guess that I will not go for my usual walk this morning.
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Did You Know . . .?
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair than do less intelligent people.
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HISTORICAL EVENT
Forty-five minutes after the assassination, Oswald was seen hurrying through the Dallas streets by police officer J.D. Tippit, who identified him as matching the description of Kennedy's killer. When Tippit attempted to apprehend him, Oswald shot him to death with a revolver and fled.
In the early afternoon, police converged on the Texas Theater, where Oswald had been spotted. Inside, Oswald punched an approaching officer and withdrew a pistol. The gun misfired and other police officers grabbed him. "I am not resisting arrest," Oswald cried as he was dragged out in front of an angry crowd of onlookers. "Don't hit me anymore! I want a lawyer!" In fact, Oswald would never require the services of an attorney because he was shot and killed by Dallas restaurant owner Jack Ruby as he was being transferred from the police station to the county jail two days later.
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WORD FOR TODAY
stigmata
noun
marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Christ
Stigmata (singular stigma) is a term used by members of the Christian faith to describe body marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ, such as the hands, wrists, and feet.
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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
(born November 22, 1958)
Jamie Lee Curtis is an American actress and author. Although she was initially known as a "scream queen" because of her starring roles in several horror films early in her career, such as Halloween, The Fog, Prom Night, and Terror Train. Curtis has since compiled a body of work that spans many genres. Her 1998 book, Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day, made the best-seller list in The New York Times. Curtis has appeared in advertisements, and is a blogger for The Huffington Post.
(Nov 22, 1921 - Oct 5, 2004)
Rodney Dangerfield was an American comedian and actor, known for the catchphrase "I don't get no respect!" and his monologues on that theme. He is also remembered for his 1980s film roles, especially in Easy Money, Caddyshack, and Back to School.
(born November 22, 1961)
Mariel Hemingway (granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway) is an American actress and author. She began acting at age 16 in a breakout role in Lipstick and is best known for her roles in Manhattan (for which she received an Oscar nomination), Star 80, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. She has starred in and co-produced videos about yoga and holistic living. She published a memoir in 2002.
(born November 22, 1940)
Terry Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam has directed several films, including Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), The Fisher King (1991), 12 Monkeys (1995), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009).
The only "Python" not born in Britain, he became a naturalized British citizen in 1968. In 2006, he formally renounced his American citizenship.
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"As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities."
--Voltaire
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