History & Comment for March 26, 2025

 A look at historical and current events on this day, comment and humor so dry it would make a camel thirsty. 

Transcript

This is History and Comment for Wednesday the 26th of March 2025

There is nothing from ancient or medieval history on the wayback machine today.     

American Poet Robert Frost was born in 1874. A native of San Francisco, his poetry is often associated with the other side of the Country.    His Father was a journalist and his career took him to the West Coast.  The elder Frost, died when Robert was just 11.   The family moved back to Massachusetts are the urging of his Grandfathter.     While his poetry speaks of rural life, that was also counter to his actual life which was urban.  In today’s mass media, folks are more likely to know about the Marvel Universe or a dozen Television shows than any work by a writer a century past. 

The poem that comes to my mind, when Frost comes up is the 1915 work, A Road Less Traveled.    A hiker stands at a pair of diverging paths and ponders for a long while which he should take.  Knowing he will not stand at this point again.   He chooses the one less traveled.   

37 years Frost Junior,   Playwright and post Tennessee Williams is born in 1911.   While Forst congures images of New England,   Williams has more of an urban image and a bit darker.   He had several successful works, The Glass Menagerie and A Street Car named Desire are two. 

Maybe the most perplexing reference is in the 1979 song by Don Williams, Good Ole Boys like me.   There he reflects on his early life in the South and the influence of the Williams boys, Hank and Tennessee.     Hank Williams is easy to understand, but the connection to Tennessee Williams, is difficult. 

The history of the NHL is much like the history of MLB. There were lots of teams who came and went and for a year or two were in the limelight.    The Vancouver Maroons of the Pacific Hockey Association defeat the Ottawa Senators to take the Stanley Cup in 1915.   The team only operated from 1911 to 1926.   

We have talked in the past of how political parties often foster youth groups.   The plan is simple, young minds are easy to mold and indoctrinate.   In 1931,  The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union is founded in Vietnam.    Ho Chi Minh was the political leader who help to defeat the French in the 1950s and the formation of the Communist North Vietnam.   Today the Youth Union boasts  6.5 million members.  

Maybe the most iconic symbol of WW II is the raising of the flag on Mt. Suribachi.  That was part of the climax and victory in the Battle of Iwo Jima. That two day battle ended on this day in 1945.   

One of the many “be-ins” of the late 60’s takes place in NYCs Central Park.   It was estimated that 10,000 people attended.    The event was largely peaceful,   while protesting various Government programs and especially the Vietnam War.    This was an element of the entire social upheaval that in fact extended to the moral fabric of society. The highwater mark will be few months later and the Summer of Love in San Francisco. 

One interesting fact is that the old traditional globes, quickly become outdated.   Lines and name are in a constant state of flux.   In 1971,  the map showed Pakistan and East Pakistan.   East Pakistan fought and won a war for independence and became Bangladesh. 

One year ago the Marine Vessel Dali, collides with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor, collaping the span.   While the debris has been cleared the replacement will take at least more three years and is expected sometime in 2028.   

The was a story the other day out f Illinois that peaked my interest.    Governor JB Pritzker, a democrat is touring the State to reconoiter the damaged caused by President Trump’s policy.   Those are his words,   I’m inserting a certain amount of sarcasim.    

That is not the story, that is simple partisan ship and something the state is well known for.   What did catch my interest was the term used to describe the citizens of Illinois.    If you were to ask me, I would tell you the term was Illini.   But the Governor used the term Illinoisian.   I do not think I have ever heard that word.  My first thought is, this was some nod to political correctness.   We can’t use Illini as it is too Native American or simply too Indian.  Maybe I’m wrong.   In this region and I’m talking of the Old Northwest or Modern Midwest.   When French Explorers wandered the area they wrote down names often the same ones the Natives used,  but they often got French Influenced spellings and phonetics.    Remember, the natives did not have written languages.     The term Illinois,  is clearly of French origin,  but it is rooted also in the Algonquin language that was common in the North East portion of the Country, extending to the Old Northwest.    The pattern was the same in other portions of the Country but without the French influence.  Many towns and places show this pattern.  The native influence is everywhere.   

At least a couple of celebrities have moved out of the Country claiming it is being ruined and no longer tennable.    Generally, these folks are radical left in their politics.   Let’s think about this for a moment.       There are 195 countries in the world at present.    I would venture that the majority of them are autocratic, where a small minority, often a single person, rules the nation.   Very few could be considered actual democracies or republics where the will of the people is the driving force.  Now be very careful,  lots of Countries use one or both terms, but do not practice them.   The Old USSR, was a classic example.    Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.   Was in no way a republic.   

The United States is unique in its structure.   While there are a few countries, England, Canada, and Israel would be three quick examples, that have parliaments that are close to our Legislature,  their Prime Ministers are an extension of the Legislature and not an Independent branch of Government.   

Our founders looked at that system and rejected it.  They desired a way to check the legislature and divest them of power.  And at the same time, not have a monarchy that was unaccountable and above the will of the people.   

We have a system that was carefully and vigorously debated to keep human nature in check and allow the individual the most latitude and freedom to make their own way in a manner that pleased and suited them.   

If the list of famous people do not like America as she was founded, then they have the freedom to move to any one of the 194 other countries. That is what freedom is.   

Let’s look at their message.   They are honked off that America is not willing to bend to their ideas and the President is not to their liking.    Folks,  how is that different than say the House of Lords in England, where the seats are held by an elite group of society, to promote their will and interest?  

Is the President perfect and above mistakes? Absolutely not.   45 men have held that office since 1789, all have been imperfect humans and made mistakes.   Some were brilliant and some were barely functional. Some extremely noble in there character and some scoundrels.  All have been master politicians.   The America system was designed to have the least control over everyday lives as humanly possible, while leaving as much power to the people as possible.   

Mark the folks who have publicly left and take note of what they want from the Government?    Not what I just outlined.   They do not want a unique America, they want to make it like everyone else. 

Where is the fun in that.    Maybe we should take note of Robert Frost and ponder the road less taken.  

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