History & Comment for May 9, 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 Friday the 9th of May 2025.

Of course the big news is an American Cardinal was elected Pope.       The significance of this event to 1.4 billion Catholics does not escape me.   That does not mean I do not have a few thoughts.    

The funniest comment I have seen is the observation that a Cubs Fan was elected Pope by a bunch of Cardinals.    I can see the humor in that.    This first morning, less than 24 hour in, we already have a controversity.   ABC news has an interview with his Brother,  it seems the new Pope is not a Cubs fan,  like his Mother’s family,   or a Cardinal fan like his Father, but a White Sox fan.  

An American Pope with family the media can interview is making things interesting.   One story is that as a child he was playing priest and offering communion with NEECO candy as the host.   With children I would call that sincere.   

On a more serious note.  I respect the fact that there is a wide range of worship styles and the Catholics are on the one extreme, highly structured and subdued.    Putting emphasis on tradition and order.    My tradition is on the other extreme.   Very freestyle and I tend to think puts emphasis on personal involvement.   That is not to say that on some occasions a sedate and thoughtful service is not a nice change.   

Recently I was talking to a Catholic Friend who comment on our style as scarry.  I will grant it is different if you are accustomed to Holy Silence and rote prayers.   In all likelihood there are Catholics who are sincere in their worship.   But there are also some who are just nominal and other who are going through the motions with little thought to the reason behind the symbolism.   My guess is the latter’s prayers are not going higher than the ceiling.  I can find scripture for that assertion.  

I tuned in to the news feed when the story broke.  Go and find a recording and look for yourself.   There was a crowd of thousands gathered, cheering, dancing, simply awe struck and I would venture every conceivable emotion.   Why is it appropriate to express outward emotion at the election of a man.  We can debate exactly what the office is from now to the cows come home.    But yesterday morning he was an ordinary man.   Now the Catholics are not alone in this regard.   But they do take it to a very high level.     Then cloture worship to God deep in pomp and ceremony?   

It is not fair to think that Catholic lay people are not sincere. Certainly some are, and some are just nominal.   That can be said of any group of people or Church group.   

I guess I would think more if the Catholics put as much personal energy into worshiping God as they do the ceremony and symbolism.    

I have an analogy,   since it is Spring we will use baseball   and MLB at that.    Most days of the week from May to October thousands of people stream to ball parks across the country.  They are spectators and fans.  They put a lot of effort, time and money into the endevor.  To sit in the stands, wear various grade of replica uniforms and so on.     They are not ball players.      That is where is see orthodox worship,  doing lots of things to be close to worship, but are they players?   

The Mahindra tractor company just introduced as new side by side.    Folks it looks very close to a reconstituted early generation Jeep.   It’s called a Roxor.  

IN the year 328, A-THA-na-si-us is elected Patriarch of Alexandria.    We do not give Alexandria much thought but in many ways it rivialed or surpassed Roman as a Church Center.   The fact that is was sacked by Muslims in the 7th Century, about the time the Roman Church was getting firmly established may account of some of this.    If you want to discuss the doctrine of the trinity, Athanasius, is your man, who promoted it and was influential three years earlier in the writing of the Nicean Creed.     The Eastern and Coptic Churches both consider the Patriarch of Alexandria on par or greater than the Bishop of Rome.   

The English puppet character Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance on a London street corner.  The year is 1662.  Mr. Punch and his wife Judy are a classic English skit and characters.  

Thomas Blood is an Irish-borne English character.   Not a fictional character, but a real life character.   He was a political power and depending on the time a friend or foe of the Crown.   After a few weeks of laying a deep back story, he manage to remove the crown jewels from the Tower of London, but they are dropped in the escape and Blood is captured.   He manages to get a pardon from King Charles the 2nd.   

Scottish Author and playwright, James Matthew Barrie was born on this day in 1860.  He is the creator of Peter Pan.   The concept of the boy that will never grow up is rooted in Barrie’s personal experience.   He had an older brother die in a skating accident.  The older brother was his Mother’s favorite and she greatly grieved the loss.   The loss and his and his mother’s reaction resulted in the concept of The Boy who never grew up.   The theme will be central to Peter Pan and other Barrie works.    So much so we might call it an obsession.  

In 20th Century Wars there was often a national surrender, often with great ceremony.   This was not the case in the American Civil War.   While the surrender at Appomattox is consider the national surrender it was just one army, albeit the largest in the Confederacy.   On this day in 1865 Nathan Bedford Forrest surrender his cavalry forces at Gainesville, Alabama.   Forrest has been a major force in the Western Region.    Forrest has become one of the 21st Centuries favorite whipping boys in the name of revisionism.   He is best judged for his actions in the context of the period and not ours.   He might be a very worthy study.   

While Forrest is surrendering out West.  President Jackson issues a proclamation that foreign nations should either intern or expel Confederate Ships.   

The Birth Control Pill is introduced in 1960.

There has been a lot of talk in recent years of impeaching a President.   These have always been highly partisan affairs.   In 1974, it was quite a different case.  The House Committee on the Judiciary opens formal impeachment hearings against President Nixon.   The difference was in Nixon’s case his party was turning against him.   

There should be a serious look at the Watergate case and more recent political scandals.    Clearly, Nixon used his office to cover up a two-bit breakin.    I will content the entire affair pales in comparison to the extent the Biden Administration went to against President Trump.   For that matter we should also consider a couple of Hillary Clinton’s messes.  I think if they would get a fair airing it would be clear they were much more nefarious than anything Nixon done.   The difference was the Republicans dropped their support when evidence was made public and Democrats will remain in lock step.    The affect of the media was and is a major factor.    

45 years ago a Liberian freight ship collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, causing a large section to collapse.  The replacement will open in 1987.

Five Years ago,  the Covid-19 recession pushes unemployment to almost 15%,  the highest level in 90 years. 

Candian born County Singer Hank Snow is born in 1914.    Like many his road to stardom was far from easy or quick.  He was becoming popular across Canada and had a record contract there before moving to Nashville in 1949.   Snow was a native of Nova Scotia, which might explain his odd diction and vocal style.    

Snow had established himself in the US market when he was offered at song by Australian writer Geoff Mack called I’ve been everywhere.     Mack had written the song with Australian place names.   Snow liked the song, but though the concept needed American names to work. Mack with an atlas in hand, rewrote the song.    Others have written British and New Zealand versions. 

Actress Candice Bergen is 79.    She is the daughter of early ventrolquest Edgar Bergen, who was popular with his Puppet Charlie McCarthy.    There is a sad tale that Candice felt she had to compete with Charlie for her Fathers attention. 

On a more normal note.  Singer Billy Joel is 76 today. 

Hockey Hall of Famer and now General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings Steve Yzerman is 60 today.   

Freestyle Motorcross Rider and Mentor Brian Deegan is 51 today. If the name sounds familiar, he is the Father and Coach to son Haiden Deegan, who made news recently for street racing, illegallly.   Then there is older daughter Hallie who is racing NASCAR and younger sibling Hudson, who has a few YouTube videos to his credit.   

If you folks know who Pooh is… Send her Birthday greetings today.  

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