The Lament for August
One of the Saddest Months?
 |
| That's me in the blue shirt |
First a big thank you! My last post regarding the Constitution had among the most readers of any one in my many years of posting. There must have been some serious sharing and I greatly appreciate it.
And now for something completely different . . .
What is that I smell in the August air? Could it be Pronto Pups and cheese curds? Yes, the State Fair must be just around the corner! (And with it the first hint of winter?) Sorry, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there’s enough time to lament the cold scourge coming for us Minnesotan's. First, let’s talk about one of my least favorite months of the year (and coincidentally the second consecutive one named after a Roman emperor.)
Why is that you may ask (but probably shouldn’t?) Well, let me tell you how summer goes.
First is lovely May; nice weather and no bugs. Then June, the first real month of summer. The weather is (usually) very pleasant, flowers in full bloom and the smell of newly cut green grass. Then July comes along and we really crank up the activities outside, 4th of July, the weather is nice and warm - the heart of summer with everybody smiling. Then, slowly the calendar turns and step by step . . .
We start to get tired of hot, muggy weather. As the month wears on, mowing the grass becomes more and more of a pain in the arse. We are picnicked out, kids are bored, lakes turn yucky - and we start to look forward to the cool breezes of September. (While trying to forget the first hint of colored leaves.)
Then, of course, summer is over and it's winter solstice here we come.
In an effort to generate some sympathy and love for August, let us look at some interesting factoids about this desultory month - with helpful comments by moi.
August 1, 1944 - Anne Frank penned her last entry into her diary. Three days later, Anne and her family were arrested and sent to Nazi concentration camps. Anne died at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp on March 15, 1945, at age 15. There are some people who feel that the book, “Anne Frank’s Diary,” should be banned. (Too depressing? To explicit? Only in America.) Those people should be banned! If you go to Amsterdam the Anne Frank House is a must see.
 |
| Anne Frank House - Eight people hid on the top floors of the annex indoors for two freaking years before being ratted out and killed. |
Birthday - Star-Spangled Banner author Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) was born in Frederick County, Maryland. Some years later he wrote the poem originally entitled Defense of Fort McHenry which became the U.S. National Anthem in 1931. Little did he know that The Star Spangled Banner would turn into a song so stinking difficult to sing that it would embarrass many great singers at the start of countless football games (and apparently some drunk ones too.)
Birthday - Moby Dick author Herman Melville (1819-1891) was born in New York. I guess they had a whale of party for little Herman! (I'm sorry, that's uncalled for and I don't have a leg to stand on for an excuse.)
August 2, 1776 - In Philadelphia, most of the 55 members of the Continental Congress signed the parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence. Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute - MOST signed? Also, we've been shooting off fireworks a month too early?!
August 2, 1939 - Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt concerning the possibility of atomic weapons. "A single bomb of this type carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory." Einstein, known for understatement, just said: E=mc squared
Most of us would say, Holy $#@t, it's a REALLY big bomb!
August 3, 1492 - Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with three ships, Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Seeking a westerly route to the Far East, he instead landed on October 12th in the Bahamas, thinking it was an outlying Japanese island. The folks in the Bahamas REALLY wished he had landed in Japan.
Birthday - Gray Panthers founder Maggie Kuhn (1905-1995) was born in Buffalo, New York. After she was forced into mandatory retirement at age 65, she founded the Gray Panthers organization to fight age discrimination and succeeded in the banning of mandatory retirement in most professions. Sadly, this was taken to heart by countless American politicians.
August 4
August 3, 1492 - Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with three ships, Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Seeking a westerly route to the Far East, he instead landed on October 12th in the Bahamas, thinking it was an outlying Japanese island. The folks in the Bahamas REALLY wished he had landed in Japan.
Birthday - Gray Panthers founder Maggie Kuhn (1905-1995) was born in Buffalo, New York. After she was forced into mandatory retirement at age 65, she founded the Gray Panthers organization to fight age discrimination and succeeded in the banning of mandatory retirement in most professions. Sadly, this was taken to heart by countless American politicians.
August 4
Birthday - Barack Obama the 44th U.S. President was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1961. Yeah, right, like he’s really an American citizen.
(19 years later, Dear Leader's daughter no. 2 is born and a real citizen she is! Happy Birthday, MKP!)
August 6, 1965 - The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Act suspended literacy, knowledge and character tests designed to keep African Americans from voting in the South. Almost 60 years later, a Supreme Court ruling said this act was no longer necessary in southern states. Trust them, they also fixed Roe V Wade and Presidential immunity.
Birthday - Penicillin discoverer Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) was born in Lochfield, Scotland. Many GIs later heaved a great sigh of relief.
August 7, 1964 - Following an attack on two U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnam, the U.S. Congress approved the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting President Lyndon B. Johnson authority "to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States. The beginning of 1st "police action" and destination in a land far, far away in Dear Leader's military career. (Not to mention costing over 58,000 American lives.)
August 7, 1990 - Just five days after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, President George H. W. Bush ordered Desert Shield, a massive military buildup to prevent further Iraqi advances. 3rd – and final - Dear Leader police action. How about that for symmetry?! (2nd police action occurred in Panama in January of same year, so a twofer.)
Birthday - International spy Mata Hari (1876-1917) was born (as Margaret Gertrude Zelle) in Leewarden, Netherlands. Arrested by the French in 1917 as a German spy, she was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. At her execution, she refused a blindfold and instead threw a kiss to the French firing squad. Sacr'e bleu, now zat is hutzpah!
August 8, 1945 - Soviet Russia declared war on Japan and sent troops into Japanese-held Manchuria. Very brave of them – right after the second atom bomb.
August 9, 1974 - Effective at noon, Richard M. Nixon resigned the presidency as a result of the Watergate scandal. Facing possible impeachment by Congress, he became the only U.S. President ever to resign. Today he might be slapped on the back by his party and encouraged to stay on.
August 11, 1841 - Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, spoke before an audience in the North for the first time. During an anti-slavery convention on Nantucket Island, he gave a powerful, emotional account of his life as a slave. He was immediately asked to become a full-time lecturer for the Massachusetts Antislavery Society. For some reason he did not give any speeches south of New York.
August 15, 1969 - Woodstock began in a field near Yasgur's Farm at Bethel, New York. The three-day concert featured 24 rock bands and drew a crowd of more than 300,000 young people. Apparently, all were properly dressed, well behaved, and just enjoyed the music. Okay, with an occasional beer. And a joint. Naked. In the mud.
August 16, 1977 - Elvis Presley was pronounced dead at the Memphis Baptist Hospital at 3:30 p.m., at age 42. A shame, his life went right down the toilet. (Again, sorry, I was just so flush with excitement to share.)
August 17, 1998- Bill Clinton became the first sitting President to give testimony and then appeared on national television and gave a speech admitting he had engaged in an improper relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Then impeached, how quaint (and certainly the equal of trying to overturn an election, right?)
Birthday - American frontiersman Davy Crockett (1786-1836) was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He perished at age 49 during the final heroic defense of the Alamo in Texas. He is said to have yelled out, “Man oh man, why did I remember the Alamo?!"
August 18, 1920 - The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote. The vote was very close. 89 Representatives and 25 Senators voted against it. Allegedly "Lysistrata" soon became a household word in 114 households. (I knew World Lit 101 would come in handy some day.)
August 19, 1934 - In Germany, a plebiscite was held in which 89.9 percent of German voters approved granting Chancellor Adolf Hitler additional powers, including the office of president. Gee, that sounds like a great idea – let’s do that here! Oh, that's right, SCOTUS is already trying.
Birthday - Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President was born in Hope, Arkansas, August 19, 1946. He was the first President elected who was not alive during World War II. The first in a long line of “great” babyboomer presidents. As noted, he was also the first president (to be caught) doing something naughty in the White House.
August 21, 1959 - President Dwight D, Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Hawaii to the Union as the 50th state. Whew, lucky for Obama!
August 24, 1572 - Thousands of Protestant Huguenots were massacred in Paris and throughout France by Catholics, in what became known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Obviously, those Huguenots made a big mistake; they were the wrong kind of Christian i.e. Protestants.
Birthday - American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Considered one of the finest conductors in American music history.
Say it loud and it's a crowd cheering,
Birthday - American inventor Lee De Forest (1873-1961) was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He held hundreds of patents for inventions and was also a pioneer in the creation of wireless radio broadcasting and television. Iowa - always with the troublemakers.In a way you can blame him for the Kardashians, Big Brother, The Bachelor, and other reality shows
Birthday - Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was born (as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) in Skopje, Yugoslavia. She founded a religious order of nuns in Calcutta, India, called the Missionaries of Charity and spent her life working to help the poor and sick of India. Despite all the good things she was responsible for, apparently she was personally one of the worst people in the world. Isn't life strange?
August 28, 1963 - The March on Washington occurred as over 250,000 attended a Civil Rights rally in Washington, D.C., at which Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his now-famous I Have a Dream speech. Almost matched on Jan 6, 2021 when thousands of proud patriots were encouraged to go visit the Capital and see if they could hang the Vice President.
Birthday - Frankenstein author Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was born in London. Much later the sequel, "Young Frankenstein" was born and young men everywhere memorized many lines from the movie. Abbey. . .normal, anyone?
August 31, 1997 - Britain's Princess Diana died at age 36 from massive internal injuries suffered in a high-speed car crash, reportedly after being pursued by photographers. No Joke, what a stupid way to die - who knew that goofs with cameras could be so dangerous?
A little Augustian music. . .
First Day in August Carole King
Cold Wind in August Van Morrison
 |
| "Don’t tax you. Don’t tax me. Tax the guy behind the tree." LA Sen. Russell Long |
August 5, 1861 - President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the first Federal income tax, a 3 percent tax on incomes over $800 Thus began whining by millionaires about taxation without owning representatives.
August 5, 2011 - Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency downgraded the United States debt from its highest rating of AAA to a lesser AA+ rating, marking the first-ever decline of credit worthiness for the U.S. The agency cited America’s $14 trillion in outstanding debt and ineffective political leadership regarding debt reduction. Ha ha ha, we laugh at $14 trillion today. Our political leadership is so much better - now it's $35 trillion!
August 5, 2011 - Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency downgraded the United States debt from its highest rating of AAA to a lesser AA+ rating, marking the first-ever decline of credit worthiness for the U.S. The agency cited America’s $14 trillion in outstanding debt and ineffective political leadership regarding debt reduction. Ha ha ha, we laugh at $14 trillion today. Our political leadership is so much better - now it's $35 trillion!
August 6, 1965 - The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Act suspended literacy, knowledge and character tests designed to keep African Americans from voting in the South. Almost 60 years later, a Supreme Court ruling said this act was no longer necessary in southern states. Trust them, they also fixed Roe V Wade and Presidential immunity.
Birthday - Penicillin discoverer Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) was born in Lochfield, Scotland. Many GIs later heaved a great sigh of relief.
August 7, 1964 - Following an attack on two U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnam, the U.S. Congress approved the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting President Lyndon B. Johnson authority "to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States. The beginning of 1st "police action" and destination in a land far, far away in Dear Leader's military career. (Not to mention costing over 58,000 American lives.)
August 7, 1990 - Just five days after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, President George H. W. Bush ordered Desert Shield, a massive military buildup to prevent further Iraqi advances. 3rd – and final - Dear Leader police action. How about that for symmetry?! (2nd police action occurred in Panama in January of same year, so a twofer.)
 |
| "Do you think this hat makes me look silly?" "Of course not, dear" (Good answer!) |
Birthday - International spy Mata Hari (1876-1917) was born (as Margaret Gertrude Zelle) in Leewarden, Netherlands. Arrested by the French in 1917 as a German spy, she was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. At her execution, she refused a blindfold and instead threw a kiss to the French firing squad. Sacr'e bleu, now zat is hutzpah!
August 8, 1945 - Soviet Russia declared war on Japan and sent troops into Japanese-held Manchuria. Very brave of them – right after the second atom bomb.
August 9, 1974 - Effective at noon, Richard M. Nixon resigned the presidency as a result of the Watergate scandal. Facing possible impeachment by Congress, he became the only U.S. President ever to resign. Today he might be slapped on the back by his party and encouraged to stay on.
August 11, 1841 - Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, spoke before an audience in the North for the first time. During an anti-slavery convention on Nantucket Island, he gave a powerful, emotional account of his life as a slave. He was immediately asked to become a full-time lecturer for the Massachusetts Antislavery Society. For some reason he did not give any speeches south of New York.
 |
| Grace Kelly |
 |
| Tippi Hedren |
 |
| Janet Leigh |
Birthday - British film director Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) was born in London. His suspenseful films included classics such as The 39 Steps, Rebecca, Suspicion, Notorious, Rear Window, The Birds, Psycho and Frenzy, in addition to his American TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Just four of many - apparently old Al really preferred blonds.
August 14, 1935 - President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act establishing the system which guarantees pensions to those who retire at age 65. Of course people died long before that back then - and some Republicans still think it’s a stupid idea.
 |
| Just imagine, many of these folks are sitting in a nursing home today trying to revisit this |
August 15, 1969 - Woodstock began in a field near Yasgur's Farm at Bethel, New York. The three-day concert featured 24 rock bands and drew a crowd of more than 300,000 young people. Apparently, all were properly dressed, well behaved, and just enjoyed the music. Okay, with an occasional beer. And a joint. Naked. In the mud.
August 16, 1977 - Elvis Presley was pronounced dead at the Memphis Baptist Hospital at 3:30 p.m., at age 42. A shame, his life went right down the toilet. (Again, sorry, I was just so flush with excitement to share.)
August 17, 1998- Bill Clinton became the first sitting President to give testimony and then appeared on national television and gave a speech admitting he had engaged in an improper relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Then impeached, how quaint (and certainly the equal of trying to overturn an election, right?)
 |
| Geez, I knew we shouldn't have ordered Mexican |
August 18, 1920 - The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote. The vote was very close. 89 Representatives and 25 Senators voted against it. Allegedly "Lysistrata" soon became a household word in 114 households. (I knew World Lit 101 would come in handy some day.)
BTW only REAL American women won the right to vote – white women.
August 19, 1934 - In Germany, a plebiscite was held in which 89.9 percent of German voters approved granting Chancellor Adolf Hitler additional powers, including the office of president. Gee, that sounds like a great idea – let’s do that here! Oh, that's right, SCOTUS is already trying.
Birthday - Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President was born in Hope, Arkansas, August 19, 1946. He was the first President elected who was not alive during World War II. The first in a long line of “great” babyboomer presidents. As noted, he was also the first president (to be caught) doing something naughty in the White House.
August 21, 1959 - President Dwight D, Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Hawaii to the Union as the 50th state. Whew, lucky for Obama!
August 24, 1572 - Thousands of Protestant Huguenots were massacred in Paris and throughout France by Catholics, in what became known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Obviously, those Huguenots made a big mistake; they were the wrong kind of Christian i.e. Protestants.
Birthday - American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Considered one of the finest conductors in American music history.
 |
| Lizzy, I've just met a girl named Lizzy . . . |
Say it loud and it's a crowd cheering,
Say it soft and it's a putt I am fearing
(Yes, everything comes back to golf.)
Birthday - American inventor Lee De Forest (1873-1961) was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He held hundreds of patents for inventions and was also a pioneer in the creation of wireless radio broadcasting and television. Iowa - always with the troublemakers.In a way you can blame him for the Kardashians, Big Brother, The Bachelor, and other reality shows
Birthday - Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was born (as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) in Skopje, Yugoslavia. She founded a religious order of nuns in Calcutta, India, called the Missionaries of Charity and spent her life working to help the poor and sick of India. Despite all the good things she was responsible for, apparently she was personally one of the worst people in the world. Isn't life strange?
August 28, 1963 - The March on Washington occurred as over 250,000 attended a Civil Rights rally in Washington, D.C., at which Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his now-famous I Have a Dream speech. Almost matched on Jan 6, 2021 when thousands of proud patriots were encouraged to go visit the Capital and see if they could hang the Vice President.
 |
| Where wolf? |
Birthday - Frankenstein author Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was born in London. Much later the sequel, "Young Frankenstein" was born and young men everywhere memorized many lines from the movie. Abbey. . .normal, anyone?
August 31, 1997 - Britain's Princess Diana died at age 36 from massive internal injuries suffered in a high-speed car crash, reportedly after being pursued by photographers. No Joke, what a stupid way to die - who knew that goofs with cameras could be so dangerous?
I'm sure you're sorry to see it end but that concludes this month's brief history and pop culture lesson.
History
is full of what Malcolm Gladwell calls “tipping points.” Those are, “the
moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point." After which
massive change occurs. There were such times right before the Civil War, WWI,
the Great Depression, WWII, and perhaps with the internet too. If you look at some of the things that happened just in the month of August you can see how many of them were followed by change, maybe not massive but definitely important change. I
would suggest that we are facing such a point soon and as with
every other tipping point, it could change everything for better - or for worse.
For now, enjoy the remaining warm, decent weather. Don't even think about what's coming in quick succession: state fair, the autumn equinox, bagging leaves, Halloween, the
election (ugh), Thanksgiving, and then greatest day of the year, the winter solstice, and of course
Christmas. So don't worry about old Dear Leader, just go ahead and enjoy your August, I'll be fine. . .
(93 days until the election.)
A little Augustian music. . .
First Day in August Carole King
Cold Wind in August Van Morrison
Comments
Post a Comment