The Daily Dose/August 18, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
Editor’s Note: This column originally ran two years ago today. We do not like to re-hash columns, but the event is noteworthy and the column says exactly what we want to say. It has been updated for historical accuracy.
OLD TIMES THERE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN: Today marks the 59th anniversary of James Meredith becoming the first Black man to graduate from the University of Mississippi. He graduated with a degree in political science and a year earlier he had become the first Black to attend Ole Miss. He had previously attended Jackson State University and, now 89, still lives in Jackson.
Quote That Sucker: In an interview years later, Meredith talked about civil rights:
Nothing could be more insulting to me than the concept of civil rights. It means perpetual second-class citizenship for me and my kind.
Why this quote hasn’t become a fundamental part of the equality struggle in this country is beyond us. It’s not going to anytime soon, either. Short of slavery being restored, it’s hard to imagine the races getting along worse than they do now because America is as much a partisan, fractured, and bickering mess as it’s ever been. Today how one identifies themselves is as important as ever.
USA! USA!: Meredith is right, of course: the concept of civil rights does guarantee second-class citizenship for those obliged to seek them. It also guarantees second-class citizenship to those whose self-importance is such that they think they’re in a position to bestow them. A nation conceived in liberty cannot pick and choose who gets which liberty or civil right. Either all of us have them or none of us do. Either all of us are free or none of us are free. We cannot grant all liberties and rights to some citizens while only granting some liberties and rights to others. A country with second-class citizens is a second-rate nation.
The Bottom Line: Making anyone who isn’t a straight, white, male fight for rights straight, white, males take for granted demeans everyone. Mr Meredith is right.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is obliged to draw a pineapple. Today’s Diary.
…unless you are completely unable to draw, like ol’ Sparrow is…Or is not…Whichever indicates a complete inability to draw, with Fran saying my pineapple looked like a cross between a Christmas tree and a rabbit…
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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1868 – Helium is discovered by French astronomer Pierre Jannsen while observing a solar eclipse with a spectroscope in India. In October English astronomer Joseph Lockyer made a similar discovery and is also credited with the element’s discovery and the technical details of the discovery are, thankfully, beyond the scope of this item. Helium was first similarly discovered on Earth in 1881 following an eruption of Mt Vesuvius but was not isolated and observed until 1895. Helium is produced by the radioactive decay of assorted elements.
In 1983 – What History refers to as the Pine Tar Game concludes with the Kansas City Royals defeating the New York Yankees 5-4. The game had started on July 24 and was thought to have ended when George Brett of the Royals was called out following a two-run home run for having excessive pine tar on his bat, the last out in a 4-3 Yankee win. The Royals protested and American League president Lee McPhail upheld the protest and the game concluded with the Royals winning. The bat Brett used is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1979 – Chic is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Good Times. It was the fifth of eleven chart singles for the group, their fourth and final Top 10 hit, and their second and final #1 song (Le Freak, six weeks, 1978-79). The song also peaked at #5 in Great Britain, was in its fourth of six weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s #1 soul song of the year. The song was written and produced by Chic members Bernard Edwards and Nile Rogers.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
…and like all great men and a good many not so great, he had no modesty.
Gore Vidal
Lincoln
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The only Olympian to win medals in three different sports is Frank Kugler of the US, who won medals in tug-of-war, wrestling, and weightlifting at the 1904 St Louis Summer Games.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who was the plate umpire that called George Brett out for having too much pine tar on his bat? – Answer next time!
