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6-22-03. Since President George Bush declared an end to the War in Iraq on May 1, there have been nineteen more U.S. troop deaths by hostile actions, the most recent one dying from a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Khan Azad. In addition, thirty-seven have died in nonhostile ways. Senators are urging Bush to clarify that U.S. occupation in Iraq is on a "five-year plan." About 150,000 troops are stationed in Iraq.
According to Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, a possible presidential contender and ranking Democrat on foreign relations, "it's time the president leveled with the American people, because no foreign policy can be sustained without the informed consent of the American people. They have not been informed of that fact."
There have been continued raids by U.S. troops to capture the militants responsible for recent attacks against soldiers. An interim Iraqi administration is expected to be established in the next six weeks.
6-22-03. Stand-up comedian, Aaron Barschak, 36, gatecrashed Prince William's "Out-of-Africa" themed fancy dress 21st birthday party on Saturday. More than 300 guests and the entire British royal family was present. The comic was unarmed and is now in custody at a Thames Valley police station. According to his father, who identified him to the press, Barschak routinely dresses up as Osama bin Laden and goes by the monikder "the comedy terrorist."
Reportedly, the man stumbled on stage while Prince William was thanking his father Prince Charles and grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and grabbed the microphone Prince William was holding. At first, guests thought he was part of the entertainment.
6-22-03. The comic-book movie adaptation of "The Hulk" broke box office records for a June opening, raking in $62.6 million its debut weekend and stealing the top spot from the animated movie "Finding Nemo." "The Hulk" starring Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, and Nick Nolte, earned the highest gross ever for a June opening, beating the previous record of $54.9 million by "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me;" however, "Austin Powers" sold a little more tickets.
In perspective, "The Hulk" has not done as well as "X2: X-Men United," which grossed $85.6 million in its opening weekend in May. The first "X-Men" movie opend at $54.5 million. 2002's "Spider-Man" opened with $114.8 million.
The movie, directed by Oscar winner Ang Lee, of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" fame cost Universal Studios $150 million to make. Unlike the TV version, Hulk is computerized in this adaptation of a young Bruce Banner who has his genes radically altered in a failed laboratory experiment. Part action, part Greek tragedy, "The Hulk" is a story where the sins of the father are revisited on the son. In the movie, David Banner, played by Nick Nolte, is working on a scientific experiment that deals with regeneration, starfish, and radiation. An Army official bans his experiment, so he uses himself as a guinea pig. His altered DNA is passed on to his son, Bruce, whho learns to suppress his anger and grows into an introverted man who believes his parents died in a car accident. Bruce catches a dose of gamma radiation that unleashes his anger, transforming him into a fifteen-foot not so jolly Green Giant. Accordng to Eric Bana, who stars as David Banner / The Hulk, "I like the depth. It's something we haven't seen before [in an action flick]."
6-22-03. Harry Potter fans are ecstatic. The wait is over for the latest installment of J.K. Rowling's book phenomenon. Fifth in a series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," had many U.S. kids staying up way past their bedtimes Saturday midnight waiting in line with parents for the debut. Potter fans globally waited for hours for the 800-plus tome, including fans in London, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.
6-22-03. Nearly twenty years since the first "Terminator" film release, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 55, anticipates the latest release, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," which opens on July 2. According to the star actor, "I had a great time doing all the stunds. I had a great time doing all the physical things. And I was very well-prepared and I was very well-trained." The former body builder credits his great shape and longevity to his sports background and considers himself in the middle of his career."
6-22-03. According to Miami-Dade police, three rapes in a 30-square mile area have been linked through DNA testing; however, they are not related to the serial rapist search in southwest Miami. The unknown assailant carries a handgun and covers his face when he attacks. All six of the cases involved home invasions between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. through unlocked doors or windows. A police composite sketch details the man as a dark-skinned African American in his 20s, 5'6" to 5'10", approximately 130 to 170 pounds.
6-22-03. Lavoisier D. Washington, 38, of Pontiac, Michigan is accused of pointed a gun at his wife when she tried to stop him from watching Internet pornography. He is charged with felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon. Washington was suspended without pay after the alleged incident and may be fired after eight years of working with the city fire department. According to Oakland County Chief Deputy Prosecutor, Deborah Carley, Washington's wife confronted him after he viewed a porno Web site for the second time in a few days and "she was especially upset because he was accessing the site while the children were asleep in the same room. She told him she was going to cut the cable to the computer and went to get scissors. He got a gun and pointed it at her temple." One of the children, who range in age from 11 to 17, left the house and called the police.
6-22-03. On his 54th birthday, Lionel Richie also celebrated receiving a Walk of Fame star on Hollywood Boulevard. The solo star, is an original member and lead singer of the Commodores. His solo hits include "Truly," "Hello," "Dancing on the Ceiling" and "All Night Long."
6-22-03. Hip hop mogul, Russel Simmons, was honored with an international arts award, the 11th Annual Montblanc Arts Patronage Award, for his contribution to urban youths through the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, founded by Simmons and his brothers in 1995. The foundation exposes urban youth to the arts and offers exhibition opportunities to underrepresented artists and artists of color.
6-22-03. As all of us "American Idol" fans know, Ruben Studdard won the contest; however, the runner-up, Clay Aiken won the singles charts debuting at number one with 393,000 copies sold of his single "This is the Night" / "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." Studdard's "Flying Without Wings" / "Superstar" sold about 286,000 copies.
Most number one singles sell about 20,000 copies their first week. Aiken's single had the biggest debut since Elton's John's "Candle in the Wind" tribute to the late Princess Diana that sold about 3.5 million in its first week back in 1997.
Aiken and Studdard have not been radio favorites like the first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, who received more widespread airplay after her win with her chart topper "A Moment Like This." Clarkson's single sold 236,000 copies in its first week.
Both Ruben and Clay's albums are set for release in August. Clarkson's album, "Thankful," debuted at number one and sold 297,000 copies and has went on to go platinum with more than 1 million copies.
Justin Guarini, last year's runner up, also had a recent album release. It sold about 54,000 copies and landed at the number twenty spot.
6-22-03. Luther Vandross, who is recovering from a recent stroke, recently landed in the number one spot for his latest album, "Dance With My Father." Its debut sold more than 440,000 copies its first week of release. This marks the first number one album debut for Vandross, a Grammy-award winner. He was recently moved out of intensive care for the first time since his stroke.
Mary Vandross, the singer's mother, has gone public to promote her son's new album. She recently appeared on CNN, "Entertainment Tonight," "The Early Show," and the "Today" show, on which Tamyra Gray, former American Idol finalist, sang his title track, a tribute to Vandross's father who passed when he was seven.
The CD has fourteen tracks, including duets with Beyonce' Knowles of Destiny's Child, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, and Foxy Brown.
According to Vandross' mom, Luther believed this was his finest songwriting yet and that "knowing how he loves this new album, I believe Luther would want it to come out now and I'm so grateful that he can get this chance. He is going to recover and when he does, I want him to be greeted with a big success story. He has to recover, he's all I have left, he's my last surviving child."
6-22-03. William Marshall, 78, born in Gary, Indiana, died recently in a Los Angeles rest home. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease in recent years. Marshalls appeared in dozens of movies and TV series like "Star Trek" and "The Jeffersons." In the 1960s, he served as director at the Mufandi Institute in Watts where he taught acting workshops. He also taught at colleges. On stage, he portrayed singer Paul Robeson and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who he also played on television. His portrayal of the Moor in "Othello" was so good, the London Sunday Times called him "the best Othellof of our time." He modeled his character in the title role of the 70's film, "Blacula," and its sequel "Scream, Blacula, Scream!" after the original Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's novel.
6-22-03. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are considering a reunion tour. Before their Grammy performance this year, the folk / pop duo had not performed together since 1994.
6-23-03. Spillgates for the Lake Manatee were manually cranked open by engineers in efforts to speed up the drainage of the lake by letting out 7 million gallons an hour. It reached record levels and threatened nearby communities as waters neared the top of the 50-foot-high structure. According to Captain Larry Leinhauser of the Manatee County Department of Public Safety, "as soon as we got the gate open, we got the flash flood warning, saying we were going to get 3 to 5 inches of rain an hour for the next two hours."
In the last week, the south side of the Tampa Bay area has been hit with a foot of rain.
6-23-03. A wind-driven fire has swept through the southern slopes of the Catalina Mountains outside of Tucson, Arizona. Estimations place fire damage to over 7,500 acres and more than 200 structures destroyed. As of Sunday, June 22, the fire was just five percent contained. Governor Janet Napolitano has declared the section of southeast Arizona a disaster area. Sparked by seasonal dry weather, twelve large wildfires are burning in four Western states and Alaska. Eight of these fires are in Arizona.
6-23-03. Fourteen named storms and eight hurricanes have been forecast for the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season, double the number of hurricanes that developed last year. Three storms are predicted to reach Category 3, 4, or 5 with winds above 111 miles per hour (mph). Named storms are those with sustained winds of at least 39 mph. A higher than average chance exists that one of those majors storms will hit the U.S. coast. According to William Gray, forecaster with the Tropical Meteorology Project based at Colorado State University, "the United States has been very lucky over the past three decades in witnessing very few major hurricanes making landfall in Florida and along the East Coast. At the same time, we have seen large coastal population growth, and many of the people moving to these areas do not realize the potential danger of landfalling hurricanes."
NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, predicts eleven to fifteen named storms, with six to nine reaching hurrican strength. Hurricane season ends November 30.
Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Erika, Fabian, Grace, Henri, Isabel, Juan, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam Teresa, Victor and Wanda.
Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Dolores, Enrique, Felicia, Guillermo, Hilda, Ignacio, Jimena, Kevin, Linda, Marty Nora, Olaf, Patricia, Rick, Sandra, Terry, Vivian, Waldo, Xina, York, and Zelda.
6-3-03. Tanya Hadden, 34, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a 15-year old student durng a three-day Las Vegas trip. Pleading guilty helped Hadden avoid an eight year prison stint. She must register as a sex offender and cannot teach. Her charges included two felony counts of lewd acts with a child, four felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and a misdemeanor count of child-stealing.
There are many views about the validity of affirmative action. Is is diversity or discrimination? On , the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling about a challenge to the University of Michigan's studen-selection standards.
Affirmative action programs were created to right racial and cultural discrimination stemming from slavery and segregation. At issue was whether or not race may be used as a factor in admissions to publically funded institutions. Do states have an interest in promoting diversity among its student body or whether the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause forbids giving one group advantages ove another.
President George Bush opposes the university's admissions policy.
Supporters, including dozens of top corporations, fear falling minority college enrollment.
Both cases involved white women.
Jennifer Gratz was a top high school student in Detroit back in 1995 when her undergraduate application was rejected.
Barbara Grutter, 1 49-year old mother of two with her own consulting business, was rejected in 1997 by the school's prestigious law school.
6-3-03. 50 Cent, an underground rap artist who has blown up on the popular music scene, is in the middle of several rap feuds. 50 Cent, who tries so hard to be like the late legend Tupac Shakur, boasts wearing a bullet-proof vest, and has a miniature version for his son. 50 Cent claims that Ja Rule's career is over now that he is on the scene and the current "it" man. He accuses Ja Rule of always having a female sing his hooks and having boring tracks.
6-20-03. According to reports, Hispanics are now the nation's largest minority group. Dr. William Spriggs, executive director of the National Urban League's Institute for Opportunity and Equality, "from a political perspective, the numbers are very misleading, and from a social perspective, they're confusing." It is hard to put the Census Bureau's report into perspective because many Blacks consider themselves Hispanic, and many Hispanics identify with White, Asian, and Native American.
Hispanics, like Blacks are disproportionately impoverished, unemployed, and have not been fully incorporated into the "American Dream." There are no Hispanic Supreme Court justices or Senators and only one Cabinet member.
6-24-03. A recent study indicates that a male pattern baldness drug, finasteride, may reduce the odds by 25 percent for getting prostate cancer; however, those who do take the drug and still get prostate cancer tend to have a more aggressive form of it. According to Dr. Ian Thompson, the study's lead author at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, "finasteride is the first drug found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer cancer. The drug worked for men at low risk for prostate cancers, as well as those at high risk."
Others ponder whether or not the drug is simply a supresser of meaningless types of the disease. Then, there are the side effects like sexual impotence.
In general, prostate cancer is a slow-growing disease and men who are diagnosed with it, tend to die of something unrelated. For those men taking the drug, for hair growth, there is the concern of taking something that promotes aggressive forms of cancer. Finasteride is made by Merck and available with a prescription only.
6-24-03. Summer is the time for the United States to be concerned with West Nile virus because of mosquitoes. According to Dr. Daniel Blumenthal, an infectious disease expert from Morehouse College in Atlanta, "I think the smart money would say we're going to have another heavy season of West Nile virus this summer because of the wet spring, (which means) a lot of mosquitoes."
In states like Florida, Illinois, and Lousiana, there is early West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes, birds, and animals. Last year, only four states in the continental U.S. did not have any cases. They were Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Ilinois was the hardest hit state last year with an outbreak of 884 human cases and 64 deaths.
In perspective, West Nile virus is rare compared to the incidence of pneumonia and influenza. Last year, there were 284 deaths from West Nile virus versus 30,000 for pneumonia and influenza. There are immunizations against the latter two.
6-24-03. Organized by MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group, the virtual primary is not binding. Voting stards Tuesday at noon, eastern time and ends Wednesday, at midnight. With the voting results, MoveOn.org will make a decision on whether or not they plan to endorse a candidate for the 2004 Democratic primary. One candidate will need to get fifty percent-plus- one of the votes or MoveOn.org may have to have another runoff. The organization was founded in 1998 to oppose the impeachment of President Clinton.
On Tuesday, the millions of people who have registerd by midnight Monday will receive an e-mail with a link to an online voting both and be presented with an e-ballot. According to the organizing director, Zack Exley, there will be be "one person, one vote. They get to select which of the nine Democratic declared candidates they want to become president."
The validity of this type of polling is questionable because samples will likely be unbalanced by racial, economic, and social lines.
There are nine candidates for the Democratic Party Presidential nomination.
6-24-03. Former three-term major of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, Jr. died on Monday from a heart attack after collapsing at Reagan National Airport. The sixty-five-year old was the first African American mayor to govern a major southern city, as well as the youngest mayor. He was 35 when he was originally elected in 1973. During Jackson's leadership, Atlanta experienced a major commercial and transportation boost. According to another former Atlanta mayor, Bill Campbell, "Maynard really created the new Atlanta. What is known as the capital of the New South came from his insistence that minorities, including women, be allowed into business."
Ironically, he died on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a controversial affirmative action case. Maynard Jackson insisted on a citywide affirmative action program in Atlanta that became a blueprint for governments country-wide. Bill Campbell says Jackson"was to affirmative action what Martin Luther King was to civil rights."
6-24-03. According to the American Heart Association, physicians should prescribe exercise, that often works as well as drugs, as a means to lower blood pressure and prevent heart disease and diabetes. Thirty minutes or more of moderate exercise most days of the week is recommended by many groups besides the AHA, like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Speculation for reasons doctors do not prescribe exercise more than they do include their lack of training in disease prevention versus disease treatment, the fact that they do not get insurance reimbursements for exercise training, and that pharmaceutical companies promote medications and train doctors on how to use them.
Studies show that exercise can raise "good" cholesterol levels and lower "bad" cholesterol and decrease premature death in adult onset diabetics by one-third.
Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States killing over 700,000 Americans a year.
6-24-03. On a bid for a second consecutive Wimbledon title, defending champion Serena Williams is off to a good start by beating Jill Craybas.
Andre Agassi beat Jamie Delgado in his thirteenth Wimbledon tennis competion. Agassi says "for me at this stage of my career, it's quite a feeling to be out there. You never really know how many chances you're going to get again. I feel like as I get older, I have more capacity to embrace those moments."
Venus won Wimbledon titles in 2000 and 2001. She says "at times I have to slow myself down and say, 'Venus, every shot doesn't have to be the greatest and the best. Sometimes it's OK to hit a shot that's regular.'"
Jennifer Capriati over Myriam Casanova
Henin-Hardenne over Julia Vakulenko
Ivo Karlovic over Lleyton Hewitt (other Wimbledon defending champion)
Maria Sharapova over Ashley Harkleroad
David Nalbandian (last year's runner-up) over Vladmir Voltchkov
Mark Philippoussis over Mariano Zabaleta
Arnaud Clement over Robby Ginepri
James Blake over Todd Larkham
6-24-03. Music diva Diana Ross, 58, along with her attorney, Stephen Paul Barnard, appeared in municipal court and told the judge she was forced into taking a breathalizer test during a traffic stop. Ross has pleaded innocent to three DUI charges from December 30, 2002 and says "I felt a threatening tone from him. You know, like a command, a demand." According to police, she was unable to walk a straight line, fell whle trying to stand on one leg and count to ten, and had a blood alcohol level of .20 percent. The legal limit in Arizona is .08.
6-24-03. Lil' Kim, 27, female hip-hop artist / producer, had $250,000 worth of jewelry stolen, including her signature "Queen Bee" necklace, while en route at John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angelese for the BET awards show. A check-in counter error caused a carry-on bag filled with $500,000 worth of jewelry to be mixed in with eight other luggage pieces. The flight was delayed and the bag was recovered; however, all of the contents were not present.
6-24-03. A judge has ruled in a Florida case involving a Muslim woman's right to wear her veil in her driver's license photo. After three days of testimony, Circuit Judge Janet C. Thorpe ruled against the wearing of the veil, citing that it could help terrorists conceal their identities. In 2001, Sutaana Freeman, 35, had obtained a driver's license that showed her veiled with only her eyes visible. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, she was asked to retake her photo. When she refused, her license was revoked by the state. Freeman sued because she believed her Islamic beliefs would be violated by asking her to reveal her face in public. Her case was taken by the American Civil Liberties Union. Assistant Attorney General Jason Vail argued that Islamic law makes exceptions for face exposure when it serves a public good and that arrangements could be made where only women were present to protect Freeman's modesty.
In fourteen states, a driver's license can be obtained without a photo.
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5-2-03. President Bush addressed the nation Thursday declaring an end to combat in the six-week war on Iraq. This signifies a shift in soldiers’ roles to police and opens the door for humanitarian aid from countries who opposed a military solution to the Iraqi problem. Despite the heroic images of Bush coming home with the troops, he has a major challenge ahead: proving the war was not futile, that there are indeed weapons of mass destruction. According to Bush, “we have difficult work to do in Iraq. We are bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous. We are pursuing and finding leaders of the old regime, who will be held account for their crimes.” Political analysts believe George Bush’s declaration also signifies a shift from his preoccupation with military dominance to his domestic plans Now that the war is “over,” what about those weapons of mass destruction that supposedly started the war? And where is Saddam Hussein? Secretary of State Colin Powell and Britain’s prime minister Tony Blair insist with confidence that banned weapons will be found and that Saddam Hussein had years to conceal them. And now there is speculation that even if there is no “smoking gun,” this could mean the evidence was destroyed before the coalition invaded Iraq. |
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A Fifth of California Seniors Will Fail Exit Exam5-2-03. The Class of 2004 is the first class required in California to pass a state-mandated exit exam; however, if this policy is implemented a fifth of California’s incoming seniors will fail the math section because they lack the necessary classes for proficiency in the tested subjects. California Board of Education President Reed Hastings would like to delay the test for three years, allowing time for students to become better prepared. According to Bruce Fuller, professor for education and public policy at the University of California-Berkeley, “can we really flunk up to two-thirds of kids with disabilities and say this is a motivating way to hold students and administrators accountable?” |
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5-6-03. Okay, I admit it. I’m hooked. I am addicted to “American Idol” like millions of other television viewers. I have to get my weekly dose on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Dare my kids enter the room while it’s on!
After last week, when Reuben Studdard was voted in the bottom two, I was appalled. Understood how fans of Tamyra Gray felt when she was voted off. Is America blind? I, myself, started voting about three weeks ago, when Carmen and Julia seem to be hanging on for dear life. I couldn’t complain and whine if I didn’t vote. My personal choice? Kimberly.
Anyway, back to last week’s shocker. Reuben. Part of the charm and mystique of American Idol is that anybody can win based on viewers’ choice. Just because you are the best talent-wise does not mean you will be the American Idol. Trenyce, who joined him in the bottom was voted off. She was surprised more by his being there. “I definitely was shocked,” she says. “I didn’t see that coming because he had such a great night. I think Josh was more surprised . . . He even came up afterward and said. ‘It should have been me.’”
August
September
November
December
A Salute to Our Nation's Heroes - Veteran's Day honors the courage and patriotism of all men and women who have served in the United States armed forces. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, Armistice Day; it became a national holiday in 1938. Congress changed the name to Veteran's Day in 1954 and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law, "to honor veterans . . . a day dedicated to world peace."
11/11/11 Tradition - In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, the nation's highest place of honor. These memorial services took place on November 11, which was the anniversary of World War I's end, and were observed at 11:00 a.m - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - the focus of the nation's tribute to veterans centers around this monument at Arlington National Cemetery, outside Washington, D.C., where thousands of service personnel are buried. An Army honor guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil. At 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb, and the nation's tribute to its war slain is symbolized by the laying of a presidential wreath and the playing of "Taps"by a bugler. The rest of the ceremony takes place in the amphitheater. On Memorial Day in 1958, the bodies of two othe unknown soldiers who had died in World War I and the Korean War were buried in the tomb. In 1999, the Pentagon announced that no new remains would be placed there because of technological advances like DNA testing made identification of unknown soldiers easy. The inscription carved on the monument reads; "Here rests in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God."
1968 legislation changed the national commeration to the fourth Monday in October; however, because of the historical significance to Americans, Congress returned the observance date to November 11 in 1978.
Throughout the country, observances are held in the form of prayer services, rallies, parades, patriotic speeches, assemblies, and grave-side flag displays. Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington and nationwide are coordinated by the President's Veterans Day National Committee. Chaired by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the committee represents national veterans organizations.
There are many U.S. veteran organizations chartered by the Congress, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. Their primary purpose is to aid veterans and their families in time of need and to support patriotic and moral values through special schools, hospitals, and civic programs. They focus on protecting the rights of veterans by providing medical care and preserving the memories of those who have been in the armed forces.
Introduction. In 1621, Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest which is considered the first Thanksgiving in American history. Contrary to the stories that have been passed down in American culture, the first Thanksgiving was not considered a tradition by the Pilgrims. The colonists considered a "thanksgiving" a religious holiday that included going to church and thanking God for a specified event. The kinds of recreational activities that they participated in on that day in 1621 would have been considered secular, and not allowed, like dancing, singing secular songs, and playing games.
The original harvest feast of 1621 took place over a three-day period between September 21 and November 11. It was based on traditional English harvest festivals.
The Pilgrims' Journey to America. The Pilgrims, who were originally members of the English Separatist Church (Puritan), were fleeing religious persecution from their native England. In 1609, they fled to Holland (The Netherlands). After a few years, their children were speaking Dutch and had become attached to a way of life that the Pilgrims considered frivolous and immoral. They traveled to the New World, financed by a London stock company. On September 6, 1920, they sailed on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England. There were 44 Pilgrims aboard that called themselves the "Saints," and 66 who called themselves the "Strangers." The long, damp and cold trip took 65 days. When land was sighted on November 10, the two sects agreed to the Mayflower Compact, which guaranteed equality and unity - together they called themselves the "Pilgrims." The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620.
The Long, Harsh Winter. Of the original 100-plus Pilgrims and crew, less than 50 survived their first harsh winter. On March 16, 1621, a Native American walked into the Plymouth settlement causing fear among the Pilgrims. Samoset, an Abnaki Indian, could speak English that he had learned from the captains of fishing boats off the coast. He greeted them with "Welcome," in English, stayed the night, and returned the next day with another Native American, Squanto. Squanto had been on many voyages across the sea and visited England and Spain. He was a huge help to the Pilgrims, by helping them survive. He taught them how to tap maple tree sap, which plants were poisonous and which had medicinal powers, how to plant Indian corn and other crops. The October harvest was fruitful, so the Pilgrims stored food for the winter. They had corn, fruits, and vegetables, fish packed in salt, and fire cured meat.
A Feast. They had much to be thankful for. They had built homes in the wilderness, raised food for the long winter, and made peace with the Native Americans. A celebration was in order. William Bradford, the Pilgrim Governor, proclaimed a day of thanks for the colonists to share with their Native American neighbors. The next year was harsh and the Pilgrims ran short on food; a "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated. In 1623, the third year, there was a severe drought. The governor ordered a day of fasting and prayer. A long, steady rain followed shortly after. On November 29, a day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed and the Pilgrims again feasted with the Native Americans. Another Thanksgiving Day was not proclaimed until June 1676.
Accounts by Colonists. A first-hand account by a leader of the colony, Edward Winslow, as it appears in Mourt's Relation:
"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, Many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
How Thanksgiving Came to Be a National Holiday. On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, discussed ways to best express their thanks for the good fortune that had helped establish their community. Unanimously, they voted to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving.
On October, 1777, for the first time, all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration that commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga.
In 1789, President George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving despite opposition in honor of the new United States Constitution. Many colonists did not feel the hardships of a few Pilgrims warranted a national holiday. Later, President Thomas Jefferson, the third president, scoffed at the idea of having a Thanksgiving Day and discontinued it, calling it "a kingly practice."
It was the efforts of a magazine editor that led to the recognition of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Sarah Josepha Hale, the author of the poem "Mary Had a Little Lamb," wrote many editorials in Boston Ladies' Magazine and Godey's Lady's Book. It took 40 years of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents for her efforts to produce the desired results. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. Every president after Lincoln has proclaimed Thanksgiving. The date changed a few times, including the controversial move by President Franklin Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the next-to-last Thursday in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Two years later it was moved back to its original date because of public uproar.
In 1941, Congress sanctioned Thanksgiving as a legal holiday to be held on the fourth Thursday in November.
Spiritual Theme. All of the early celebrations had one common theme -- God. Thanksgiving was directed toward Him, their Creator and Provider. They believed that all good things ultimately came from Him and His word (The Bible).
--1 Chronicles 16:8. Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
-- Psalm 100:4. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
--Psalm 105:1. Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
--Romans 14:6. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
-- 1 Corinthian 15:57. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
--Colossians 3:17. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
--1 Thessalonians 5:18. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13, 2001. Daughters, sons, husbands, loved ones, and friends, nationwide, and in various parts of the world, will honor their mothers on this day set aside to show appreciation and love.
DverCITY is sponsoring its First Annual "Greatest Mom in the World" Mother's Day Contest via their Web site at http://www.dvercity.com/mothers_contest.html. Everyone is encouraged to spread the word about all the good things their mothers, mother-in-laws, stepmoms, grandmas, adoptive moms, sisters, aunts, nieces, and godmothers have done.
Open to all individuals, the deadline for entries is Saturday, May 5, 2001. All that is required to enter is an essay 20 to 500 words about why "mom" is the greatest. Pictures in JPEG or GIF format are encouraged. Winners will be selected from entries worldwide in the following categories: Grand Prize, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, State and International Honorable Mentions, Best "At-Home" Mom, Best "Working" Mom, Best Celebrity Mom, Best GrandMa, Best Stepmom, Best Mother-in-Law, Best Adoptive Mother, and Best Godmother. Winners will be posted on the Web site Wednesday, May 9.
Submit to DverCITY.com at contests@dvercity.com, FAX to 850-402-9826, or write to Contests c/o DverCITY, P.O. Box 0733, Niceville, FL 32588.
Pictures of the gift prizes are posted on DverCITY's Web site. They include a lovely, "old-fashioned" wooden wall clock, merry-go-round musical carousel collectible that plays "Wind Beneath My Wings," a ladies' watch, a metal sculpture, an elaborate candleholder, a gold-plated pen and pencil set, a marbleized porcelain oil warmer, a silverplated candelabra, votive candle holders, and spun-glass collectibles.
Co-sponsorship opportunities with other businesses, organizations, and media are available. Contact Phyllis Douglass at phyllis@dvercity.com
Established in 1996, DverCITY is a multi-faceted, diverse business founded on Christian principles, high ethics/moral standards, and a drive for excellence in community service. Upon entering the online community in October 1999, DverCITY expanded its business ventures, its mission to live up to its name: diversity.
For complete contest details, go to http://www.dvercity.com/
E-mail:DverCITY Magazine Snail-mail:DverCITY, Inc., P.O. Box 0733, Niceville, FL 32588 FAX IT! (850)402-9826 Questions /Comments: Webmaster Revised -May 15, 2003 |
