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This Month in History
Inaugurations BY » Mickey Dunaway and Other History
Lessons from January
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Going forward, I am going to have the pleasure in future issues of LIMITLESS to explore each month in history. With endless possibilities, I decided to start with a little “U.S. History Lesson” for the month of January, having just completed our national election. I listed the events by the day of the month. I certainly could have chosen other events, but these spoke to me for one reason or another. The comments in italics following the event are my own editorializing.
1-1-1735 Paul Revere was born in Boston. He made a living as a silversmith and a revolutionary. 1-1-1863 President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, granting freedom to slaves held in the “rebellious states.” Perhaps now is a good and proper time to recommit to Lincoln’s view of an all-inclusive Union. 1-8-1935 Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. And the world of music has never been the same. 1-10-1933 The Holocaust began. Say a prayer for all the victims, survivors, and their families on this day. 1-11-1973 Designated-hitter rule adopted by Baseball’s American League. I wonder. Isn’t it about time to return to the purity of the game? 1-13-1969 The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine album released in U.S. Aahh…The Beatles. Now that was ROCK AND ROLL! 1-15-1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. Visit his memorial in Atlanta sometime. It is a short drive. 1-20-1986
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
was first observed. Let’s try to make it more than a holiday. 1-21-1977 President Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam draft evaders. Unpopular at the time, it was quickly accepted as a well and proper means of healing the country after Vietnam. 1-23-1968 USS Pueblo seized by North Koreans. And 53 years later, the regime remains as enigmatic and daft as ever. 1-26-1942
First American forces in Europe during
WWII went ashore in Northern Ireland. Now, there is a factoid I did not know! 1-27-1880 Thomas Edison received a patent for the electric incandescent lamp, 1880. I think I still like the warmth of his bulb over the LED.
January was a popular month for states to enter the Union.
January 2, 1788 » Georgia January 3, 1959 » Alaska January 4, 1896 » Utah January 6, 1912 » New Mexico January 9, 1788 » Connecticut January 26, 1837 » Michigan January 29, 1861 » Kansas
These January-admitted states should remind us just how wonderful and varied is this thing we call a Union. January is also an excellent month to throw away all notions and ideas and philosophies that one group of our citizens is somehow more capable or worthy than another. Such beliefs did not make us great, and they certainly are not seeds that will grow greatness in our future.
I have often thought of how interesting it is that, as adults, almost everything we talk about at the supper table relates to history, social studies, or civics and how poorly I learned their lessons back when.
You may call the evening meal supper, as we do in the South, or dinner, as the rest of the country refers to it. Regardless, I trust that this pandemic—and its commensurate quarantine—has convinced us all of the immense value contained in the simple act of breaking bread together at whatever we call the evening meal.
Until next month, I leave you with a quote to ponder,
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1961, in his inaugural address
Musician Elvis Presley was born on Jan. 8, 1935.
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