From the Marshall Plan to NATO

From the Marshall Plan to NATO:

It’s been 81 years since the end of World War II, and things seem to be coming full circle: Europe is in shambles again.

To say the least, the plan saved Europe. Most countries were devastated and vulnerable to communist intervention.  The Plan, plus the U.S.’s commitment to defend European borders, gave Europe the time to get back on its feet.

Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/from_the_marshall_plan_to_nato.html

Memories of "Semana Santa" in Cuba

 

A podcast from 2013: Memories of "Semana Santa" in Cuba with Carmencita Romanach, ex-President, Operation Pedro Pan Group, Inc. & Carmen Valdivia, Member of Board of Directors, & Historic Committee with host Silvio Canto Jr 

 

 

Listen to "Memories of "Semana Santa" in Cuba" on Spreaker.

We remember Ray Fosse (1947-2021)

We say happy birthday to Ray Fosse who was born in Illinois on this day in 1947.   He broke with the Indians in 1967 and became the starting catcher in 1969.

In 1970, Fosse hit .307 with 18 HR & 61 RBI.   He also crashed with Pete Rose in the All Star Game that year.   Frankly, he was never the same after that collision.    Fosse retired in 1977 with a career .256 average in 924 games.

Ray died in 2021.

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April 4, 1974: Aaron hit # 714 on opening day

It was a big week for Aaron.

On opening day 1974, Hank Aaron hit # 714 off of Jack Billingham.   He tied Babe Ruth with a 3-run HR.   

A few days later, he hit # 715 in Atlanta in front of a national TV audience.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 4, 1960: "Ben Hur" with Charlton Heston won 11 awards.

It was a great night for "Ben Hur" at the 1960 awards.    In total, the film swept 11 of the 12 categories, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Charlton Heston). 

It's still a great movie all of these years later.   I catch it anytime I get a chance.    Finally, I did not know that the movie was based on a book written in the 19th century!

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 4, 1968: We remember MLK

Maybe it's me but certain events are frozen in my memory and I recall them like it was yesterday.

As I remember, I was reading my brand new The Sporting News, the weekly sports newspaper that we used to read before ESPN or the internet.  My parents gave me a birthday subscription and I loved rushing to the mailbox to consume every bit of information.

At the time, I asked myself the classic pre-season questions:  Would Yaz and the 1967 Miracle Red Sox repeat?  Are the Cardinals now a dynasty?  

After all, they had won the World Series in 1964, 1967 and had Bob Gibson on top of their rotation.   

And then the phone rang.  It was my school buddy Harvey with the news that Dr. Martin Luther King had been shot in Memphis.

Then President Johnson spoke to the nation!  By a crazy coincidence, he had just announced days before that he would not be running for reelection in 1968.   

Then all hell broke loose.  Cities were burning from coast to coast.   I shared the frustration about Dr. King's assassination but did not understand what looting businesses had to do with the shooting.  My guess is that all of the chaos boosted Governor Wallace's campaign, or the "law and order" man that election.

Over the last years, we've created a national holiday to remember Dr. King and his words are heard over and over again.

Nevertheless, I've asked myself a simple question:   What would Dr. King say of the state of black America today?  the collapse of the black family?  the black on black crime?  the terrible black Democrat leadership that runs cities like Baltimore and Detroit?    the dependence on government programs?

We will never know but I'll submit that Dr. King would not be happy.

For sure he'd be reminding the "identity politics" Democrats to judge people on their character not the color of their skin.

Let me recommend this one Jason Riley.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

   

Good Friday and a few other thoughts

 

Obama was right about the free riders

Obama was right about the free riders:

President Trump hit the target with his comments about the Straits of Hormuz. 

So President Trump is correct. It’s time for the Euros to defend themselves and for us to reconsider the entire relationship with these “free riders.”

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/obama_was_right_about_the_free_riders.html

Happy # 82 Tony Orlando

We say happy birthday to Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis who was born in New York on this day in 1944.     

We know him as Tony Orlando, one of the top performers of the 1970's.     

In the 1970's, Tony Orlando & Dawn had a lot of big hits on the radio:  "Knock Three Times" (1971); "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" (1973); and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" (1975).     

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

A word about Wally Moon (1930-2018)

Wallace Wade Moon was born on this day in Bay, Arkansas, in 1930.   He died in 2018.

Wally Moon became one of the best hitters of the 1950's.    His story is rather remarkable.  

Wally Moon retired with the LA Dodgers:   .289 average, 1,399 hits, 212 doubles, 142 HR & 661 RBI in 1,457 games.    

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.