1917: We remember Father Flanagan and Boys Town

It's one of my favorite stories, and movies, too.   

On this day in 1917, Father Edward J. Flanagan, a 31-year-old Irish priest, opened the doors to what we would later call "Boys Town".

Years later, the story was made into a movie.  What a great movie it was!

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, click send drop a dime here.

---

October 23, 1983: Beirut and many Marines dead

US presidents can not control what happens in other countries.  Nevertheless, they have to react to them or get that "famous 3 am phone call" about this crisis or that.

On this day in 1983, President Reagan was getting ready for reelection and talking about the economic recovery underway.   However, he woke up learning of a major terrorist attack in Beirut:  The explosion killed 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers!

It was a terrible day for President Reagan and the nation.  It was also one of the early signs of terrorism.

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.

“Shane” the 3rd best Western ever?

Had a little time and watched “Shane”, a movie that I had seen bits and pieces of many times before.    

It was great.    

Shane is played by Alan Ladd.  He meets Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) and his wife, Marian (Jean Arthur) who are small farmers in Wyoming.    He learns that there is a campaign of intimidation against the farmers.    

What a great movie.    The rest is up to you.    Watch it!  

“Shane” is # 3  in the American Film Institute’s Top 10 Westerns.     By the way, # 2 is “High noon”, another one of my favorites.

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.

1983: Reagan and “the evil empire”

Let’s remember one of President Reagan’s greatest moments.   

It happened during a speech on this week in 1983.  He spoke at a convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Florida and drew a sharp contrast between freedom and communism.   

President Reagan had done it before in a 1982 speech at the British House of Commons.

This is what he said:   

And this brings me to my final point today. During my first press conference as president, in answer to a direct question, I pointed out that, as good Marxist-Leninists, the Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution. I think I should point out I was only quoting Lenin, their guiding spirit, who said in 1920 that they repudiate all morality that proceeds from supernatural ideas–that’s their name for religion–or ideas that are outside class conceptions. Morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of class war. And everything is moral that is necessary for the annihilation of the old exploiting social order and for uniting the proletariat. 

President Reagan was known as “the great communicator”.    This is because he spoke from the heart, as he did in 1983! 

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

---

"The evil empire" many years later

It was one of President Reagan’s greatest moments.   

It happened during a speech on this day in 1983.  He spoke at a convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Florida.   He drew a sharp contrast between freedom and communism.   

President Reagan had done it before in a 1982 speech at the British House of Commons.

This is what he said:   

And this brings me to my final point today. During my first press conference as president, in answer to a direct question, I pointed out that, as good Marxist-Leninists, the Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution. I think I should point out I was only quoting Lenin, their guiding spirit, who said in 1920 that they repudiate all morality that proceeds from supernatural ideas–that’s their name for religion–or ideas that are outside class conceptions. Morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of class war. And everything is moral that is necessary for the annihilation of the old exploiting social order and for uniting the proletariat.

President Reagan was known as “the great communicator”.    This is because he spoke from the heart, as he did on this day in 1983!  

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

---

1983: Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal elected to the Hall of Fame

Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal were elected to The Hall of Fame on this day in 1983.     

Robinson broke into the majors with the Orioles in 1955.   He played his last game in 1977.   Along the way, he won 17 Gold Gloves for his work as a third baseman.   He was a great clutch hitter, a very tough out when the game was on the line:   .267 career average, 268 HR & 1,357 RBI, 2,484 hits in 2, 986 games.    He hit .303 in the post season with 22 RBI in 39 games.   Robinson was the 1964 AL MVP and 1970 World Series MVP. 

Marichal pitched his first game in 1960 and played until 1975.   He pitched primarily with the Giants but did finish his career with Boston.    Marichal's numbers were spectacular:  243 wins, 244 complete games, 52 shutouts, and a 2.89 ERA.   He did not win the Cy Young Award in large part because he was competing with Koufax so many times.

Two of my favorite players!

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.