Friday, July 4, 2008

Major World History Events


Friday July 4, 2008
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S P E C I A L * F E A T U R E

Major World History Events
Within 3 Months Of Each Other
( and .. during my puberty )


I’m going to begin with one of the most publicized and tragic events of our lifetime.
The assassination of United States President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy on Friday November 22, 1963.

I had just turned 14 years of age two months earlier and I was in the 8th Grade.
That particular day at Herndon Intermediate & High School, we had a Program in our Auditorium during the morning. Each of our 7 Periods of Classes were shortened so that we did not miss any one particular Subject. And on top of that, the Classes were rearranged. We were in Ms. Rogers 2nd Period History Class that had been moved to the normal 6th Period time. Assistant Principal, Mr. James K. MacFarland came on the PA System and announced that President John F. Kennedy had been shot while in Dallas, Texas. There were a few more details including ‘Grassy Knoll’ but everyone was shocked and we all sat there stunned.
Admittedly, it had just been just one year earlier when the Cuban Missile Crisis took place. But that was an ‘almost’. We almost went to War with the Soviet Union. But we didn’t as Russia removed the Missiles at President Kennedy’s firm insistence.

Then, my Class moved to our 7th Period normal time .. which was Mr. Stemple’s 1st Period Science Class. Nobody was saying much. I remember the Zombie-like looks on many of my Classmates’ faces. Mr. Stemple announced that we were to sit quietly in case there were any further announcements from the School’s Office.
Sure enough, soon thereafter, the announcement came that President Kennedy was dead.
Donna Hurst and Jill McCarty sat at a table in the front of that classroom .. over by the windows. I, still, remember Jill crying, uncontrollably.

My Family was Republican and had voted for Richard M. Nixon in the preceding Election .. but I was shocked, nonetheless. I was truly saddened beyond belief.
It may very well be the largest story of my Life, to this point.

The next day, on live TV, Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald, the person said to have been responsible for President Kennedy’s assassination,
I had my doubts that Oswald was the perpetrator at that time because of that. And I still have doubts.


It seemed like years later that the Beatles made their debut on American television but it was indeed only 10 weeks. February 9, 1964.
That’s two Major Lifetime Events in less than 3 months


* Please look for an upcoming Article in this Blogspot on the Beatles and Ed Sullivan.


Okay, the 3rd Major Event was a personal one .. but it was a BIGGIE (for me).
After the Beatles’ British Invasion – I began to comb my hair down in front ala the Moptops Four .. and what do you think happened ? You guessed it – the girl down the street from me starting finding me irresistible .. and I parlayed that into my 1st sexual encounter.
Enough said.


Now, on February 25, 1964 – just 3 short months after President Kennedy was killed, a man named Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World. That man would go on to change his name and become Muhammad Ali. The Greatest Boxer of our time.

I remember that night. It was a Tuesday .. and usually, I’d be in our Living Room watching the TV show, The Fugitive with my Mother & Sister, which aired at 10 PM. Instead, I was sitting in my Bedroom with my Transistor Radio (that I had just gotten for Christmas) on.
My Mother and Sister didn’t have a clue as the importance of this Event.

At 10:10 PM, the Fight began .. and at 10:45, Liston refused to come out for Round 7 because the beating he had received. I jumped up and screamed, loudly. Then, I ran into the Living Room and screamed that Cassius Clay had won.
My Mother and Sister didn’t get it and so I returned to my Room and bathed in the importance of the Event.


And so, there you go. I dare anyone to mention 4 more exciting Events that happened within 3 months of each other during their Lifetime .. let alone their Puberty. Unless you are between the ages of 56 –60, it just won’t happen. It’ll pale miserably to these Events.


Thank you.
My time is, now, up – I thank you for yours.




LARRY CURTIS SPURLOCK

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