In Memory: Hesse and Marshall
Today is Friday, 2 July 2010.
On this date in 1877, the great novelist Hermann Hesse was born.
In 1943, Hesse published his masterwork, among the finest novels ever written: Das Glasperlenspiel (The Glass Bead Game), also sometimes published in English as Magister Ludi.
You owe it to yourself to read it, both as an enriching experience as a person and as a responsible member of human society.
On this date in 1908, was born the great Thurgood Marshall, who argued Brown v. Board and became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice. Republican senators (to whom all dishonour) have recently enjoyed parading their racism by slandering him in connection with the Kagan nomination.
As I never cease enjoying pointing out, today is the real July 4th. On this date in 1776, the Second Continental Congress finally ginned up the nerve to pass a ‘resolution of independence’ (though they’d made their intentions rather obvious on 14 June 1775, when they’d created a rebel army to battle the armed forces of their own country, the United Kingdom, to which they’d sworn allegiance).
“Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.”
But more on that subject on the faux July 4th.
On this date in 1877, the great novelist Hermann Hesse was born.
In 1943, Hesse published his masterwork, among the finest novels ever written: Das Glasperlenspiel (The Glass Bead Game), also sometimes published in English as Magister Ludi.
You owe it to yourself to read it, both as an enriching experience as a person and as a responsible member of human society.
On this date in 1908, was born the great Thurgood Marshall, who argued Brown v. Board and became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice. Republican senators (to whom all dishonour) have recently enjoyed parading their racism by slandering him in connection with the Kagan nomination.
As I never cease enjoying pointing out, today is the real July 4th. On this date in 1776, the Second Continental Congress finally ginned up the nerve to pass a ‘resolution of independence’ (though they’d made their intentions rather obvious on 14 June 1775, when they’d created a rebel army to battle the armed forces of their own country, the United Kingdom, to which they’d sworn allegiance).
“Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.”
But more on that subject on the faux July 4th.
posted by HH at 6:39 AM
2 Comments:
Yes, the Second Continental Congress did pass the resolution of independence on July 2, 1776. The Lee Resolution (Richard Henry Lee of Virginia) was first proposed on June 7 of that year, but voting was delayed whilst the representatives continued to consolidate support for independence throughout the colonies. Although the Lee Resolution was adopted on July 2, 1776, the text of the document formally announcing the colonies' separation from the British Crown (and setting forth the "reasons which impel the separation"), the Declaration of Independence, was not signed and approved until July 4. SO... although the Resolution had, indeed, passed, the document formalizing and announcing the Congress' passage of the Resolution was signed and adopted on the Fourth. Hence, the celebration on that date.
I love this Jefferson quote:
"Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong."
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