With a volatile stock and bond market, a dysfunctional congress and unemployment over 9 percent, it can be hard to believe in the American Dream.
With Prop 8 still in effect, and a parade of Republican presidential candidates seeing who can hate gay marriage most (Fred Karger being the notable exception), it can be hard to see an equality free expression on the move. On those days, it helps to remember that we have a rich history of courage, creativity and patriotism. Today, Aug. 18, turns out to be a great example:
293 BC: The founding of the oldest temple to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, where it perhaps began conquering all.
1587: Virginia Dare, or Roanoke, Va., became the first English child born in the Americas. A fairly impressive embodiment of the intrepid spirit that helped build the nation, though a tempered one given that, on the same date in 1590, her grandfather returned to find her, and the colony, gone.
1750: Antonio Salieri was born, giving Mozart a foil, Amadeus a protagonist and a Best Picture Oscar, and Falco a hit song.
1774: Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame, was born. Their exploration was at the heart of the Manifest Destiny that built America from “sea to shining sea”.
1834: Marshall Field was born. If you haven’t heard of this sales giant, talk to the boys from Illinois. The Marshall Field’s chain he built was a staple of the Midwest and changed American retail forever. You may have seen his flagship Chicago store, which is now one of Macy’s largest stores.
1904: Drag might not be where it is without the cosmetics revolution initiated by Max Factor, born on this day.
1920: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution passed, giving women the right to vote. This marked the second time that Americans who had the right to vote gave others the same power, and the first time without a war.
1933: Roman Polanski is born, bringing us fear and suspense to new levels in Rosemary’s Baby and Chinatown. As with Lolita, follow the genius, but not the actions.
1934: Remember Roberto Clemente, born on this day. As a Hall of Fame outfielder who delivered food and baseballs to Latin America, he is still the quintessential humanitarian/athlete.
1936: Robert Redford is born, merging style and substance.
1952: Patrick Swayze is born. Perhaps more style and less substance. But a community icon for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and by the end, a fierce ally in the fight against cancer.
1958: Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov, is first published in the United States. A mind opening novel of passion, and part of the inspiration for “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by the Police.
1961: Current Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is born. Perhaps he’ll find this list, and use it to become an inspiration himself, instead of a Wall Street sycophant.
1963: James Meredith became the first African American man to graduate from the University of Mississippi. Far too long in coming, but a landmark nonetheless.
1969: Everlast, Edward Norton and Christian Slater are born. Huge pop culture day.
1973: Steve Biko is arrested and brutalized. His martyrdom helps bring an end to Apartheid in South Africa.
2000: Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo wins a Civil Rights Act discrimination suit against the EPA. Her case, and her continued efforts, led to the passage of the “Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act (No FEAR Act)”. It was signed by President George W. Bush in 2002.
One day can be inspirational if you take the time to look. If Secretary Geithner doesn’t take my hint, maybe his boss will. President Obama’s birthday, Aug. 4 is the same day on which, in 2010, Judge Walker found Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional. If you’re looking for an omen for evolution, it’s not a bad one. If you’re looking for a reason for this column, one last time point:
2011: Political commentator Joel Trambley, not knowing if it will ever again fall on a publication date, uses his own birthday for a “This day in history” column.
