PARACULTURAL CALENDAR FOR JUNE 9

[Mark Thibodeau]

<http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~lillsie/McCarthyism/Welch-McCarthy1.jpg>

On this day in *53 AD*, Roman Emperor *Nero* marries *Claudia Octavia*.
Fifteen years later to the day, Nero commits suicide, thus ending the
Julio-Claudian Dynasty and starting the civil year known as the Year of the
Four Emperors.

***

The first legal corporation in the Americas is established on this day in
*1650* when the *Harvard Corporation*establishes its charter.

***

On this day in *1946*, Thailand’s *King Bhumibol Adulyadej* ascends to the
throne, where he still sits to this day, having survived military juntas
and coups and revolutions and more. He is currently the world's longest
reigning monarch, with one of the most loyal group of subjects any reigning
monarch could ever want to have... a fact which yer old pal Jerky found out
the hard way a few years back..

***

On this day in *1954*, US Army special counsel *Joseph Welch* famously
rebukes Red Scare-mongering Senator*Joseph McCarthy* during the
Army-McCarthy hearings on whether Communism has infiltrated the American
military. Welch’s impassioned defense of a young subordinate whom McCarthy
had smeared on live TV resonated across the nation: “Have you no sense of
decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?” It was the
beginning of the end for the vile thug Joe McCarthy.

***

On this day in the year *1978*, the *Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints,* known to you and I as the *Cult of Mormon,* strikes down its
long-standing policy of excluding black men from the priesthood, probably
because they're running out of stupid white people to con into believing
their sham mythology.

***

On this day in *1980*, legendary comedian *Richard Pryor* accidentally sets
himself on fire while freebasing cocaine. Badly burned over 80% of his
body, it was a tragic irony that during his months-long hospital stay,
Pryor added a variety of pain-killers and powerful laxatives to the already
lengthy list of substances to which he was addicted.

***

On this day in *2001*, FBI agent *Robert Wright* gives the FBI a *mission
statement
<http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a060901wright#a060901wright>*
he
wrote that outlines his complaints against his agency. It reads, in part,
“Knowing what I know, I can confidently say that until the investigative
responsibilities for terrorism are removed from the FBI, I will not feel
safe. The FBI has proven for the past decade it cannot identify and prevent
acts of terrorism against the United States and its citizens at home and
abroad. Even worse, there is virtually no effort on the part of the FBI’s
International Terrorism Unit to neutralize known and suspected terrorists
residing within the United States. Unfortunately, more terrorist attacks
against American interests, coupled with the loss of American lives, will
have to occur before those in power give this matter the urgent attention
it deserves.” Three months later, almost to the day, the terrorist attacks
of *September 11* would take place.
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