It’s a shame that TV channels feel it necessary to air the repulsive language used by careless individuals, especially when children are watching.

In our unguarded moments, we sometimes consider Monday the first day of the week and then we realize that Sunday really is. No harm was done, of course.

“I asked my cousin’s four-year-old, ‘What are you going to be when you grow up?’ He replied,’ Still me.’” (“Readers Digest, March, ‘21)

In 1974 the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot seized control of Cambodia All urban dwellers, especially intellectuals, were shot or forced to do manual work. As a result, about two million Cambodians of a population of 7 million lost their lives. The Viets invaded in 1979 and the U.S. protested. I never understood why. (“First they Killed My Father” by Loung Ng)

Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation may have “freed” only those slaves in the Confederacy but it gave all of them some hope.

Pearl Harbor may have been a disaster, but it could have been much worse. The harbor is shallow so with the exception of the “Arizona” most of the damaged vessels settled on the bottom and in a relatively short time were refloated, sent to the west coast, and rejoined the fleet. If the battleships had been attacked while at sea, they would still be there. The Japanese also failed to bomb the main fuel tanks and the repair facilities. Fortunately, our two carriers were at sea.

During WWII the “Queen Mary made several trips across the Atlantic as a troop transport. Painted grey, she carried about 10,000 men and was nicknamed “the grey ghost.” Her speed was much superior to that of German U-boats. On one of her trips she collided with a smaller British ship carrying 399 passengers, who all died because “the ghost” dared not stop in submarine-infested waters. (Wik)

In March 1836, the Mexican army finally overcame the indomitable defenders of the Alamo, including Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis. Santa Anna was so enraged by then that he reportedly burned the bodies of the Texans on huge funeral pyres. Then he ordered that the ashes stay unburied, but there are several theories about where they were eventually interred. Of course, the Texans exacted their revenge a short time later. (“Wild West” mag., Feb., 21)

Bob Hall

Bellingham