On this day 30 years ago the first (and/or fourth) "episode" of the legendary film Star Wars series released in theaters, Harrison Ford became a cinema icon, George Lucas became a billionaire, Memorial Day weekend came to be the unofficial start of the new, but growing, summer movie season, and the rest, as they say is history. The series created such the phenomenon that the USPS is releasing a commemorative set of Star Wars stamps, set to launch this coming week, to coincide with the 30th anniversary. Also, though not as popular as those for Star Trek, Star Wars has plenty of related conventions for fans, followers and freaks alike to gather together and join in worship of all things Lucas (one such event is invading the LA Convention Center this weekend).
Speaking of conventions, today also marks the 220th anniversary of the start of the Constitutional Convention at the Pennsylvania State House. James Madison rose and spoke, Govenour Morris wrote and wrote, George Mason objected and scowled, and lo and behold, some 3 months later, our constitution was born.
And in breaking with convention, on May 25, 1861, Abraham Lincoln officially denied a writ of habeas corpus to John Merryman, was told by the Supreme Court he didn't have the authority to do so and did so anyway, declaring it necessary to suppress the Confederate rebellion during the Civil War, which, as we all know, became the catalyst for the holiday we now know as Memorial Day.
2 comments:
and that's precisely why so many people hate Lincoln. I say, habeas corpus: who needs it, anyway, that, unless you're already guilty?
I think just as many, if not more, people hate Lincoln because he is on the penny and I think we can all agree on our hate for the penny.
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