Born to an Irish immigrant father, one can only assume that Robert Young, the "father who knew best", was Catholic. Here he is in a clip from the series that made him famous, Father Knows Best.
He began his career in silent films, doing bit parts. One of his first talkies was in the Charlie Chan film, "Black Camel."
Brolin played Ronald Reagan in the TV adaptation of the book, The Reagans, by second degree, Anne Edwards. I was unable to find video of that TV movie, but I do have a link to the author discussing her book on CSPAN. Read the book by clicking here. First Degree, Ronald Reagan is a paternal figure for many Americans. He was a fine president and, by all accounts, a great person with an impressive intellect. He had a warm and wise way about him, the kind of manner we wish all our grandfathers possessed.
Two fathers sharing thoughts
The Reagans and Blessed John Paul II in The Vatican
Elizabeth Taylor is the face most people think of when they think of Cleopatra
There's just nothing like a Cecil B. Demille epic scene with thousands of extras.
Fifth Degree: Elizabeth Taylor
Famous for her violet eyes and many husbands, Ms Taylor is an icon of the American cinema. Her career was at its height in the 1960s when she appeared with..... Fourth Degree: Burl Ives,
in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." We already reckonned Burl Ives at 4 degrees from John Paul II in the post on Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Here's the trailer to "Cat".
"From the 1940s through 1960, Burl Ives was considered America’s most authoritative interpreter of American folk songs. A mainstream figure (better known than Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie), his penetrating, tenor voice with its unique timbre was recognized by millions." -Ellen Harold and Peter Stone
Ives is remembered for his novelty songs from the 1960s, but his impact on American music is much deeper than that. For a great article on Ives, go to the Association for Cultural Equality site. This Alan Lomax site is dedicated to Lomax' lifetime passion, folkmusic. While I'm sure that Ives and Lomax met, I cannot find a picture of it or any quotes from a meeting. So I'm going to link Ives to Lomax via...
Third Degree: Woody Guthrie
Guthrie and Lomax collected folksong together as we see in this photograph from the American South.
Woody Guthrie on left, Alan Lomax at the right
children unknown
Second Degree: Alan Lomax
received the National Medal of Arts from President Ronald Reagan.
First Degree: President Ronald Reagan
A former McCarthyist, President Reagan turned over a new leaf when he awarded Alan Lomax the Medal of Arts in 1986. During the time of McCarthyism in the United States, Burl Ives, Woody Guthrie, and Alan Lomax were black listed.
Saint Paul
Blast from the East: Metania (Metanoia)
Ronald Reagan once tried to end the professional lives of Burl Ives, Woody Guthrie, and Alan Lomax, but he changed completely by the time he became president. He turned away from the sin of bearing false witness and praised those he had persecuted. This is very much like what Saint Paul did, only Reagan never acknowledged as president, his former McCarthyist work.
We are in the season of Great Lent. Many priests (Western) will be taking out their rusty Greek and using the word, "metanoia" in their sermons. In the East, we live this word physically in prayer. During Great Lent, we say the Prayer of Saint Efraim several times each service and during The Divine Liturgy. Prostrations are called "metania" in the Eastern Church. Crossing one's self is a form of prostration before God. Add a bow and it's more of a prostration. Touch the floor as part of making your cross, and you're making a metania. Get on your knees and face on the floor and that is a "full metania."
The word "metania" literally means to change direction 180 degrees. To switch direction, to go the other way. Spiritually we are turning away from sin and toward Jesus Christs. See here as Orthodox priests and deacons do full metanias and recite the prayer of Saint Efraim during Great Lent.
Reagan is in the Charles Manson post.He had a fabulous sense of humor. Here are some of his jokes.
George H. W. Bush
1 Degree
Featured in the Lizzie Borden post, George H. W. Bush is just one degree away. I think that many of us are regretting that this particular Bush was just one term. Perhaps things would have been very different if H.W. had 2 terms and W., just the one. If you have an hour, try checking out this feature of George Senior on PBS American Experience. The next video is Dana Carvey doing George Bush. The President enjoyed the impersonation.
The first new president inaugurated after the death of John Paul II, President Obama got his own post. In that post, I connected him in 3 degrees. Look for the post on First Ladies on February 28th for footage of Obama and Benedict XV.
Would you believe, a priest challenged me to connect Charles Manson to JP2? What is the world coming to. Well, I did it in 3 degrees. I'm sure it could have been fewer, but I liked the way I chose. I didn't go through the Manson Family, a twisted, rich, and stoned set of ne'er-do-wells who would have undoubtedly known someone who knew JP2. I went in through those who tried the case.
Not-so-fun Catholic Fact: No matter how wonderful you are, you are going to witness terrible things in your life. The death of a loved one, disasters, injustice, etc. I'm noticing over and over (especially in researching these posts) that good Christians rise to the occasion and just do the right thing. They may be surrounded by madness and evil, yet they man-up. Don't neglect your prayer life. Stay strong to meet the challenges when they occur.
2 Degrees of Separation
Second Degree: Judge Charles "Chuck" Older The original judge for the Manson trial had granted Manson permission to act as his own attorney. Manson ran a muck of the courtroom with voider and that permission was retracted before the beginning of the trial. Judge Older, a former WWII and Korean War ace, was the new judge who presided over the Manson trial. To read the New York Times article on the life and 2006 death of Judge Older, click here.
First Degree: Ronald Reagan Charles Older was appointed to the bench by then Governor, Ronald Reagan. Mr. Reagan met the pope on several occasions.
