Anonymous Girl

March is Holocaust Remembrance Month 
and 
Women's History Month

Little Girls who suffered
and died in the Holocaust

So much of women's history is lost because it was not written down or was oppressed.  This first story of the month is a perfect example of that.  It also speaks to the indomitable spirit of womankind and the love within her that transcends history books.   We'll explore several fascinating women this month.  Let's start with one whose name we'll never know.

Second Degree: Anonymous Girl

These words were written on the wall of a Gestapo cell by an 18-year-old girl.  Take a moment to pray for this girl's soul and for the millions of women who died in the Holocaust, calling on the Most Blessed Mother to protect and guide them.  No doubt, She did and still does.

First Degree: Henryk Gorecki

Polish composer, Henryk Gorecki was inspired by the writings of the 18-year-old girl and used her words as the libretto to the second movement of his third symphony, Sorrowful Songs.  You can buy it by clicking here.

Henryk Gorecki

Below is an excerpt from the Suffering With Joy blog.  It is used here with permission.  

Pope John Paul II and composer Henryk Gorecki had much in common.  Both were Poles, both lost their mothers at young ages, both resisted and thwarted the Communists oppressing their country,  both experienced deeply the anguish of World War II and the Holocaust, both became great because of strength of character and moral authority.

Cardinal Wojtyla’s motto, Totus Tuus, spoke of his great love for the Blessed Mother both personally and as a Pole.  She is intimately tied to the Polish people whose devotion to her is unexcelled by any other nation. They weave Mary into the tapestry of their daily, ordinary life, their spiritual life, their family life. Shrines to Our Lady dot the countryside along the many pilgrim paths.

The Pope's parents on their wedding day.

12-year old Karol Wojtyla
he lost his mother 4 years
earlier

Certainly as boys who had lost their mothers early in life, Mary as tender mother held a special place in the hearts of Gorecki and Wojtyla.  When he became Pope John Paul II, Wojtyla kept this motto and love of the Blessed Mother for the rest of his days, a counterpoint to those in the Church who strove to scrub her from notice.

Pope John Paul II
visiting Auschitz

Gorecki’s life and the Pope’s life intersected at several points, their relationship speaking of a high regard for one another.  The first notable event was the commissioning of Beatus vir by Cardinal Wojtyla for the celebration of the 900th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Stanislas, bishop of Krakow, who was assassinated by King Boleslaw I over sins the King didn’t want to give up.  I will write more about this in my next post on Gorecki.

Pope John Paul II traveled to Poland several times.  For the 1987 pilgrimage to his native land, the Pope’s friend Gorecki composed the hauntingly beautiful Totus Tuus in the his honor.  Written for mixed choir, Gorecki immortalized in music the Pope’s life theme:

Totus tuus sum Maria,
Mater nostri Redemptoris.
Virgo Dei, virgo pia
Mater mundi Salvatoris.
Totus tuus sum, Maria!

I am completely yours, Mary,
Mother of our Redeemer.
Virgin Mother of God, loving virgin,
Mother of the Saviour of the world.
I am completely yours, Mary!

To purchase Gorecki's music or the CD of the music, click here.
 
Henryk Gorecki died in November of 2010.  May his memory be eternal.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

My mother was born on this date during the presidency of FDR.  I am therefore writing about Franklin Delano Roosevelt today.

2 Degrees

As detailed in the post on Chairman Mao, FDR exchanged letters with Pope Pius XII during World War II.  I don't have anything to add about the relationship between FDR and Pius XII, but here are some videos that might interest you.

Watch the full episode. See more American Experience.

I strongly urge you to visit the FDR presidential library in Hyde Park, New York if you get a chance.  He had 4 terms, there is loads of information to sift through and wonderful displays there.  Click here to visit their site.

George Washington

George Washington in bucolic scene with chattel etc.

7 Degrees

Seventh Degree: George Washington freed his slaves upon his death as part of a pact with the Marquis de Lafayette.
Oney Judge, a slave on Washington's Mount Vernon Plantation, was not owned by George, but by his wife, Martha.  She kept most of her slaves and bequeethed Oney Judge to her granddaughter, Eliza Custis.  Oney was not excited about the prospect of being owned by yet another person (and perhaps Ms Custis wasn't a nice lady either.)  Oney Judge escaped!
Full story and interview here.

Sixth Degree: John Langdon
Oney made her way to New Hampshire where she was given sanctuary by Senator John Langdon (future Governor of New Hampshire).  Mr. Langdon was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.   click here for a full list of delegates.  


Fifth Degree: Gabriel Duvall of Maryland (Named because it was the colony for Papists, those devoted to "Mary", it was their "land") was also a delegate to that convention.  After the United States of America was created, Mr. Duvall became Justice Duvall.  He served in the US Supreme Court for over 20 years with Chief Justice John Marshall .


Fourth Degree: John  Marshall
Just a few branches down the family tree of John Marshall, we come to
Third Degree: General George Marshall (of The Marshall Plan fame).

Second Degree: FDR
George Marshall served under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  For The History Channel's history of George Marshall, click here.  "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," The Marshall Plan embodies this phrase and is something that Americans are proud of.  Like all people, George Marshall was flawed, but he was great.



First Degree: Pope Pius XII
FDR wrote many letters to Pope Pius XII.  Myron Taylor, ambassedor to the Vatican, presented the letter to Pius XII in person.

A Word About Pius XII
Hated by Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin, Pope Pius XII stood up for the faith and was hailed as a brave hero by Jews and Christians alike.  Communist propaganda painted him as an enemy and and anti-Semite in the 1950s and 1960s.  This image persists today. Go to one of the Holocaust museums around the world, read newspaper stories and encyclicals from the wartime, read the recent NY Daily News story defending the Pius XII.  Don't believe the hype!  Go to the source.

In December 2008 there was a symposium on the papacy of Pius XII.  This symposium was part of an ongoing effort by The Vatican and Jewish leaders to maintain healthy and truthful interfaith dialogue.  Click on the name of a participant to see their video of reaction to the symposium.

• Journalist Michael Hesemann
• Law Professor, Writer, Jurist, Political Commentator Ronald Rychlak
• Rabbi Abie Ingber

John Adams

This post was originally part of a series of presidents for the month of February, but it took a turn that made it appropriate for Pearl Harbor Day.  I strongly suggest you see all the videos from the BBC that begin with one toward the bottom of this post.  King Tut #3 is coming on the 8th.

John Adams

John Adams was President of the United States (POTUS) from 1797-1801.  Most think of him as the second president, but it depends on your reckoning.  He was the second president under the constitution of 1787, but #12 if you consider the country from the moment it became united.  This video is really interesting.

Fasten your seatbelt, this is a ride of 9 degrees that covers 5 presidents

and 2 Japanese emperors!

9th Degree: President John Adams (portrait above)

8th Degree: President John Quincy Adams,
author of The Monroe Doctrine

7th Degree: President James Monroe
The Monroe Doctrine stated that, while the United States will not interfere with nor
deny the legitimacy of any existing colonies of European nations in the Western Hemisphere,
it would see the formation of any new colonies or expansion of existing colonies as acts of
war against the United States and therefore require US retaliation.   

6th Degree: President Teddy Roosevelt
In 1905, Teddy Roosevelt modified the Monroe Doctrine.
In that same year he also encouraged Japan to expand onto the
Asian continent.  This was NOT his finest act.

5th Degree: Emperor Meiji Mutsuhito expanded Japan onto the Asian
continent, setting the course for WWII in Asia.

Fourth Degree: Emperor Showa Hirohito
invaded Manchuria in 1933, the first of his invasions that
lead to the Asian theater of WWII.

Third Degree: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

Declares war on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Second Degree: President Harry S. Truman and Emperor Showa Hirohito

After the European side of WWII ended, as concentration camps were being liberated and other atrocities were coming to light, the Asian war burned hot with no end in sight.  President Harry Truman decided to drop the first atomic bombs on Japan.  Here is audio of him discussing this decision.  

This video is the gateway to an excellent BBC documentary about the bomb. 

1st Degree: Pope Pius XII

Harry Truman and his predecessor, FDR, exchanged letters with Pius XII.  

Scooby-Doo

5 Degrees

Fifth: Scooby Doo's voice was that of Don Messick.  Don also did the voices of Astro, Bamm Bamm Rubble, Muttley, Papa Smurf, Dr. Benton Quest, and scores of others.  Hiring Don was hiring a cast!  It was so much fun to research the animated films of Hanna-Barbara for this post.  The cast lists never had more than two names, usually one!  To read more about Don Messick click here for the wiki-page and here for his imdb page.

Don Messick

Don Messick was personally recruited from warner Brothers by Joe Barbara and Will Hanna.  This post is loaded with video.  Let's take a walk down memory lane with the theme song from Scooby Doo. 

A link to a great full-length episode of Scooby, later in the post!

Norman Shelley, most famous for
being Dr. Watson, but he was also
the voice of Churchill

Fourth Degree: Bill Hanna and Joe Barbara won the oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 1946.  That year, Sir Laurence Olivier was nominated for his role of Henry V.  

Third Degree: Sir Laurence Olivier worked with Norman Shelley in the 1969 film, "Oh What a Lovely War."  Here is a clip from the movie.  Do you recognize the future "Professor McGonnagall playing a recruiting showgirl?  Catch a glimpse of Shelley at the end of this clip.

  

Elizabeth, Mary, Churchill, George, Margaret
Second Degree: Norman Shelley was the voice of Winston Churchill for his wartime radio speeches.  To read one story about this click here.  To read another account, click here.  Evidently, Sir Churchill was a might busy during the war and needed an actor to help him keep up with radio.

Elizabeth Windsor was just a child when Hitler first became powerful.  Though her Uncle gave up the throne to be with his fascist, divorcee bride, Elizabeth was not enamored of the fascists.  As she grew to womanhood, she became a soldier in her own right. She was pro-Churchill, later knighting him.  She is on the far left, in uniform, in this picture with Churchill.  

First Degree: Queen Elizabeth met John Paul II on several occasions.  Here is a film of them from the early 80s.  The pope crooks his arm as though wishing that she'd take it as they strolled.  

Messick to Hanna and Barbara to Olivier to Shelley to Churchill to Queen Elizabeth II

On Zombie Island, Part 1 of 7, could not embed, but it's so fun! Click and enjoy.  

Edith Shain: The Kiss in Times Square Nurse

The Eisenstaedt photo
August 14, 1945

Edith Shain and Glenn McDuffie kissed on August 14, 1945 in Times Square. This iconic photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt makes me happy each time I see it.  A random GI kissing a random nurse in Times Square upon hearing that the war was finally over!

The identities of the kissers was a mystery for over 50 years.  Not wanting to be seen as a flusey,  Edith Shain did not come forward.  As an elderly lady she figured, what the heck!

5 Degrees

Julius Axelrod

Edith in the 21st century

Fifth Degree: Julius Axelrod:  Edith was a nurse at Doctors Hospital, now Presbyterian Hospital, when she heard about the end of the war.  When she was a medical student at NYU in the late 30s/early 40s, so was 1970 Nobel Laureate Julius Axelrod.  

Fourth Degree, Norman Borlaug:  Julius Axelrod, with colleagues Bernard Katz and Ulf von Euler, won the Nobel Prize for their study of  neurotransmitters. Dr. Axelrod received his prize in Medicine in the same 1970 ceremony that Norman Borlaug won the prize for Peace.

Dr. Borlaug receiving the Congressional Gold Medal

Third Degree, Nancy Pelosi:  Dr. Borlaug discovered ways to yield more wheat per acre.  His work was seen as an embodiment of the ideals of Nobel by "benefiting humanity."  To read the award ceremony speech for Dr. Borlaug click here.  Dr. Borlaug's work didn't stop with this work.  He went on to head  the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) under the auspices of the Ford Foundation, The Rockerfeller Foundation, and the Mexican Government.  His work with the CIMMYT earned him the Congressional Gold Medal.  He received the medal during the Bush administration, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House.

You do realize, Nancy, that by kissing my hand you
are submitting to my authority?

  Second Degree, The Pope:  Madame Speaker was summoned to The Vatican in February of 2009 by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.  The audience was requested when Speaker Pelosi stated that she was a "good Catholic" in spite of her party stance on life issue, including abortion.  While no transcripts of the 15 minute meeting were released, both parties released statements to the press. Pelosi's rendition is of a formal and friendly greeting.  The Vatican's statement is about life issues and the importance of leaders to stand for justice.  Read the Fox story here.  Read the CBS story of the visit here.  

Friends

First Degree: Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) was a friend and confidant of John Paul II.  The two were very good friends.  It's so unfortunate that Benedict is plagued with dark circles under his eyes and a surname that begins with "rat."  The combination of these characteristics have made for many nasty photoshop opportunities, but he's a very holy man.  Check out the photo of him with Nancy Pelosi.  Yeah, he's got dark circles like Natasha's Boris, but there is a warmth, light, and sweetness radiating from him.  When you see the parody pix, close the page. 

Don't make statements of doctrine
unless they are correct, Nancy

Bishop Tobin vs Patrick Kennedy
The bishop won

Did you know? The Catholic Church reserves public contact with politicians to State events and matters of heresy.  While Nancy Pelosi had been on the wrong side of life issues for many years, she was only called out publicly when she said she could do so and still be a "good, practicing, Catholic."  


A similar Episcopal reprimand was given to Patrick Kennedy by Bishop Tobin in 2009.  Read the story here.  

Glenn McDuffie: The Kiss in Times Square Sailor

.

Original photo by Alfred Eisenstadt, Glenn McDuffie 60+ years later

3 Degrees of Separation

2004 Sox, Pedro wins!

Lois Gibson of the Houston Police Department did forensic work on the photograph and concluded that the man in the photograph was Glenn McDuffie.  To find out how she did it, click here!  At a 2008 baseball game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets, Glenn celebrated his 81st birthday with a song during the seventh inning stretch.  He was hailed as "the kissing sailor."

Glen to Pedro (3): Pedro Martinez was a Met at the time.  Only 4 years earlier, as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Mr. Martinez became a World Series Champion.  GO SOX!


Pedro to George (2): The team was invited to the White House to meet President Bush.

Castel Gandolfo with George and JP2

George to John Paul II (1):  President Bush met John Paul II.