Korea and Japan

Prior to 1876, Korea was considered a protectorate of China.  That changed with the signing of the Japan-Korea Treaty in 1876, effectively opening up trade with Korea for Japan.

Believing their country to be overcrowded, the Japanese government encouraged their people to emigrate to Korea.  In the early Twentieth Century, Japanese settlers in Korea amounted to about 170,000.  

By 1904, Japan had established economic and military dominance over Korea.  Then, on August 22, 1910 (111 years ago), Japan effectively annexed Korea with the signing of another Japan-Korea Treaty.  

Under the new agreement, the Emperor of Korea ceded complete control of Korea to the Emperor of Japan.  This lasted until 1945 with the end of WWII.

By 1920, almost 40% of agricultural land in Korea belonged to Japanese.  By 1932, it was more than 50%.

In 1939, Japan attempted to force a cultural assimilation of Koreans.  They were required to end their use of traditional Korean names in favor of Japanese surnames.

During WWII, labor shortages in Japan led to the obligatory recruitment of about 670,000 Koreans to work there.

Starting in 1944, Japan started conscripting all eligible Korean males into its military or military industry.  As a result, about 200,000 Koreans served in the Japanese army.

Also, during WWII, Korean women were forced to become prostitutes for the benefit of Japanese soldiers.  They were referred to as "comfort women."

Japan surrendered to Allied Forces on August 15, 1945.  One result was the end of their occupation of Korea.  Unfortunately, Korea has been split in two since then, the northern half allied with China and Russia and the southern half allied with the United States.        

 

Panama Canal

In 1903, what is today the Republic of Panama was part of the Republic of Colombia.  Panamanian rebels looked to separate and create their own country.  The United States, under President Theodore Roosevelt, supported this revolution.  Why?

Ship transportation between the east coast of the United States and its west coast had long been a problem as it required a journey around the southernmost tip of South America (Cape Horn).  Central America, a relative narrow strip of land, offered hope of an alternative route.  Panama is the southernmost country in Central America.

On November 2, 1903, American warships blockaded the Panamanian coast preventing Colombia from putting down the rebellion.  The following day, Panama declared its independence.

Shortly after recognizing the new government in Panama, Roosevelt signed a treaty with it.  For $10 million plus a substantial annual payment, the treaty granted from Panama to the United States a renewable lease in perpetuity regarding the land proposed for a canal extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific.

On May 4, 1904, the USA took control (sovereignty) of the so-called Panama Canal Zone.  A US government established the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC) to oversee construction of the Panama Canal.  The commission reported directly to Secretary of War William Howard Taft.

"The construction of the canal was completed in 1914, 401 years after Panama was first crossed overland by a European, Vasco Núñez de Balboa. The United States spent almost $500 million (roughly equivalent to $12.9 billion in 2020) to finish the project. This was by far the largest American engineering project to date. The canal was formally opened on August 15, 1914 (107 years ago today), with the passage of the cargo ship SS Ancon."

"The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 caused a severe drop in traffic along Chilean ports due to shifts in maritime trade routes.  The burgeoning sheep farming business in southern Patagonia suffered a significant setback by the change in trade routes, as did the economy of the Falkland Islands."

"After years of negotiations for a new Panama Canal treaty, an agreement was reached between the United States (under President Jimmy Carter) and Panama. Signed on September 7, 1977, the treaty recognized Panama as the territorial sovereign in the Canal Zone, but gave the United States the right to continue operating the canal until December 31, 1999."

"Despite considerable opposition in the U.S. Senate (which has the right under the Constitution to approve or not all treaties), the treaty was approved by a one-vote margin in September 1978."

Don Rickles

 In 1958, as a teenager, I remember going to the Oswego Theater and watching two of my favorite actors, Burt Lancaster and Clark Gable, perform in the WWII submarine drama, Run Silent, Run Deep.  I enjoyed the movie, but didn't pay too much attention to a particular supporting actor making his film debut, Don Rickles as Quartermaster First Class Ruby.

Rickles was born in Queens, New York in 1926 to Jewish parents.  After graduating from Newtown High School in 1944, he enlisted in the US Navy.

After his discharge, Rickles began studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  He gained some bit parts on television programs.

"Frustrated by a lack of acting work, Rickles began performing comedy in clubs in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. He became known as an insult comedian when he responded to hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material."

A big break in Rickles' career occurred when Frank Sinatra came to a club to see his act.  Sinatra loved when Rickles made fun of him.  He encouraged his friends to come and be insulted as well.  

Johnny Carson also noticed Rickles and invited him to appear on his Tonight Show many times.  Dean Martin made him a regular on his Celebrity Roast series.  

It was in the 1970s that my ex-wife Bonita and I attended one of Don Rickles' performances at the nearby Westbury Music Fair.  We sat in the cheaper seats near the back.  

We had a great time of almost non-stop laughter.  One thing I remember about that night was several couples in the very first row arrived after Rickles came on stage.  Instead of quietly sitting and watching Rickles, they greeted each other more than necessary.  Well, Rickles insulted the heck out of them.  Hilarious!

Sadly, Don Rickles died April 6, 2017 at ninety years of age.  Every once in a while, he'll make me laugh again on YouTube.   

The Incident

 The Incident is a 1967 thriller film whose ensemble cast included Tony Musante, Martin Sheen, Beau Bridges, Ruby Dee, Brock Peters, Jack Gilford, Thelma Ritter, Ed McMahon, Gary Merrill and Jan Sterling.  For his performance in The Incident, Musante won the Best Actor award at the 1968 Argentine Film Festival.

The Incident begins late one night when two hoodlums, Joe (Musante) and Artie (Sheen), enter a south bound number 4 subway train at the 170th Street station in the Bronx, New York City.  They "proceed to psychologically terrorize, humiliate and degrade every single adult passenger (in their car), as the train passes 15 stations."  

Joe and Artie, but mostly Joe, do this one passenger at a time.  Nobody does anything to help their fellow passengers, fearing they will only draw the attention of the hoodlums to them.

Finally, Joe attempts to touch a child sleeping in her father's (McMahon) arms.  The father feebly slaps Joe's hand away.  Only then does a soldier (Bridges) in the subway car challenge Joe, who then pulls out a switchblade knife.

The soldier, wounded by the knife, is able to overpower Joe, knocking him unconscious.  Artie, losing his accomplice, attempts to flee, but is kneed in the groin by the soldier, leaving him on the floor in agony.  

The subway train finally arrives at Grand Central Station.  One of the passengers calls the police, two of whom quickly enter their car.  

Without asking any questions, the police grab the only Black male passenger visible to them (Peters).  Luckily, they are quickly informed of their mistake and proceed to arrest Joe and Artie.         

Many years ago, but after The Incident was made, I got a chance to meet Jack Gilford.  I was invited to a bar mitzvah of a neighbor.  Turns out Jack was a relative of the neighbor.

Jack Gilford was a stage actor who also appeared frequently in film and on television.  I especially remember him (as Bernie Lefkowitz) in the 1985 film, Cocoon.  Jack won a Daytime Emmy Award (Big Blue Marble), a Tony Award (Cabaret), a Golden Globe Award (Save the Tiger) and was nominated for an Academy Award (also Save the Tiger).

Two Women, Chapter 7

Monica arrives at Memorial Hall five minutes before Mona's performance is about to begin.  She takes her seat near the front of the half-filled auditorium.

Right on time, Mona comes on stage to polite applause.  Her eyes meet Monica's and they smile again, friendlier this time.

Mona flawlessly performs Rachmaninoff's Piano Concert 2.  After, the audience applauds with more enthusiasm.  Monica with some others give Mona a standing ovation.

While the rest head for the exits, Monica heads back stage to visit Mona in her dressing room.  She knocks on the door.  

Mona:  Come in.

Monica enters.

Mona:  I was hoping I would see you again.  Did you enjoy my performance?

Monica:  Very much.  Thanks for the ticket.  Perhaps I can buy you a drink.  What do you say?

Mona:  Why not?  Isn't there a bar at the Carolina Inn?  That's where I'm staying.

Monica:  That's where I was thinking.

Mona:  Give me ten minutes to change.

Monica starts to leave.

Mona:  No, please stay.  We can chat while I change.

She stays.

Roommates

From September 1963 until May 1965 I had a total of 5 roommates while living in the dormitories (upper and lower quads) of the University of Pennsylvania near 37th and Spruce Streets.  In my opinion, I got along fine, especially with Scott Kahn, Mike Parr and Ralph Pincus. 

Up until very near my graduation from Penn in May 1967, I fully expected to join the United States Air Force as I had been planning for months.  What a shock it was when my gastroenterologist told me to forget about it.  The Air Force would (and did) cancel my appointment to their Officer Candidate School because of my ulcerative colitis diagnosis.  

After a short period of disappointment, I re-focused my attention to what I would do next.  I decided to go to Detroit, Michigan where my brother Ted,  his wife and newborn son lived.  

Once there, I quickly bought a car, a late model Corvair, and got a job at Ernst & Ernst, a big CPA firm.  Next on my list was to find a place to live.  

As opposed to my thinking (getting my own apartment), I was strongly advised to look for an apartment with a roommate.  I followed the advice.  A local newspaper had listings with such.

My first experience with a roommate in Michigan was with a red-haired young man who offered to let me sleep on his couch.  For some crazy reason, I accepted.    

The arrangement didn't last long.  Even as I tried to be agreeable, I think my presence in his apartment made my roommate uncomfortable.  I was asked to leave ASAP.  

My second roommate, whom I'll refer to as PW, had a two bedroom apartment which offered me some privacy.  However, he was an unusual character.  

PW once told me he would do anything for money.  I came to believe him.  

PW sold me his furniture as he was getting married and moving out soon.  However, he wanted my money up front and got me to agree to let him keep my furniture until he left a few weeks later.  Unbelievable but true!  

PW even tried to sell me the air conditioner that came with the apartment.  I agreed, but then, feeling sorry for me, he explained who actually owned the air conditioner.

PW finally moved out and I got what I had always wanted, an apartment of my own.  In retrospect, why would I want to share an apartment with a stranger?  It's difficult enough when you're sharing an apartment with a loved one.  

To Kill a Mockingbird

 Harper Lee was born April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, which had a population at the time of about 1,000 inhabitants.  It's located in the southwestern part of the state.  

Harper was the youngest of four children.  Her mother's maiden name was Finch.  Her father was a businessman and a lawyer.

During Harper's childhood, she spent most of her time playing with her brother (Edwin) who was six years older.  In addition, during the summers, young Truman Capote (two years older and the future author of In Cold Blood) was also a playmate when he visited his family in Monroeville.

After graduating high school, Harper studied law at the University of Alabama.  However, she left school one semester before completing her degree.  

In 1949, Harper moved to New York City and devoted herself to writing.  On July 11, 1960 (sixty-one years ago today), her manuscript, To Kill a Mockingbird, was published.  It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1961.  To Kill a Mockingbird has remained a best seller to the present day.  

"The plot and characters (of To Kill a Mockingbird) are loosely based on Lee's observations of her family (especially her brother and father), her neighbors and an event that occurred near her hometown in 1936 when she was ten."

Harper Lee's father defended Frank and Brown Ezell, two Black men accused of murder.  They were convicted and hung.  

"Despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality, the novel is renowned for its warmth and humor. Atticus Finch, the narrator's father, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers."

"In the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird (was) probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America.  (It) is extensively taught in schools in the United States with lessons that emphasize tolerance and decry prejudice."

Harper Lee died in her hometown on February 19, 2016 at the age of eighty-nine.