Monday, June 14, 2021

George Gershwin’s brother Ira

...wrote the lyrics for Porgy and Bess and one of the songs is called "It Ain't Necessarily So" (which happened in the film version to have been performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.). And while you may agree or disagree with the idea that "the things that you're liable to read in the Bible, it ain't necessarily so", it is indisputable that the things that you may have been taught in school and the things that you might be told by news anchors nightly and even the things you may see with your very own eyes are also not necessarily so.

A few cases in point.

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day in the United States -- at least it used to be. Most oldsters learned way back in grammar school that it was on this day in the year of our Lord 1777 that Betsy Ross of Philadelphia presented the first American flag to George Washington. Here is one painter's depiction of the scene:


It turns out that it never happened. It is a myth. There are a number of websites you can google that will disabuse you of that particular notion.

Next, and more or less on the same subject, and also strangely appropriate for Flag Day, it has been taken as an article of faith in certain circles for many years that the design of the first American flag (which is depicted correctly in the painting) was based on George Washington's family coat of arms, which dates back to the year 1346 in jolly olde England Yorkshire. You can see it and read all about it HERE.

You guessed it. Also a myth.

Finally, in current news, here is a photograph of the leaders of the G-7 nations who met together this past weekend in Cornwall, England:


The seven nations in the G-7 are Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S.

So why are there nine, count -em, nine (9) people in the official photo?

Because it ain't necessarily so, that's why.

The nine participants at the G-7 meeting were Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Joe Biden of the U.S., Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the U.K., French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the front row; and European Council President Charles Michel, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the back row.

To recap, Betsy Ross, myth; Washington's coat of arms the basis for the American flag, myth: and seven nations in the G-7, myth.

The old gray world, she ain't what she used to be.

But Happy Flag Day anyway!

13 comments:

  1. The world has gone mad.
    Stay safe. I read there was another shooting in GA today. Sad times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy, we hear what the mainstream media (New York Times, Washington Post, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN) want us to hear. I'm sure there were shootings in Virginia today too. With what is it, 200 million, 300 million guns in private hands in this country, it's a wonder everybody isn't shooting everybody else. Sometimes it seems that way. Try living in Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago.

      Don't mind me; I'm in a mood.

      Delete
    2. Whoa sorry about that...I just think it is sad that you can be shot and killed for asking someone to wear a mask...

      Delete
    3. You are right, of course. Didn’t mean to “jump on your case.” Atlanta’s crime rates have skyrocketed in recent months. Many in our country seem to have lost all sense of right and wrong, and changes in how the police are allowed to respond are not helping. The lawless are encouraged and the law-abiding seem to be in the minority. The days ahead do not look good. I think a great deal of the problem is related to drug use and gang activity.

      Delete
  2. They need to get things straight and teach students correctly. What bothers me are the parts of history that some young people today do not believe ever happened - such as the atrocities at Auschwitz and other similar places. George Santayana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." I believe that is something to think about.

    I also agree with Kathy. The world has gone mad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bonnie, I read that perceived reality is reality, but the fly in the ointment is that each person perceives his or her own reality. It's a wonder we can communicate at all. Santayana was certainly right. That's the scary part given the state of the education business today.

      Delete
  3. 'Twas ever thus and 'twill ever be thus. C'est la vie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Graham, not Pollyanna exactly, but close. You are an especially trusting person.

      Maybe I'll feel better if I drink some coffee.

      Delete
    2. I worked with politicians all my career. I have seen the press reports of meetings which I have attended. I have seen the spins. I have seen the downright lies. There are good people out there. I would love to believe that they will win. I remain to be convinced. When it comes to politics I believe little unless I know it to be true.

      Delete
  4. Nice wooden plinth so they don't get their feet sandy.
    Yorkshire mentioned again! I hope you don't think you're in with a chance of becoming an honorary Yorkshireman.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tasker, you obviously missed this post of mine from 2016 including its commens stream.

      It's all right. I forgive you. Confucius (or somebody) say 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' and that's enough for me.

      Delete
  5. This is the reason events need to be recorded. If we can get it on record perhaps we will not repeat the bad things that happened in the past. And it doesn't hurt to have dissenting opinions. The truth is bound to be in there somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emma, you make a lot of sense. There is a lot to be said for accountability and provability.

      Delete

<b>My new favorite poem</b>

...is the following one, purportedly by Billy Collins: Another Reason Why I Don't Keep A Gun In The House The neighbors'...