History of the Day: 7/21

On this day in 356 BC, a young man named Herostratus decided that he was too mediocre to ever be remembered in history. Realizing that he would never do anything great enough to warrant attention, he decided to go the other way, and burned the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) to the ground. Hoping to stop others from pursuing similar goals, the Ephesian government banned mention of his name on penalty of death. Oops!

On this day in 1925, John T. Scopes was found guilty of teaching evolution in class, and fined $100. At issue was the belief that mankind was actually improving. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin tried to prove this verdict wrong in 1969 by taking a huge leap for mankind. Alan Shephard, the first American in space, died 29 years later.

As you mow your lawns, cursing the humidity and heat, remember that this day in 1983 was the coldest recorded temperature (−129°F).

On this day in 1997, the fully restored USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") celebrated her 200th birthday by setting sail for the first time in 116 years. Ever since then, the U.S. Constitution has been under attack by the rest of the government. Go figure.

Tony Blair won leadership of the Labour Party on this day in 1994, preparing him to eventually become Prime Minister. Robin Williams, who celebrates his 58th birthday today, said this of Blair and the British government:

Tony Blair, a man who must address the House Of Commons, which is like Congress with a two-drink minimum. Crazy place! "I believe my worthy opponent..." "Oh, BEEP off! BEEP, BEEP you BEEP! BEEP you!" "Will someone remove Mrs. Thatcher from the chamber?"

Williams also made this appeal against nuclear proliferation:

Jamaica would never make an atomic bomb. They may make an atomic bong...but I would rather fight a war with an atomic bong, because when the atomic bomb goes off, there's devastation and radiation. When the atomic bong goes off, there's celebration!

Today is the birthday of another politician, who also happens to be a poet, Matthew Prior (1664). He is known for his ironic statements, such as:

For hope is but a dream for those that wake.

They never taste who always drink:
They always talk, who never think.

Fantastic tyrant of the amorous heart.
How hard thy yoke, how cruel thy dart.
Those escape your anger who refuse your sway,
and those are punished most, who most obey.

Don Knotts was born on this day in 1924. I don't know if he wrote any poems, but I recall this one written about his most famous character:

We love Barney Fife.
He's the deputy of Mayberry
Andy Griffith is our life
When the show is done, we'll watch another one
Rerun, rerun, rerun, rerun

Cat Stevens, responsible for the soundtrack to the sublime Harold and Maude, was born on this day in 1948. Now, he is Yussef Islam and no longer allowed in the country.

And, finally, Singapore celebrates Racial Harmony Day today in commemoration of the Singapore Race Riot in 1964. No, I'm not kidding.