parresia

I remember

President Reagan Shot 21 years ago today

One of my most vivid memories from childhood is the day that President Reagon was shot and very nearly killed by John Hinckley Jr. who amazingly managed to get off six shots

The president was shot in the left lung, and the .22 caliber bullet just missed his heart. In an impressive feat for a 70-year-old man with a collapsed lung, he walked into George Washington University Hospital under his own power. As he was treated and prepared for surgery, he was in good spirits and quipped to his wife, Nancy, ''Honey, I forgot to duck,'' and to his surgeons, "Please tell me you're Republicans." Reagan's surgery lasted two hours, and he was listed in stable and good condition afterward.

Sadly, we remember James Brady, one of Reagan's close assistants, who to this day is confined to a wheel chair after incurring one of the bullets aimed at Reagan.

Some interesting stuff to watch

The History Channel has a series of interesting programs coming up. For example,

Tonight 5pm St. Peter: The Rock

He was a simple fisherman on the Sea of Galilee until Jesus of Nazareth promised to make him a "fisher of men." The man we know as St. Peter was the leader among the Apostles--the rock upon which the foundation of the Church was built and the keeper of the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. We trace the life of Peter, from his humble beginnings to martyrdom in Rome in 64 A.D. We also look at the Vatican's shocking announcement in 1968--that the bones of St. Peter had been found! TV G

Then on April 2nd: 6PM Egypt Land of the Gods/Cradle of Religions/Sacred Space

In the past 5,000 years, Egypt has been home to many gods. Pharaohs, Jews, Christians, and Muslims have all lived and worshipped there, leaving monuments and symbols of their faith across the landscape. We learn how the ancient gods and rituals impacted on modern religions to create a spiritually unique country. We examine the progression of religions--from ancient Pharaonic Polytheism to Judaism and Coptic Christianity and the modern Islamic state--and the structures associated with them. TV G

I think this last one is going to talk at some length about Eastern Orthodoxy, which ought to be interesting.

Posted by jeremy stock at March 30, 2002 11:43 AM