Past Perspectives

October 13, 1307 - The French rounded up the Knights Templar and tortured them as heretics. (A big win for the Brotherhood of Assassins.)

January 13, 1939 - Brush fires spread across Victoria, Australia. killing 71 people and affecting three quarters of the entire state.

November 13, 1940 - Buckingham Palace was bombed by German Forces during WWII.

March 13, 1964 - Kitty Genovese is murdered in New York despite over 38 witnesses. The term "Bystander Effect" was coined, stating that individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim in the presence of other people

October 13, 1972 - A plane crashes in the Andes. 12 people died and the remaining survivors had to resort to cannibalism to survive. Meanwhile in Russia, another plane crashed near Moscow. There were no survivors of that one.

1980 - Camp Crystal Lake re-opens, resulting an a serial killer stalking and killing the camp councilors. (I am so made this movie did not come out on Friday the 13, but on May, 9)

James Madison introduces the Bill of Rights, introducing amendments to restrict the federal government and to protect freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to peaceful assembly.

First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Second Amendment A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Third Amendment No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Fourth Amendment The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Fifth Amendment No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Sixth Amendment In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Seventh Amendment In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Eighth Amendment Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Ninth Amendment The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

My kid was going through his school papers and he hands me this “Here, mom, I save this for you.

Another Mackinaw event! and trigger warning: Unethical medical experiments.

Alexis St. Martin, a Canadian voyageur was accidentally shot in the stomach. The wound never healed properly, forming a gastric fistula, basically an extra opening in the stomach that lets food leak out. (If you google this or Alexis St. Martin, you will see some pretty graphic images of the wound)

This worked out great for US Army surgeon William Beaumont, who used St. Martin to conduct experiments in digestion. He could literally watch the process of digestion by dangling food on string and pulling it out. Between 1822 and 1833, Beaumont did around 200 experiments on St. Martin.

St. Martin agreed to this because, in a very ethical move, Beaumont had the illiterate voyageur sign an contract to become the doctor's servant. When he wasn't having food-on-string pulled out through the fistula, he did normal servant chores, like chopping wood.

Baron Friedrich von Steuben, the Prussian soldier hired by General George Washington to whip his troops into real fighting force, was believed by many historians to have been gay. Not just gay, but openly gay at a time when homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment at best. 

Von Steuben had been a military man since age 17, eventually rising to become Fredrick the Great’s aide. He was abruptly dismissed in 1763 due to an “implacable enemy” spreading rumors of his homosexuality. He bounced around Europe, failing to join other armies.  In France he ran into Benjamin Franklin, who was impressed by the Baron’s military knowledge.

Ben Franklin downplayed the rumors of homosexual activity when he recommended von Steuben and George Washington chose to look the other way. (Let’s face it, at this point in the war General Washington probably would have accepted help from a Drag Queen in full dress if they could guarantee victory.) In 1778, Von Steuben was appointed temporary Inspector General and quickly set about whipping the Continental Army into shape.  He drilled the troops (military drills, you filthy animal) through the winter and brought a victory at the Battle of Barron Hill in the spring of that year.

After the war, von Steuben retired from service and became a U.S. citizen.  He officially adopted his two aide-de-camps, William North and Benjamin Walker.  von Steuben would live with Walker and his (Walker’s) wife, for a period, before he settled in New Jersey with William North.  Walker would frequently visit the estate.  

Officially, there is no definitive proof that either Walker or North were in a romantic relationship with von Steuben, both men were adopted by Baron von Steuben, a common practice between gay men as a substitution for marriage. And both were described as having ‘'extraordinary intense emotional relationships’ with the Baron. 

Chippewas capture Fort Michilimackinac by playing lacrosse (actually baaga`adowe, a precursor to lacrosse) to distract the soldiers. The ball was thrown inside the fort and they were allowed to chase after. Instead of continuing the game, they killed most of the men stationed there.

The Chippewa held the fort for a year before the British managed to buy it back, promising better trade and more gifts.

The British promptly moved the fort up the hill and made it out of limestone instead of wood.

Born Jemima Wilkinson on 11/29/1752 in Rhode Island, The Friend was the eighth child of a large Quaker family.

In 1776, they had an near death experience while bed ridden with a high fever. It took two days for the fever to break, during which The friend reported that they had, in fact died and received revelations from two angels. They also said that Jemima Wilkinson's soul had died and ascended to heaven, but they had come back with a new spirit, taking the name Publik Universal Friend.

They no longer identified as male or female. when asked, they would simply answer "I am that I am." The Friend began dressing androgynous, generally in loose clerical robes, suitable since they began to travel and preach throughout Rhode Island. They gained a small following and many of the women in the group also adopted an androgynous manner of dress.

Among the usual Quaker teachings, The Friend also endorsed that anyone, regardless of gender, could gain access to God's light. Which sound pedestrian today, but was truly revolutionary in the 1600's. There was a strong belief in predestination, that is God has already decided who goes to heaven as well as the idea that women needed to be tightly controlled and led by men in order to find salvation. (see modern day republicans). The Friend's feeling on that point was that "Women should obey God, not men."