Thanks for the history lesson, Pop

Before I go any further, I want to thank my father.  He is responsible for igniting the engine that has driven this content.  He, among others, helped plant the seed of a story teller in my mind, body, and soul, which has come to define who I am, both personally and professionally.  Thanks Dad.

"The grassy knoll."

"One man acting alone."

"The Zapruder film."

"Lee Harvey Oswald."

"Back and to the left."

"The Book Depository."

"Jack Ruby."

"The Warren Commission."


These are just a few statements that function as portals to one of the most tragic, mysterious, and thought provoking moments in history.  JFK's assassination occurred 50 years ago today and for over 20 years I have been equally captivated by the facts and the fiction.  I am far from alone in my fascination in the events of November 22, 1963 as an endless stream of books, movies, and conspiracy theories have grown out of this tragedy, but what matters most to me is how this moment in time crystallized the bond between father and son.

As a child
My earliest memory of the JFK story came with the release of the movie In the Line of Fire.  For those unfamiliar, the story is about an aging secret service agent (Clint Eastwood) protecting the President of the United States from a modern psychopath (John Malkovich).  As an added hook, Eastwood was actually on duty when JFK was assassinated 3 decades prior and this historical detail drives a parallel plot line that Malkovich uses to foster a twisted relationship with his counterpoint.

Not surprisingly, this movie came out during the 30 year anniversary of the JFK assassination and while my father would not let me watch the R-rated flick at the young age of 10, I can remember seeing the preview and looking up at him saying, "Who's JFK?"  Considering that he was 13 when the assassination occurred, he had his own personal account of the event (as I am sure most of our parents do) and equally compelling memories of those that followed.  As a student in our living room lecture hall, I sat in wonder as my father passionately articulated the twists and turns of the epic JFK saga from Lee Harvey Oswald to Jack Ruby to the Warren Commission.  Being the young inquisitive mind that I was, I always had a follow-up question to which he always had a response; informed, truthful, or otherwise.

Years later I was able to get my hands on a VHS copy (yes a VHS) of In the Line of Fire and so began my own odyssey into the JFK assassination.  The data was obviously biased by the writer's creative interpretations and, in all seriousness, the details haven't really changed over the past 30 years.  Regardless, the story was new to me, it was fresh to me, and it fostered a curious mindset that consistently explored an arena inundated with talking points.

It was also at this point in time that we all got online, which opened the door to an assortment of exploratory opportunities.  Being 3 decades late to the party, I reached the end of many well dug rabbit holes, but with JFK, there was always another.  As luck would have it, there were an endless assortment of interpretations, which had a way of reigniting a fire that had been burning off and on for years, JFK being a powerful example.  For those that have not seen the pinnacle of Oliver Stone's conspiracy portrayals, I would recommend a viewing, but keep in mind, it is just his interpretation.

All through these explorations, I would return to my father with new (or what I thought were new) pieces of information.  Each time he would return to the podium and give me first hand historical context for each nugget of data that I got my hands on.  Yes the Warren Commission said Oswald acted alone, but what was the common man reaction? Or what of the burial salute?  The murder of Oswald?  Each time he smiled and said, "Oh yeah and (insert passionate response here)."  It might not have been playing catch or model building (which we did plenty of), but it was a beautiful exchange between father and son that I cherish to this day.

No, there is another*
The long-term effect of JFK's assassination on me is not limited to this singular event as the impact of this legend taught me that there are others like it.  While JFK was killed 20 years before I was born, other moments with similar staying power have occurred in my lifetime and the beauty of this experience with my father is that it taught me to recognize when such a moment in time has occurred and what value it can have in your life and those around you.

I can think of a handful of moments that incite a comparable historical reaction to the JFK assassination, 9/11 being an obvious example.  For those trying to come up with one at home, a good acid test for a potential moment is "Where were you when (insert moment here)?"  If it is a few years removed and just about everyone has a crystal clear answer, you've got yourself a winner.

For me, a moment that captures this kind of response is the OJ Murder Case.  Now there are a lot of moments from this case to choose from, but I think the White Ford Bronco Chase is the most iconic as it was unmistakably the moment where the national attention in the trial was born.  As a bonus, being a Southern California native with two parents working in West LA, there was never a shortage of talking points around the dinner table.

Rather than go into specifics, suffice it to say that my interest in this case has rivaled that of the JFK assassination as there are just as many obvious conclusions with conspiracy criticisms.  The main difference though is that I was alive for it.  I have my own experiences, my own perspective on the events, of which I can rehash and explore as I see fit.  As an aside, next year will be 20 years since the murder and I have no doubt that I will be bubbling with content to share with anyone who will listen.

*Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back reference.

Why am I telling you this?
Appreciating history is not just about knowing facts and dates, but rather connecting with those events and realizing that the men and women of the past are just like you and me today.  For example, if you look at the clothes JFK was wearing 50 years ago, they aren't that different from what business men wear today.  In the OJ trial, many of the techniques we use today (ie, DNA testing) came to prominence after that case.  You too are part of history and you best be paying attention because you never know when a moment will strike you nor what kind of impact it will have.

As I am sure you are beginning to see (and what is painfully obvious to those close to me), I am a very nostalgic person.  I have a very strong memory and can't ever seem to shut up, the combination of which is a slam dunk for a good story teller.  Considering how the JFK assassination fostered the bond between me and my father, the OJ Murder Case is an iconic historical saga that I very much look forward to sharing with my son or daughter.  It may be Hollywood at its worst or a terrible example of domestic violence, but it undoubtedly was a huge cultural event that generated an enormous amount of interest and spawned a multitude of present day fixtures, reality TV and CSI to name a few.  Much like JFK, it also contains within it a story line that defines the expression, "truth is stranger than fiction" and would captivate any inquisitive mind that was fortunate enough to have a passionate story teller to share it with them.

Some day, it will be me lecturing in the living room and what I look forward to more than the wonder I hope to incite in a young mind, is the outcome of those wheels once they get turning.

Thank you Dad.  I love you and I am so glad we have had these moments together...


-M