Richard apparently was not well thought of, being depicted as a murdering evil schemer with a bad back. But that was the Middle Ages, and the hygienic and medical discomforts endured even by a king could make someone unduly churlish.
It seems the remains of King Richard III were always suspected of being buried in the choir area of a priory. But another tempermental king, Henry VIII, ransacked and leveled the priories of the era, and rendered future GPS clues difficult to follow.
None of this discouraged anyone from being on the lookout for skeletal remains that fit all the expectancies of what poor Richard's remains would show nearly 500 years later. And such remains have been found buried under a parking lot in Leicester, England. Isotope and DNA testing, expected to take 12 weeks for usable results, will advance some conclusions. No instant replay at work there. It is science.
Thus, the archaeologists are ecstatic. The history revisionists are hopeful the remains will help them prove that King Richard III was not as bad a guy as history as treated him. How confirmed remains will do this is not known, but in 12 weeks political analysts and spinners will be looking for work. The American presidential election will be over, so it's not too much to expect that there might be those with English connections who would be drawn to the story. Or, the re-make of the story.
And while this news might have portions of England aglow, it's likely not doing anything to anyone here in the States. This of course is a shame. After over 500 years, the remains of an English king might be confirmed as found. Alert the media. Fanfare for re-internment at Westminster Abbey.
Jimmy Hoffa has been considered missing for 37 years, and it seems Americans have given up even caring where he might have been buried. The belief here is that if Mr. Hoffa had ever given money of any kind to Public Television, (Channel 13, for example), he would not have remained missing for any appreciable time. Someone would have come looking for him and not given up until they found him.
Mr. Hoffa of course is the missing former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters who was convicted of jury tampering, bribery and fraud in 1964 and sent to Federal prison. He was considered murdered in 1975, but his remains have never been found. Theories have flown off the wall, but it's hard to believe they will keep interest alive for over 500 years.
And even if his remains were found, revising his history would be completely unnecessary. He was granted a pardon from President Nixon in 1971, so his reputation shouldn't need any further polishing. Let those without sin cast the first stone.
So, if Jimmy Hoffa won't having the staying power to ignite burial interest in this country 500 years from now, who will?
Silly question: Those strawberry ice cream eating aliens kept in Area 51. And if someday they're found buried anywhere near Chicago, it's a cinch they will have voted in several high-profile elections.
http://www.onofframp.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment