Observations — 1971, Great Books And Movies

Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

U. S. Apollo landed on the moon. Idi Amin took over Uganda. The Democratic Republic of Congo became Zaire.  President Richard Nixon oversaw the arrest of 13,000 anti-war protesters.  He lifted the U.S. trade embargo of China. China replaced Taiwan at U.N. Okinawa was returned to Japan.  A tidal wave and cyclone off the Bay of Bengal killed 10,000. The voting age in the U.S. was lowered from 21 to 18.  The Libertarian Party was formed. The U.S. Supreme Court approved bussing to achieve desegregation. The “Pentagon Papers” were published. The Kennedy Center opened with Leonard Bernstein’s Mass. National Public Radio began broadcasting.  Intel introduced microprocessors. Cigarette ads were banned on TV. “All in the Family,” “McMillan and Wife” and “Cannon” premiered.  “Benny Hill” was the top TV show. Charles Manson was convicted of murder. Vice President Spiro Agnew injured two onlookers with two, separate wild swings during a golf outing. Frazier won over Ali.  Satchel Paige was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Oh Calcutta opened in NYC.   Patton won the Academy Award.   We also watched A Clockwork Orange, The French Connection, The Last Picture Show, Fiddler on the Roof and McCabe and Mrs. Miller.  In Books & Literature, Chilean Pablo Neruda received the Nobel. The Mystery Writers of America gave its top Edgar to Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö for The Laughing Policeman.  We also read Maurice by E. M. Forster, The Tenants by Bernard Malamud, and Angles of Repose by Wallace Stegner. Ernest Hemingway’s Islands in the Stream, Wheels by Arthur Hailey and The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles were best sellers.  Simon & Garfunkel picked up three Grammys with Bridge Over Troubled Water. We also listened to “Joy To The World” by Three Dog Night, “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart, “It’s Too Late” by Carole King, “One Bad Apple” by The Osmonds, “How Can You Heal A Broken Heart” by The Bee Gees, “Indian Reservation” by The Raiders, “Go Away Little Girl” by Donnie Osmond, and “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver. The music world lost rock legends Jim Morrison and Duane Allman. The bell also tolled for J. C. Penny (the man), Igor Stravinsky, Audie Murphy, Van Heflin, Harold Lloyd, Pier Angeli, Spring Byington, Louis Armstrong and Edie Sedgwick. Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dog took their first breaths, as did David Tennant, Idina Menzel, Mark Wahlberg, Jared Leto and Mary J. Blige.  If you were around, what were you doing during this year of the metal pig?