The following text is from
the album
"That Was the Year that Was"
by Tom Lehrer
1965
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National Brotherhood
Week is (was?) the Third week of February; it was started in the 1930s by
the National Conference of Christians and Jews (since renamed National Conference for Community
and Justice and apparently no longer involved). It is apparently no longer
proclaimed.
Proclamations: 1949
1970
1982
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One week of every year is designated “National Brotherhood Week”;
this is just one of many such weeks honoring various worthy causes. One
of my favorites is “National Make Fun of the Handicapped Week”, which,
uh, which Frank Fontaine and Jerry Lewis are in charge of as you know.
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Many, many.
US Law: 36.i.a.1
36.i.a.7 36.9
US Presidential Proclamation: 2001
browsable
Health 1 2 Safety Injury |
| .During National Brotherhood Week various special events
are arranged to drive home the message of brotherhood; this year, for
example on the first day of the week, Malcolm X was killed, which gives you
an idea of how effective the whole thing is. |
Frank Fontaine played
“Crazy
Guggenheim”,
a drunk (and probably mentally challenged)
regular at a bar on Jackie Gleason and
his American Scene Magazine, 1961-1966. |
I’m sure we all agree that we ought to love one another, and
I know that there are people in the world who do not love their fellow human
beings and I *hate* people like that
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Interview about
1965 NBD
Malcolm
X was killed on February 21, 1965.
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Here’s a song about National Brotherhood Week:
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Lena
Horne was a black singer and actress |
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Clark (first name ???) was Sheriff
of Dallas County, AL, which
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| Oh the white folks hate the black folks |
contains Selma. He
and his posse were particularly
notorious for |
| and the black folks hate the white folks |
their ruthless response
to civil rights demonstrations. |
| to hate all but the right folks |
school
desegregation history |
| is an old established rule |
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| but during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood
Week |
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| Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark are dancing cheek-to-cheek |
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| It’s fun to eulogize the people you despise |
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| as long as you don’t let ‘em in your school |
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| |
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| Oh the poor folks hate the rich folks |
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| and the rich folks hate the poor folks |
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| all of my folks hate all of your folks |
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| it’s as American as apple pie |
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| but during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood
Week |
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| New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans cuz it’s very chic |
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| Step up and shake the hand of someone you can’t stand |
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You can tolerate him if you try
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| |
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| Oh the Protestants hate the Catholics |
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| and the Catholics hate the Protestants |
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| and the Hindus hate the Moslems |
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| and everybody hates the Jews |
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| but during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood
Week |
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| it’s national everyone-smile-at-one-anotherhood week |
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| Be nice to people who are inferior to you |
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| it’s only for a week so have no fear |
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| be grateful that it doesn’t last all year |