Remembering the Time When James Earl Jones Gave a Talk at Bergen Community College - March 20, 2004

James Earl Jones came to my old Alma Mater, Bergen Community College, a number of years ago. My brother and I were discussing it, and could not remember when precisely it had occurred. He had thought it was in the early 90's, but I knew that it had been well after that. More like the early to mid-2000's, because I knew that I had not been a student for many years already by that point.

Then yesterday, I was looking for something specifically, and suddenly ran into this old brochure, or flier, for that precise event.

It answered the question as to when it had taken place, which was Saturday, March 20, 2004. Well over twenty years ago now!

There was a friend of mine who was still an employee of Bergen Community College at the time, and we attended the event. Not sure if we went together, or if we met there. But I know that we went to the event together.

Jones gave a talk that day. It was called "The Culture Quest: How Culture Affects Us and How We Affect Culture."

Now I won't lie. It's been many years, and I do not remember all that much about the discussion. I do remember that there was almost an audible sigh when he began to talk, mostly because people seemed to really like the soothing quality of his distinctive voice, and appreciated it just with him uttering his first words of the evening. Also, I remember that he suggested at one point that if all you see in history "pisses you off," then perhaps you have not delved deeply enough into history to appreciate all of it, which was a fair point, I think. 

Wish that I could elaborate more on it. Again, though, I just no longer remember all that much about that night. I always liked Jones. Admittedly, that is especially true as a Star Wars fan, so I probably kind of geeked out on that evening. But it was a pleasant evening overall, and I was glad to have attended.

After finding this little flier or pamphlet about the event (I think they gave these out that night, actually), it just seemed like a good idea to post a blog about it, in honor of the late great James Earl Jones.

Below are pictures of the flier, or handbill: