Month: June 2022

Gone with the Wind Published (1936)

Gone with the Wind, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novel by Margaret Mitchell, tells the story of a rebellious Georgia woman named Scarlett O’Hara. It presents a detailed view of her complex relationships with family and friends and her struggle to survive in the American South before, during, and after the Civil War. Many regard the book as having a strong ideological commitment to the cause of the Confederacy. Why was Mitchell’s book the subject of a 2001 court case? Discuss

Guatemala Army Day

Guatemala‘s Liberal Revolution, which called for the end of the dictatorship of Vicente Cerna, culminated with a revolt in Guatemala City on June 30, 1871. Originally known as Revolution Day, the anniversary of the revolt became Día del Ejército (Army Day), an official holiday recognizing the service of the armed forces. It has been marked over the years by annual parades, usually in Guatemala City. In 2007, protests against the parade spawned violence in the streets, and the ongoing resistance compelled the government to cancel the official parade the following year. Discuss

Paul François Jean Nicolas, Vicomte de Barras (1755)

Barras was a Provençal nobleman who became disenchanted with the royal regime and joined the French Revolution. When, after the fall of the monarchy, a war dictatorship replaced it, Barras played a key role in overthrowing Maximilien Robespierre and ending the Reign of Terror. Eventually given command of the army of the interior and the police, he suppressed a royalist uprising in 1795 by turning the troops over to a young officer in whose marriage he later played a role. Who was this officer? Discuss

Irish Step Dance

Irish step dance is a type of recreational and competitive folk dance whose tradition probably grew in tandem with Ireland’s rich tradition in music. It may be performed as a solo dance or in groups and is generally characterized by a stiff upper body and quick, precise footwork. Though it originated in Ireland, this style of dance has become popular around the globe, thanks in large part to the recent productions Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Where did Riverdance debut? Discuss

Globe Theatre Burns to the Ground (1613)

The first Globe Theatre was an Elizabethan theatre where several of Shakespeare’s plays were originally staged. It was built around 1598 in London using timber from an earlier theater and was jointly owned by members of the theatrical company to which Shakespeare belonged. The Globe burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. It was rebuilt in 1614, but Puritans closed it and all other theaters in 1642, and it was demolished soon after. What caused the fire in 1613? Discuss

Sts. Peter and Paul Day

It is said that St. Peter and St. Paul were both martyred on June 29, and, for this reason, their names have been linked in various observances around the world. In Peru, the Día de San Pedro y San Pablo is celebrated in fishing villages because St. Peter is the patron saint of fishermen. Processions of decorated boats carrying an image of the saint are common, and sometimes a special floating altar is set up, with decorations made out of shells and seaweed. Discuss

George Goethals (1858)

Goethals was a US army engineer who served as chief engineer of the Panama Canal. During the course of the project, yellow fever, labor troubles, unexpected construction complications, and crumbling substrata caused numerous setbacks and claimed thousands of lives. By taking personal interest in the men working on the canal, however, Goethals created an atmosphere of cooperation and completed the project ahead of schedule. The Goethals Bridge, named in his honor, links what two US states? Discuss