Month: June 2022

objective

limited war – A war whose objective is of smaller scope than total defeat of the enemy. More…

institution – First a noun of action or process that became a general and abstract noun describing something objective and systematic. More…

purposely, purposefully – Purposely means “intentionally, on purpose,” while purposefully means “with a specific purpose or objective in mind.” More…

safe, secure – Safe and secure, now nearly synonymous, used to be more different; secure was subjective—man’s own sense of the absence of danger—while safe was objective, the fact of such absence of danger. More…

D-Day: The Allies Land on Normandy Beaches (1944)

The Battle of Normandy during World War II was fought between the German forces occupying Western Europe and the invading Allied armies. More than 156,000 troops crossed the English Channel during the initial invasion, which remains the largest amphibious landing in history. The campaign continued for more than two months and concluded with the liberation of Paris. Of the Allies’ five landing points, Omaha Beach proved to be the most deadly. How many troops were killed there that day? Discuss

Swedish Flag Day

Constitution and Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the Swedish constitution on June 6, 1809, and the ascension of Gustavus I to the throne on June 6, 1523. It is observed throughout Sweden with patriotic meetings, parades, and the raising of flags. In Stockholm, the main celebration takes place at the Stadium, where the Swedish national anthem is sung by a chorus of several thousand voices, and the King awards flags to various schools, sports clubs, and other organizations. In the evening, the celebration continues at Skansen, the oldest open-air museum in Europe. Discuss

Sukarno (1901)

Sukarno helped Indonesia win independence from the Netherlands and served as the country’s first president. He attempted to consolidate his multi-island nation and establish a “guided democracy,” with a cabinet representing all political parties. Regional and factional problems, however, led him to dissolve the assembly and assume full dictatorial powers. He proclaimed himself president for life in 1963, but an attempted Communist coup late in 1965 triggered a military takeover by whom? Discuss

sails

crab-skuit – A small, open fishing boat with sails. More…

haul – Originally had the nautical meaning of “to trim the sails to sail closer to the wind.” More…

sail – Once meant specifically “to travel on a ship with sails,” and, later, “to travel on any ship”; figuratively, it means “to go through effortlessly,” as in, “to sail through the exam.” More…

three sheets to the wind – Pertains to chains that regulate the angle of sails; if the sheets were loose, the boat would become unstable and tipsy. More…

Brandeis Sworn in as Justice of US Supreme Court (1916)

Brandeis was an American lawyer and the author of the “Brandeis Brief,” a report that detailed the impact of long working hours on women and revolutionized the practice of law. He was also a leader of the American Zionist movement. Appointed to the Supreme Court by Woodrow Wilson in 1916, he served until 1939 and was the first Jew to hold that office. Brandeis University, a liberal arts university located in Waltham, Massachusetts, is named after him. Why was he called the “people’s lawyer”? Discuss

Pat Garrett (1850)

When cowboy and buffalo hunter Pat Garrett decided to settle in Lincoln County, New Mexico, in 1879, he could never have imagined the dramatic turn his life was about to take. Soon after settling in, Garrett was appointed sheriff and charged with tracking down and arresting outlaw Henry McCarty, a murderer and participant in the Lincoln County War who was better known as Billy the Kid. What led Garrett to ultimately kill “the Kid,” and why did this act eventually sully his reputation? Discuss