Month: September 2022

Second Intifada Begins (2000)

In 2000, Israeli politician Ariel Sharon visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque—a site holy to Muslims and Jews—in Jerusalem. Accompanied by soldiers, he claimed that Israel had sovereignty over this and other holy sites. His visit sparked riots that escalated into a new cycle of violence in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel. Israelis blamed Yasir Arafat—leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization—for Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians. What is the estimated death toll from the violence? Discuss

Czech Statehood Day (St. Wenceslas Day)

Czech Statehood Day marks the assassination of Duke Vaclav Wenceslas of Bohemia by his brother on September 28, c. 929-935. Wenceslas was canonized as a saint due to his martyr’s death. Czech Statehood Day is a public holiday celebrated throughout the Czech Republic. Every year, the Czech president awards St. Wenceslas medals to people who contributed to Czech statehood. This ceremony takes place at Prague Castle, where a memorial wreath is placed on the statue of St. Wenceslas. In addition, a pilgrimage takes place at Stara Boleslav, the site of his murder. Discuss

Georges Clemenceau (1841)

Clemenceau was a French journalist and statesman whose politics brought him into conflict with Napoleon III’s government. After spending several years in the US, he returned to France and became mayor of Montmartre. In 1880, he began publishing La Justice, which became the primary organ of Parisian radicalism, and he later published Emile Zola’s “J’accuse,” a passionate criticism of the Dreyfus Affair. He served as premier during World War I and was a key architect of what treaty? Discuss

(Hula) Hooping Through History

Hoops, originally made from stiff grasses and other natural materials, have been popular toys for centuries—long before “hula” was added to their name in the 18th century. Doctors in medieval England blamed many injuries on a recreational “hooping” fad. Another craze surfaced in the 1950s, when the Wham-O company released its plastic hoop. Today, hoops have found renewed popularity among adults who perform hoop dances or enjoy hooping at concerts. What do you need to make your own hula hoop? Discuss

The Taliban Captures Kabul (1996)

During the chaotic period that followed the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, a militia of Islamic fundamentalist students known as the Taliban became increasingly powerful. In 1996, the Taliban captured the capital city of Kabul and declared itself the legitimate government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, establishing a strict Islamic regime that became a haven for extremists. Whose assassination two days before the 9/11 attacks of 2001 dealt a blow to the anti-Taliban resistance? Discuss

Feast Day of the French Community

Each of the autonomous regions of Belgium observes its own feast day. Feast Day of the French Community (La fête de la Communauté française de Belgique) is a celebration of linguistic heritage and national independence. It largely takes place in the Walloon cities of Namur, Liege, Huy, and Charleroi, and is a public assertion of the linguistic and ethnic rights of French speakers. All schools and administrative buildings are closed for the feast day. Discuss

Thomas Nast (1840)

Nast was a US caricaturist and cartoonist who defined the genre of the American political cartoon. During the American Civil War, Harper’s Weekly published the first of Nast’s serious political cartoons, which earned praise from President Lincoln. His stylized, clever, and forceful cartoons were instrumental in breaking up the corrupt New York City political machine of William Tweed. Nast popularized the use of what symbols in his depictions of the US Democratic and Republican parties? Discuss