Month: September 2022

Churchill Proposes Creation of Council of Europe (1946)

After World War II, a strong revulsion to national rivalries developed in Europe. Speaking at the University of Zurich on September 19, 1946, Winston Churchill urged European states to establish a “United States of Europe,” and his speech helped spur the creation of the Council of Europe in 1949. The Council works to promote unity between its members, defend human rights, and increase social and economic progress. Today, it has 47 member nations. Which European states have not joined? Discuss

St. Kitts and Nevis Independence Day

Saint Kitts and Nevis is an island nation in the West Indies in the Leeward Islands. In 1782, the British took permanent control over the islands; the islands, along with nearby Anguilla, were united in 1882. Anguilla seceded in 1980, and Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence on September 19, 1983. Every year, the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis celebrate Independence Day on September 19. Various celebrations take place across the islands on this day, including a cultural program of dance, live music, local food, and traditional displays. Discuss

Mika Waltari (1908)

Finnish author Mika Waltari is best known for his 1945 historical novel The Egyptian, which is set during the reign of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and was hailed by Egyptologists for its accuracy in describing ancient Egyptian life. The themes explored in the book struck a chord with readers in the aftermath of World War II, and it became an international bestseller, serving as the basis for the 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name. Where—and when—are some of his other historical novels set? Discuss

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the dried inner bark of trees of the genus Cinnamomum, native to India, Sri Lanka, and Burma. It has been a favorite since Biblical times and was at one time more valuable than gold. To protect their monopoly on the valuable commodity, traders invented various tall tales about its source. One such story involved acquiring the spice from the nests of giant Arabian cinnamon birds, said to collect cinnamon sticks from parts unknown. What was another? Discuss

CBS Goes on the Air (1927)

CBS was one of the three major broadcasting networks to dominate radio and television in the US before the advent of cable TV in the 1980s. CBS began radio broadcasting in 1927. A year later, businessman William S. Paley purchased the network as a vehicle through which to advertise his family’s cigars. With Paley at the helm for 50 years, CBS grew into one of the most powerful radio and television broadcasting networks in the nation. What was the inspiration for its iconic symbol, the CBS eye? Discuss

Lance Armstrong (1971)

Once the darling of the cycling world and a symbol of hope for those battling cancer, Armstrong recently suffered a spectacular fall from grace following revelations that the US Anti-Doping Agency possessed evidence that he had been doping since the late 1990s. He was subsequently stripped of his record seven consecutive Tour de France titles as well as his Olympic medal and banned from the sport for life. After repeated denials, Armstrong finally came clean in 2013, admitting his guilt to whom? Discuss