Today marks the start of Ramadan, a holy season for those who practice the Islamic faith. In the United States the population of Muslims is small and the increase in immigration from countries with a …
World History
Markings
It was 10 April, 1953, that Dag Hammarskjold was sworn in as the 2nd Secretary General of the United Nations. A Swedish diplomat and economist, he spent his childhood in the Swedish city of Uppsala. …
Poet of Optimism
Samad Vurgun was born in 1906, and saw his first published poems in 1925, in the journal, ‘New Thought’. In 1929 he entered the Literature School at Moscow University. A proud advocate of his Azerbaijan …
At Home in the Yellow House
30 March marks the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, in 1853. He is one of the world’s most recognized painters, although he was not successful in his own lifetime. Van Gogh was born into a …
Give Music to Those Who Love it
It was on 20 March, 1915, that pianist Sviatoslav Richter was born in the Ukraine. He would become an honored Soviet and Russian artist, dying in 1997 after an illustrious career. Richter would perform his …
The Rock of Gibraltar
It was on 6 March, 1988, that Irish Republican Army Volunteer, Mairead Farrell, was killed by British soldiers of the Special Air Service (SAS). Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she joined the Provisional IRA as …
The War is Over
On 28 February, 1983, the final episode of the television series ‘M*A*S*H’ aired on CBS. It would be the most watched television episode in American history, with over 50 million viewers. The program, which went …
The Iron Triangle
“Guerrillas are like birds”, said US Army General Earle Wheeler, “They’ve got to light somewhere and the place to get them is in their nests”. This was a reference to the enemy enclave known as …
The 25th
It was on 1 October, 1941, that the 25th Infantry Division of the United States Army would be activated. They wouldn’t have to wait long to see action, as the attack on Pearl Harbor was …
The Day of the Jackal
It was on 22 August, 1962, that a squad of assassins attempted to kill the President of France, Charles De Gaulle. The President was travelling from the Elysée Palace to Orly airport when his vehicle …