Somewhere on Earth on a day not too unlike a day like today…
in 1297, Scotsman William Wallace defeated the English forces of Sir Hugh de Cressingham at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. “But they will never take our Freedom!”
in 1936, Boulder Dam in Nevada was dedicated by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt by turning on the dam’s first hydroelectric generator. The dam is now called Hoover Dam.
in 1959, “Duke” Ellington wins Springarn Medal for his musical achievements
in 1959, the U.S. Congress passed a bill authorizing the creation of food stamps.
in 1961, Bob Dylan’s 1st NY performance. If you have not noticed, Mr. Sherer is sort of a big Dylan fan. Ask me sometime why.
in 1997, John Lee Hooker received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Since music is the unofficial theme today, why not check out this link to one of America’s greatest blues musicians?. For some perspective, consider that the blues is a truly original American creation and represents syncretism at its best.
On September 11, 2001, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes. They crashed two planes into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City and flew a third into the Pentagon building in Virginia. Passengers on the fourth flight attempted to retake control of the aircraft, but it crashed in a Pennsylvania field. The devastating terrorist attacks of 9/11 were responsible for 2,996 deaths and countless more injuries.
Daily Trivia: Alright troopers, today’s trivia ain’t exactly a wikipedia look-up? How has American society changed (for better or worse) since that fateful day now thirteen years ago?
The United States has changed in many ways:
-National Reform
-A war that is still not over
-A much more substantial debt crisis
-Higher military funding…. and much more
But not only government has changed. People have become more discriminating and fearful. We as a nation are much more radical when it comes to certain debates on similar topics, like 9/11. Its strange but our culture may be this way for a much longer time.