On #ThisDayInHistory in 1889, #CharlesChaplin was born into #poverty in London. He never forgot his origins, and spoke out for the poor and for #socialism, and against war and fear, all his life. The US showed its McCarthyite face by driving him into exile during the #ColdWar.
I was at college, walking up the stairs to my dormroom when I heard about it. I spent the rest of the day glued to my little TV in our room.
As I watched the video that was being replayed over and over, one moment struck me: The twin trails of smoke from the booster rockets looked like the wide-spread arms of a giant in the sky.
It was immediately obvious that there would be no survivors. I cried, and prayed that they never had a chance to know what happened, and feeling awful for all the school kids watching the teacher take off, on TVs at schools around the world.
The cause was later determined to be a simple, small, faulty O-ring. It would be months later before any human remains were recovered, found at the bottom of the ocean.
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1904, the #Herero population of #Namibia began a revolt against oppressive colonial control by #Germany. In response, the Germans built #ConcentrationCamps, did medical experiments, and began a #genocide. Within a few years, 75% of the Herero were killed.
The worst ever English avalanche killed 8 people in Lewes, Sussex on this date in 1836. A pub was later built on the site. It is called The Snow Drop Inn.
10 weird and wonderful things which happened on 27 December:
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1956, during the #SuezCrisis, IDF soldiers killed between 275 and 1200 people in the #GazaStrip, mainly in #KhanYunis city & refugee camp. We need to discuss such things to understand the anger and resentment felt by #Palestinians.
Happy 87th birthday to one of the most important institutions in #Canada!
#CBC / #RadioCanada formerly came into existence today after taking over, and building out, the country's first #radio network, which was created by another Canadian institution, #CNRail
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1972, the US #Navy tolerated a race-riot and virtual #lynching by angry white racists, and punished only the black sailors who dared to fight back.
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1941 was born #populist Vermont Senator #BernieSanders, and in 1966 the first episode of #StarTrek aired in the US -- two anniversaries related to peace, tolerance, and progress. May we all live up to their example.
On #ThisDayInHistory in 1937 in #Youngstown, OH, police were angry women came to support the #strike, part of the #LittleSteelStrike, and assaulted women & children. When men ran to protect them, #police opened fire, killing 16, injuring 300, in the second massacre of the strike.