Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
What Time is It? It is flow of a sandstorm that will on each day compress somewhere into a structure – sandstone, selected and only remembered in the longue durée.
On 20 September 1870, With Bersaglieri soldiers entering Rome at Porta Pia, the unification of Italy is completed, ending the last remnant of the Papal States and the Papal temporal power.
On Monday, 20 September 1920, The first soldier joins El Tercio de Extranjeros, (the “Regiment of Foreigners”, later the Spanish Legion). Under the command of José Millán Astray and Francisco Franco, its first duties are against Rif rebels, in the Spanish protectorate in Morocco.
On Thursday, 20 September 1945, Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru demand that all British troops depart India.
On Sunday, 20 September 1970, Syrian armoured forces cross the Jordanian border.
On Sunday, 20 September 1970, Luna 16 lands on the Moon and lifts off the next day with samples. It lands on Earth September 24.
On Thursday, 20 September 1990, ‘The Big Steal’ is released. Directed by Nadia Tass, the film will go on to be nominated for nine AFI awards, of which it will win three.
On Monday, 20 September 2010, Carlton player Chris Judd wins his second Brownlow Medal.
Images Citations in Composite: ID 17208541 © Anhong | Dreamstime.com; ID 35001957 © DiversityStudio1 | Dreamstime.com; ID 156394527 © Gerd Zahn | Dreamstime.com
Neville Buch