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 Friday, 9 January 1920, Thousands of onlookers watch as George Polley (“The Human Fly”) climbs the Woolworth Building in New York City; he reaches the 30th floor before being arrested.
On Saturday, 9 January 1960, Four groups apply to register as political parties in Iraq.
On Saturday, 9 January 1960, Aswan Dam construction begins in Egypt. [January 9–11 1960]
On Wednesday, 9 January 1980, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser announces sanctions against the Soviet Union following its invasion of Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, 9 January 1980, In Saudi Arabia, 63 Islamist insurgents are beheaded for their part in the siege of the Great Mosque in Mecca in November, 1979.
On Tuesday, 9 January 1990, Ugandan Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara-Okello, who led a coup against Dr. Apolo Milton Obote’s government, dies in Ormduruman Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan.
On Monday, 9 January 1995, Valeri Polyakov completes 366 days in space while aboard the Mir space station, breaking a duration record.
On Friday, 9 January 2015, Soccer: The 2015 AFC Asian Cup is held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle. Host nation Australia wins the cup, defeating South Korea 2–1 in the final. [9 to 31 January 2015]
Images Citations in Composite: ID 17208541 © Anhong | Dreamstime.com; ID 35001957 © DiversityStudio1 | Dreamstime.com; ID 156394527 © Gerd Zahn | Dreamstime.com
Neville Buch
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