Paracultural Calendar for April 11

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in the year *1775*, for the last time on European soil, an
individual found guilty of the crime of witchcraft is killed in an
official, state-sanctioned execution, in Germany.

*****

On this day in *1868*, shogun *Tokugawa Yoshinobu* surrenders Edo Castle to
Imperial forces, marking the end of Japan's Shogun era and the beginning of
the Meiji Restoration. This development came about partly because, after
American Commodore *Matthew Perry* showed up in Japan accompanied by an
impressive fleet of technologically advanced warships, Japanese elites
collectively freaked out. They hatched a plan to get rid of the samurai
class and the feudal, agrarian system over which they presided and replace
it with a more forward-thinking oligarchy, headed up by a hereditary
figurehead, the aforementioned *Emperor Meiji*. In less than half a
century, the combination of rapid cultural change, techno-fetishism, the
sublimation of a disgruntled samurai remnant and increasingly obsessive
Emperor worship would lead to some of the most unfortunate chapters in the
history of all mankind.

*****

On this day in *1876*, the *Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks* is
first organized. They remain one of the leading fraternal orders in the
United States, with over one million dues-paying members.

*****

On this day in *1941*, the *Nazis* take over Germany's most popular Jewish
weekly newspaper. The abrupt change in editorial tone proves unpopular with
subscribers.

*****

On this day in *1951*, less than four months after its theft from
Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist university students, the *Stone
of Scone* is discovered hidden beneath the altar of Arbroath Abbey in
Scotland. The origins of the so-called "Stone of Destiny", which played a
minor role in the recent film *The King's Speech*, is shrouded in mystery.
Some claim that it dates back to Antiquity, or even that it is the
legendary "Stone of Jacob", the rock upon which the biblical patriarch was
resting his head when he was delivered a "divine revelation" from Jehovah,
as detailed in the Book of Genesis. But it's probably just a rock.

*****

On this day in *1961*, the trial of fugitive Nazi technocrat *Adolf
Eichmann* begins in Jerusalem. After World War II, Eichmann had fled to
Argentina under an assumed name, where he worked for Mercedes-Benz until he
was identified, located, then kidnapped by the Mossad, who brought him to
Israel to stand trial for his central role in organizing the Holocaust. He
was found guilty and hanged in 1962, the only person ever to be executed in
Israel based on the findings of a civilian court.

*****

On this day *1968*, President *Lyndon B. Johnson* signs the Civil Rights
Act into existence, prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and
financing of housing to individuals based on their race. At the time,
pondering the effect this might have on voters in the formerly
Democratic-leaning South, Johnson is said to have said: "We've lost them
for a generation." It turns out he was way too optimistic.

*****

This day in *2001* saw the ignominious conclusion to the *Hainan Island
Incident*, the first real crisis of *Preznit Dubya*'s heart-breaking White
House career. On April Fools Day, an American spy plane had to make an
emergency landing on a Chinese island after being bumped out of the sky by
a Chinese fighter jet. It was on this day, ten days later, that the 24
American crew members were released by the Chinese government, but not
before the White House issued a groveling apology, which they preferred to
characterize as "an expression of regret and sorrow" over the death of the
Chinese driver... I mean pilot. A coincidence of note is that the American
aircraft was a Navy EP-3E ARIES II signals intelligence aircraft, and the
incident took place while the sun was in the Zodiac House of Aries. Aries
is ruled by the planet Mars, God of War.

*****

And, finally -- last but definitely not least -- on this day in *2002*, an
attempted coup d'état takes place in Venezuela, resulting in the temporary
ouster of President *Hugo Chávez*. If you relied on Western media to inform
you about those infuriating, exasperating, incredibly inspiring days, then
you have no idea what happened. I strongly urge you to give your undivided
attention to the documentary, *The Revolution Will Not Be Televised*,
embedded below. It's one of the most important documents ever produced in
terms of its revelations about the the true nature, focus and direction of
American policy towards Latin America. Just watch it. From beginning to
end. I'm serious. It will infuriate you, and you will never forget the
lesson it teaches.
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