Paracultural Calendar for May the 4th (be with you!)

[Mark Thibodeau]

It's Star Wars Day, apparently. And then, all this...

On this day in *1493*, *Pope Alexander VI* divides the New World between
Spain and Portugal along the Line of Demarcation, thereby initiating a
series of events that would eventually lead to some of the world's most
incredibly hostile soccer rivalries.

*****

On this day in *1855*, adventurer *William Walker* sets off from San
Francisco with about 60 men and a plan to conquer the Central American
nation of Nicaragua. This time, contrary to his numerous previous attempts,
he actually succeeds! Without too much violence, Walker installs himself as
"President of the Republic of Nicaragua." His rule lasted for less than two
years, at which point his junta was defeated by a coalition of Central
American militias. Walker was eventually executed in Honduras in 1860.

*****

On this day in *1904*, the United States begins construction of the *Panama
Canal*, a civil engineering project that would turn out to be a global
game-changer, both politically and economically.

*****

On this day in *1961*, the first 13 *Freedom Riders* begin their bus trip
through the American South, in an effort to end segregation of the public
transportation system. After training in non-violent civil disobedience
techniques, black and white volunteers sit next to each other as they
travel by bus through the Deep South. In Anniston, Alabama, one bus is
destroyed, and riders on another are attacked by men armed with clubs,
bricks, iron pipes and knives. In response to these acts of violence,
Attorney General *Robert Kennedy* sends DOJ official *John Seigenthaler* to
accompany the Freedom Riders. In Birmingham, the passengers are greeted by
the *Ku Klux Klan*, and further acts of violence. At Montgomery, the state
capital, a white mob beats the riders with chains and ax handles. When
local authorities make it clear that they will make no effort to protect
the Riders, President *John F. Kennedy* sends federal marshals from the
North to do the job. Despite the escalating violence, over a thousand
volunteers take part in Freedom Rides during the ensuing months.

*****

On this day in *1970*, at Ohio's *Kent State University*, thirteen seconds
of rifle fire by a contingent of 28 National Guardsmen leaves four students
(*Allison Krause*, *Jeffrey Miller*, *Sandra Scheuer*, and *William
Schroeder*) dead, one permanently paralyzed, and eight others wounded. A
"special" state grand jury exonerates the Guardsmen, but indicts 25
students for a variety of offenses such as bleeding on public property,
excessive weeping, and attempting to avoid being shot.

*****

On this day in *1979*, *Margaret Thatcher* becomes the first, and so far
last, female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

*****

On this day in *1989*, former White House aide *Oliver North* is convicted
of three crimes and acquitted of nine other charges in connection with
the *Iran-Contra
Affair* <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Contra>, still one of the most
poorly understood scandals in recent American history. These convictions
are later overturned on appeal.

*****

On this day in *1994*, Israeli Prime Minister *Yitzhak Rabin* signs a peace
accord with PLO leader *Yasser Arafat *regarding Palestinian autonomy
granting self-rule in the Gaza Strip and Jericho. Consequently, he would
soon become the victim of the most *transparently conspiratorial political
assassination*
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzhak_Rabin_assassination_conspiracy_theories>
in
the history of Mideast politics. And brother, that is saying something.

*****

On this day in *1998*, *Theodore "Unabomber" Kaczynski* is sentenced to
four life sentences (plus 30 years) by a California court after accepting a
plea agreement which spares him from the death penalty. Check out *this
Useless Eater Blog post*
<http://uselesseaterblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/net-unabomber-lsd-and-internet-study.html>
from
a year ago for a detailed look at the Unabomber case, and its connections
to the creation of the Internet, the spread of *LSD* across college
campuses in the 60's, the rise of *Game Theory* and the *Cybernetic Model *of
mind-control, among many, many other things.

And then, THESE guys did my On This Day gig even better than I do.

http://deadlinelive.info/2015/05/04/this-day-in-history-may-4-kent-state-shootings-haymarket-affair-mca-adam-yauch-dies-mick-mars-star-wars-day/
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