The World Keeps on Spinning (if only I could get off for a while. I’m dizzy)

I really enjoy looking at The History Channel’s website for “This Day in History”. There’s so much that happened before we got here and selfishly started hogging all time and resources. I also can’t help that I’m something of a history buff and I am constantly amazed at what our ancestors were able to do without some of the modern conveniences we take for granted.

For instance, in 1890 the U.S. Army Calvary massacred nearly 150 Native Americans at the “Battle” of Wounded Knee. It was a shameful moment in American history but important to remember as it was practically the last battle between the Americans and the Natives. It set the course for the next hundred years of American and Native American relations.  I know it was 120 years ago and it seems like ancient history, but it’s just amazing to consider the growing pains this nation endured and the people that suffered along the way.

On this day during the Civil War 1862, General William T. Sherman was trying to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi against the heavily dug in Rebels. He was unsuccessful in his attempt even though he had numerical superiority. He could not get passed the Chickasaw Bluffs. The lessons he learned from that loss later allowed him to re-strategize and ultimately lead far more successful campaigns and suffer far less casualties.  

Even earlier that that, on this day in the year 1170 (can you imagine the year 1170?) Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights of King Henry II of England.  The significance of this event set up some of the power structure between the Church and the Royals of Great Britain for centuries to come. It also shows that corruption in government is certainly nothing new. We’ve just cleaned it up a bit.

It also appears that Ted Danson was born today in 1947. Happy Birthday Ted. We love you on Bored To Death on HBO.  And for some reason, History Channel decided to include Christian Slater’s drunk driving arrest from 1989.

My point is, there’s a vast history behind us and we should do our best to remember that while our work days are hard and maybe life doesn’t seem to have given us a fair shake; at least we’re not Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee, Union Soldiers, the Archbishop of Canterbury, or Christian Slater for that matter.