Day Tripping: February 14

What’s Love got to do with it?

Welcome to my daily feature where each day on the calendar marks a part of our shared history.

Extreme Contract

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issues a fatwa (judgement) calling for the death of Salman Rushdie. The bounty was put on the author’s head in response to his 1989 book, The Satanic Verses which the Ayatollah determined blasphemous.

The seriousness of the threat sent the British, Indian Rushdie into hiding for years and prevented him from travelling freely. British Airways at one point, even asked the writer not to travel on their aircraft for fear he was endangering the crew and other passengers.

Extreme Vengence

During the height of bootlegging days in Chicago, Al Capone orders four of his men dressed as policemen, to enter the headquarters of rival gang leader Bugs Moran. The mob henchmen line up seven unarmed men that were present and proceeded to gun them all down in cold blood.

The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 put a symbolic stamp on Capone’s control of the Chicago crime syndicate in the days of prohibition.

Extreme Prejudice

In the year 1349, nine hundred Jews were burned alive in the city of Strasbourg. The Black Death which decimated Europe for years is believed to have taken the lives of between fifty million and over one hundred million people. Rumours that Jews were responsible for introducing the plague to Europe were rampant and the resulting persecution ensued.

Mass panic still causes unfounded allegations toward innocent people sadly, as witnessed recently with Asians taking the brunt of unsubstantiated blame for the coronavirus.

Musical Milestones

1973 — David Bowie collapses as he finishes a performance of Ziggy Stardust at Madison Square Garden, citing in his words, “total exhaustion.”

1992 — What says Valentine’s better than Wayne’s World? The film which featured an unforgettable opening scene with the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody was released.

“Totally worthy. Party on!”

Narratives

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde opens in London at the St James Theatre in 1895.

Remembrance

The first mammal ever to be cloned, Dolly the Sheep dies in 2003. Progressive lung disease was determined to be the cause of death.

Thought you should know.

James Bond. No, not that one, but the real person whose name was appropriated by Ian Fleming for his fictional secret agent. Bond was a noted ornithologist and leading expert on birds passed away in 1989.

Thought you should know.

I didn’t want to ruin your Valentine’s Day.

Notable Births

1921 — Hazel McCallion, former mayor of my home in Mississauga, Ontario. The longest-serving mayor of a North American city in history with over 36 years of service. She was re-elected twelve times, mostly uncontested and served into her nineties. Happy 100th Hurricane Hazel!

1944 — Carl Bernstein, one half of the duo who exposed the Watergate scandal in the Nixon White House.

1948 — Teller, the silent one of the illusionist team of Penn and Teller. Somebody had to speak up for him.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article dedicated to the days of our history. I hope to see you tomorrow for another instalment.

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Joseph M. Learned Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, Ph.D.