Day Tripping: June 22

Mutinies, Maneuvers, and Madiba

Historic Castaway

English explorer Henry Hudson had laid claim to more North American territory by the beginning of the seventeenth century than any other like him. But, because he made these discoveries on behalf of the Dutch, he was forbidden to fly the British flag on Discovery when he returned to search for the Northwest Passage. Hudson never found the passage because, in 1611, he was set adrift in Hudson Bay by a mutinous crew.

Despite his demands to carry on searching the Arctic for a route to Asia after a long winter in the Canadian North, Discovery’s shipmates insisted on returning to England. Hudson was cut loose on a small lifeboat with a few loyal followers and was never seen again. It is still unclear whether the great explorer was merely cast away or murdered during the mutiny.

Massive Offensive

In 1941, over three million German and Axis troops moved across the 1,800-mile Russian border to launch an assault on the Soviet Union. The Operation Barbarossa invasion represented the largest military engagement in history. Eighty percent of Germany’s Wehrmacht forces mounted the attack while Soviet leader Stalin delayed, refusing to believe that Hitler would try such an outrageous venture.

The first day was devastating to Russian forces, taking out 1,000 aircraft alone. Hitler ordered all captured officers to be executed on-site as the campaign rolled forward in a three-pronged attack. The longer the assault lasted though, the worsening weather and poor planning for supplies played huge roles in staying off the assault. Soviet defenses regained the upper hand, and after three years of fighting, they turned the Germans back.

Keynote Address

In an address to a special committee of the United Nations against Apartheid in 1990, Nelson Mandela speaks as Deputy President of the ANC, the African National Congress of South Africa. During his address, Mandela emphasizes how little has been learned in the 20th century about racism, even after the Nuremberg trials which triggered the founding of the organization he was addressing.

Nelson Mandela went on to point out that by definition, Apartheid was indeed a crime against humanity, and called it a blight that will forever remain on the history of the world.

Musical Milestones

Just before his death on this day in 1987, dancing great Fred Astaire noted the passing of his crown as the song and dance king to Michael Jackson. “I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was, thank you, Michael,” Astaire remarked.

Narratives

Galileo Galilei was forced by the Pope in 1633 to recant his view that the Sun is orbited by the Earth. It took 369 years for the Vatican to admit its mistake.

Remembrance

During the nineteen-seventies, George Carlin’s comedy was groundbreaking and provocative. His classic routine, 7 Words You Can’t Say On Television is still one of the funniest bits in comedy history. Carlin died from chronic heart issues in 2008.

Notable Births

1906 — Extraordinary film director, Billy Wilder

1936 — Actor, singer/songwriter, Kris Kristofferson

1949 — The incomparable Meryl Streep

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca

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