Day Tripping: March 30
Land for Sale, Sanctuary, and Survival
Welcome to my daily feature where each day on the calendar marks a part of our shared history.
Piece Of Heaven
Once ridiculed as Seward’s Folly, the United States purchased the Alaskan territory from Russia in 1867. Named as such for Secretary of State, William H. Seward who made the deal for $7.2 million, or approximately 0.02c per acre. The deal was consumated in part because Russia felt they couldn’t defend the territory against a strong British presence.
Seward was vilified in the American press for buying a virtual wasteland, but the goldrush alone years later, paid for the acquisition and then some. It also proved to be a major tourist destination and a critical strategic position for the Americans.
Safe Haven
In the midst of the Chinese government’s crushing defeat of a political uprising in Tibet, The Dalai Lama escapes to India in 1959 where he is granted asylum. Taking permanent exile in the town of Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama formed a shadow government and declared the Chinese were perpetrating genocide and religious persecution.
He continued to promote a revolution of peaceful resistance, and in 1989, The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
Failed Assassination
While stepping out of the Washington HIlton Hotel on his way to his limousine in 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot in the left lung by would be assassin, John Hinckley. Three others from Reagan’s entourage were also wounded as Hinckley fired six shots from a 22 caliber pistol. His stated motive for attempting to kill the President was he was trying to impress Jody Foster, or at least her character role in Martin Scorses’s Taxi Driver.
Amazingly, Reagan was unaware he’d been hit and jumped into the waiting limousine. The President entered the hospital under his own power and was quoted as saying to his wife Nancy, “Honey, I forgot to duck”. President Reagan resumed his duties the next day from his hospital bed and eventually returned to office a hero.
Hinckley was tried and found not guilty for reason of insanity because of his pathological obsession with the characters depicted in Sorsese’s film.
Musical Milestones
Forty-three years after they split up, Buffalo Springfield announces a reunion tour of thirty-seven concerts in 2011. The three original members, Stephen Stills, Ritchie Furay, and Neil Young do seven shows and then Young calls it quits.
Narratives
Geetali Norah Shankar, the daughter of famous Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar is born in 1979. Norah is raised by her mother, Sue Jones in Texas and Norah Jones, who never lived with her father, began a successful music career in the late nineties.
Remembrance
Better known for his bad guy roles in film, James Cagney was also an accomplished dancer. He died in 1986.
The widow of the late King George VI and mother of the current Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother died in 2002 at the age of 102.
Bill Withers was responsible for writing the classic songs Lean On Me, Ain’t No Sunshine, and Use Me. A true legend, he died in 2020.
Notable Births
1945 — ’Slowhand’ himself, Eric Clapton
1950 —’Hagrid’ himself, Robbie Coltrane
1964 — Singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman
1968 — French Canada’s greatest export besides poutine, Celine Dion. Well, there’s maple syrup and hockey players.
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
The Story Of Day Tripping Through History What’s Past Is Often Present
