Stories about History from February, 2009
Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: Change? Really?
“He has taken several steps back from the openness he once showed, the willingness to talk to anyone without preconditions. He proposes to send 17,000 more troops into Afghanistan…dampening down one war only to refuel another”: Notes from Port of Spain is “still cynical about Barack Obama.”
Cuba: Women in Jazz
Havana Times focuses on the contribution of women to Cuban jazz.
Jamaica: The Power of Words
“Everybody who has felt the need to prove their Jamaican-ness has said it: gays and lesbians ought to be expelled from the national body…”: Long Bench has had enough of that kind of talk, saying, “maybe we are ready to start acting like we live in a democracy, where every...
China: Riding on Chairman Mao's head
On Feb19，a set of pictures that shows a girl riding on the head of Chairman Mao was circulated around the internet. Of course, what she rides is just a statue erected on the plaza in Hunan, Mao's hometown. However, the story with the pictures immediately secured the headline position in...
Guatemala: President Colom Apologizes for the Bay of Pigs
In preparation for the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961, the government of Guatemala allowed the CIA to train Cuban exiles on their soil for the operation. Even though the invasion failed, the memory still remains. Nearly 50 years later, the current president Álvaro Colom visited Cuba and took the opportunity to “officially ask Cuba for forgiveness." He also presented former Cuban leader Fidel Castro with the Order of the Quetzal, which is the highest honor given by Guatemala.
Ukraine: The Khanenko Museum
The Uncataloged Museum writes about the Khanenko Museum in Kyiv.
Pakistan: A Short History Of Asif Ali Zardari
KO compiles a short history of Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan.
Iran: Three short videos on Iran
Homeyra has published three links to three short videos on Iran by travel writer Rick Steves.One of these films named “Iran's Revolution of Family Values“.
Egypt: Bloggers Take on the “Sons of Zion”
The bombs on Gaza may have stopped falling, but a fierce cyber battle continues, with bloggers on both sides of the fence mobilising their troops to 'obliterate' the presence of the other - at least online. Marwa Rakha taps into the Egyptian blogosphere to present to us another facet of this war.
Cambodia: Reactions as Duch opens Khmer Rouge Tribunal
Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, stands trial today at the UN-supported Khmer Rouge Genocide Tribunal in Phnom Penh for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Duch headed the infamous Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh, where over 12,000 people died, according to the Guardian. KI-Media leads with a story...
Former Soviet Union: The Legacy of Afghanistan
Window on Eurasia writes that across the former Soviet Union, “a debate is raging between those who believe the Soviet intervention [in Afghanistan] led to the demise of the Soviet Union and those who are convinced that the decision to withdraw [20 years ago] had precisely that effect.”
Hungary: Attitudes Toward Gypsies
Hungarian Spectrum writes that “it seems that anti-Gypsy prejudice is at least three hundred years old” in Hungary.
Hungary: MTI's 1989 and 1956 News Items Online
Hungarian Spectrum writes that Hungarian news agency MTI has made all its 1989 and 1956 news items available online: “As someone who with great difficulty and and at great expense (admittedly underwritten by grant money) tried to collect news items from 1919-1921 I can really appreciate how technology has freed...
Yemen: A Visit to Tarim
Yemeni blogger Omar Bawsawad takes us on a visit to Tarim, once the cultural and academic centre of Hadhramout and the Arab peninsula but which is neglected today.
Armenia: Obama and the Genocide
Onnik Krikorian in Armenia wonders whether U.S. President Barack Obama will fulfill his campaign promise to recognize the 1915 massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. While many believe that he will, the blog examines the risk in doing so of damaging efforts to normalize...
Japan: Early-modern Japan in photography
Old Photos of Japan has a collection of fascinating photos taken between the 1860s and 1930s in Japan. The site is available in Japanese, English and Dutch.
USA: Native Americans, “Yes we can”
Kept invisible for centuries, Native Americans in the United States are increasingly using blogs and online citizen media to promote and preserve their rights and traditional ways of life. With the election of President Awe Kooda Bilaxpak Kuuxshish (Barack Obama’s adopted Crow Tribe name) indigenous peoples see new reasons to be optimistic.
Iran: Bloggers Remember 30th Anniversary of the Revolution
Thousands of Iranians celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution on February 10, by rallying in Tehran and other major cities in Iran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, delivered a speech. Several Iranian bloggers, both citizens and politicians, blogged on this topic.
Guadeloupe, Martinique: Farewell Mr. N'Diaye
Martinican blogger Imaniyé and Guadeloupean B.World Connection both pay homage to Boubacar Joseph Ndiaye, who recently passed away. He was the Conservator of Gorée Island and instrumental in making French West Indians go back through the Door of No Return in the late 1990's.
Israel/Arab World: Reflections on Waltz with Bashir
Rantings of an Arab Chick posts a trailer from Waltz with Bashir by Israeli Ari Folman about his experiences during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. “I think this is a film I'll want to see… And not see,” she notes.
Estonia: National author as gay icon
Itching for Eestimaa reflects over the Estonian 19th century author Kristjan Jaak Peterson and his potential as a gay icon.
