Stories about History from December, 2009
Russia: Yegor Gaidar, Russia's Economic Reformer, Dies at 53
Yegor Gaidar, a Russian economist and politician who initiated the 1992 "shock therapy" reforms, died in Moscow on Dec. 16 at the age of 53. Russian bloggers' responses serve as a vivid reflection of how divided people still are on Gaidar's legacy and on the direction the country has taken since the demise of the Soviet Union.
Colombia: Twenty Years After Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán
Twenty years after the assassination of former Colombian presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, a documentary is filmed where the son of Pablo Escobar meets the children of his victims, which includes Galán.
Pakistan: Soul Searching For 1971
Raza Rumi at All Things Pakistan remembers the end of the nine month long liberation war of Bangladesh (freedom of Bangladeshis) and the fall of East Pakistan on 16th of December, 1971. The blogger comments: “we, simply, are reluctant to learn from the fiasco of 1971.”
Bangladesh: Celebrating Victory Day
Saad Hammadi at Of Diaries And Experiences writes about the joy of celebrating the victory day of Bangladesh.
Philippine Revolutionary Theatre
TatayK posts photos, complete accompaniment music, and audio snippets from Makata’y Mandirigma, Mandirigma’y Makata, a play based on the life of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, a Filipino poet and revolutionary leader.
Egypt: Synagogue Gone … Synagone
Bloggers and online activists in Egypt are calling for saving an old synagogue, currently used as an office for the National Democratic Party - the country's ruling party. Marwa Rakha sums up reactions in this post.
Algerian Jews
Alle, at the Maghreb Politics Review, discusses Algerian Jews from a historical perspective in this post.
Algeria: The Revolution and the Jews
Houwari, at Algerian Review, writes about the Algerian Revolution and the role of the Jewish community.
Egypt: And this one goes to Djamila Bouhired
Algeria's 75-year-old activist and revolutionist Djamila Bouhired is ill and is beseeching her country and countrymen to finance her medical treatment. The news has infuriated many Egyptian bloggers who see her as an Arab icon and a hero.
Bangladesh: The slow pace of development
Why is the pace of development so slow in Bangladesh? Is it partly because a generation of intellectuals was wiped off in the Liberation War of 1971 – leaving the nation with the daunting task of having to ‘grow up’ all over again? ? Sara at Bringin’ you to Bangladesh...
Uganda: Election tensions could lead to civil unrest
The durability of this peace in Uganda depends on addressing political divisions at the heart of Uganda's history of violence.
Russia: Soviet Handout on How to Behave in Afghanistan
English Russia posted a translated handout [ENG] for a Soviet “soldier-internationalist,” a.k.a. Soviet soldier fighting in Afghanistan, outlining the basic rules of engagement for USSR troops in the foreign country.
COP15 and the dreams of a Nation
Bangladeshi blogger Fakir Elias writes a moving poem about the indigenous needs of a Nation and how it is perhaps getting overshadowed in the COP15 buzz
Philippines: Bloggers Raise Voices Against Martial Law
As the world commemorates International Human Rights Day, Filipino bloggers are eerily reminded of the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo imposed martial law in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao.
Modifying the Philippine flag
A blogger thinks it is wrong to modify the Philippine flag which is being proposed by a senator.
Poland: “My Polish Street”
At Polandian, “My Polish Street” series – here, here, here, and here. Also, a post on “drifting” into “voyeurism” in Krakow: “Having a designated smoking window that looks directly onto a dozen brightly illuminated flats on the other side of the street didn’t help.”
Czech Republic: Travel Roundup
The Reference Frame writes about a replica of Prague's Old Town City Hall in Seoul. The Journeys of Captain Oddsocks writes about Jan Žižka, “the most feared and respected military leader and tactician in Czech history,” and describes travel to Písek and Tábor.
Poland: Jaruzelski and the Soviets in 1981
The beatroot reports on the release of “documents which appear to show that General Jaruzelski did indeed request support from Moscow if Solidarity protests got out of control.”
Cuba, U.S.A.: Reduced Sentences for Cuban 5
Circles Robinson posts an update on The Cuban Five for Havana Times.
Indonesia: Movie ban puts freedom of speech in question
The Indonesian Censorship Board has banned the public screening of Balibo, a film about a group of Australians who were murdered during the 1975 Indonesian military invasion of East Timor. Indonesia-based bloggers share their reactions
Ukraine, Germany: Esquire Article on the Demjanjuk Trial
Foreign Notes links to an Esquire article “on the Demjanjuk ‘trial’ currently being staged in Germany.”
