The Mysteries of History (July 3 Edition)
Idaho Statehood; Two Rock Stars Die; Passenger Jet Shot Down
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana, 1905
1890 — Idaho Becomes a State
image generated using Google Gemini
Of all the State mottos, “Famous Potatoes” is probably the most misleading one, as Idaho is no small potatoes when you consider its scenery and interesting history.
Also known as “The Gem State” (as viewers of Napoleon Dynamite know), the discovery of gold there in 1860 (twelve years after California and thirty-six before the Klondike) led to an influx of prospectors, swelling the population of the region.
Unlike States such as California and Oregon, because of its isolated location, Idaho may not have been invaded by European-Americans until the early 1800s when the Lewis & Clark contingent tramped through the area.
It was on this date in 1890 that Idaho became the 43rd member of the United States.
image generated using Bing Image Creator
Questions: Have you ever been to Idaho? Would you rather live in Boise or Coeur d’ Alene? Lewiston, Idaho is across from what town in the State of Washington? Which famous American writer (1899-1961) lived part of his life (and died) in Idaho? Have you seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite?
1969 and 1971 — Two Influential Rock Musicians Die
public domain images from wikimedia commons
“No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.” — John Coltrane
“A million dollar arm, but a 10 cent head” — Crash Davis in the movie Bull Durham
Even by rock and roll standards, Brian Jones (1942-1969) of the Rolling Stones was a wild child. The uber-talented (he once learned how to play the harmonica in one day, showing up his bandmate Mick Jagger, who had been trying hard to master the instrument for some time) Jones was self-destructive to the point where his drug use made him gradually more and more unreliable and less and less able to fulfill his obligations (failing to show up and, when he did, failing to live up to his former musical abilities). He was fired from the Stones on June 8th and died less than a month later, having drowned in his pool. Whether it was accidental or not is not known for sure, but drugs were found in his system.
As for Jim Morrison (1943-1971), singer and lead man of the Doors, he died in the bathtub at his girlfriend’s house in Paris. No autopsy was conducted, but it is rumored that it may have been a heroin overdose that caused Morrison’s death. His girlfriend died from an overdose three years later.
Questions: Which Rolling Stones albums did Jones play on? What instruments did he play? Which is your favorite Rolling Stones album? Which is your favorite Rolling Stones Song? Which is your favorite Doors song? Would you rather have Jones’ musical ability or Morrison’s vocal talent?
1988 — Iranian Passenger Jet Shot Down
public domain image from wikimedia commons
On this date in 1988, a commercial jet was shot down by the U.S. Navy. All 290 people aboard the jet died, indirect casualties of the Iran-Iraq war that was raging at the time. The U.S. Navy was in the area guarding Kuwaiti oil tankers.
The sailors had thought the flying machine they brought down was an Iranian military jet set to attack them (they had just been engaged in a battle with an Iranian boat that had attempted to shoot down an American helicopter).
In its defense, America at first claimed the aircraft they shot down was flying at 7,800 feet in restricted airspace, and descending toward them. Iran disputed that. America ultimately admitted (a month later) that the plane’s altitude was 12,000 feet, it was not in restricted airspace after all, nor was it descending toward them. In other words, every claim they made to try to absolve themselves of guilt in the matter was ultimately admitted to be mistaken or fabricated to deflect blame.
There were not just 290 victims of this tragedy. Countless surviving family members and close friends of those aboard the craft must also be counted among the indirect victims of warfare, thus making culpable for the disaster, primarily, the leaders of Iran and Iraq. Other victims were the U.S. sailors who had to live with the knowledge that they had shot down a plane full of people who had nothing to do with the conflict. There had to be a breakdown in communication and/or lack of proper training or leadership within the Navy and/or on that ship for this grave and deadly mistake to happen.
Eight years later, in 1996, the U.S. paid Iran $8 million for the families of the survivors.
public domain images from wikimedia commons
Questions: Could AI be used to quickly identify aircraft to prevent future accidents of this sort? What was the makeup of the passengers on the plane that was shot down — Who were they? Where were they going? Did they “know what hit them” or was their death instantaneous? Where have all the flowers gone?
