On this day in 1969: Massacre of civilians at My Lai, South Vietnam by U.S. is 1st reported

Start:	Nov 16, '09
Location:	My Lai, Vietnam

The Vietnam War was America’s longest and most unresolved military conflict. During the war and continuing today, Americans have been conflicted in their attitudes toward U.S. participation in the war. The United States first became involved in Vietnam after World War II, when France was struggling to regain colonial control. In 1945, Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese nationalist leader, resumed guerilla war against the French to fight for liberation from colonial domination. By 1950, the United States. was supporting France’s efforts to hold onto Vietnam. At the same time, U.S. officials began to see the situation in Vietnam through the lens of Cold War diplomacy. Ho’s combination of communism and nationalism worried the West, and the United States soon found itself involved in a civil war between North and South Vietnam, one in which it sought to halt the spread of communism.

But the lines between North and South had always been permeable. There were many North Vietnamese (Vietcong) sympathizers in South Vietnam. It became increasingly difficult for American solidiers to distinguish the Vietnamese they were fighting to protect from those who were the enemy. Vietcong guerrilla warfare in the hot jungle took its toll on American soldiers, who grew increasingly frustrated and angry in a war that seemed unwinnable. Racism also played a part in distancing American soldiers from the horror of war for the Vietnamese. Vietnamese were referred to as slopes, gooks, and slant-eyes.

The My Lai massacre occurred in 1968, during the last stages of the Tet Offensive, the Vietcong’s massive invasion of South Vietnam. By this time, American troops had been in Vietnam since 1963, with victory far from sight. U.S. troops repelled the attack, but at home the Tet Offensive was a political disaster, precipitating Lyndon Johnson’s decision to withdraw from the 1968 presidential election.

On March 16, 1968 the angry and frustrated men of Charlie Company, 11th Brigade, Americal Division entered the Vietnamese village of My Lai. "This is what you've been waiting for -- search and destroy -- and you've got it," said their superior officers. A short time later the killing began.

As the "search and destroy" mission unfolded, it soon degenerated into the massacre of over 300 apparently unarmed civilians including women, children, and the elderly. Calley ordered his men to enter the village firing, though there had been no report of opposing fire. According to eyewitness reports offered after the event, several old men were bayoneted, praying women and children were shot in the back of the head, and at least one girl was raped and then killed. For his part, Calley was said to have rounded up a group of the villagers, ordered them into a ditch, and mowed them down in a fury of machine gun fire.

In 1969, news of My Lai and photographs of the massacre emerged; attempts at a cover-up drove home to Americans the tragedies of fighting in Vietnam.

On this day in 1979: Ghana adopts constitution

Start:	Sep 24, '09
Location:	Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The word Ghana means "Warrior King,"

Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient predominantly Akan Kingdoms, including the Akwamu on the eastern coast, the inland Ashanti Empire and various Fante and, also non Akan states like the Ga and Ewe along the coast and inland. Trade with European states flourished after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British established a crown colony, Gold Coast, in 1874.

Part of the Gold Coast, Ghana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, becoming the first Sub-Saharan African nation to do so, and the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana, which once extended throughout much of western Africa.

Scientists have traced the African American slave trade to Ghana and other western parts of the continent, meaning, a large percentage of black American ancestors were born in that region. English is the official language, though citizens also speak their tribal dialects.

Ghana is now one of the most stable democracies in all of Africa. President Obama, who recently visited the country, held it up as a role model for other African nations to emulate.

On this day in 1986: 35 countries sign disarmament accord in Stockholm

Start:	Sep 22, '09
Location:	Stockholm, Sweden

The first arms control agreement since SALT. It was meant to reduce the risks of surprise attack, miscalculated confrontation, or use of the military for political coercion.

Essentially, it prohibited any state from massing military force for whatever purpose without being subject to prompt accountability and mandatory on-site inspection.

On this day in 1994: 1st Japanese gay pride parade

Start:	Aug 28, '09
Location:	Japan

Homosexuality is legal without restrictions of age of consent in Japan. The country has adopted many beliefs and practices of Western Culture, leading them to more social acceptance of homosexuals. There are currently no laws prohibiting or approving of homosexuality, protection of LGBT people in the workforce, or marriage. There is no legal recognition of same sex relationships.

Gay Pride, 15 years later, Japanese style:

On this day in 1926: Gold "discovered" in Johannesburg, South Africa

Start:	Aug 22, '09
Location:	Johannesburg, South Africa

The first South African gold rush followed the first diamond strikes by only a few years. Mining started in earnest in 1887, and the new township of Johannesburg began to fill with settlers. The first results were astonishing, and by the end of the year it was clear that the Rand mines were fabulously rich. Many of the Kimberley diamond millionaires moved to new headquarters in Johannesburg, which quickly became the largest city in southern Africa, a position it still holds.

Gold has long been the basis for South Africa's relative prosperity. At least half a million South Africans, including dependents and suppliers, rely on the industry. From ancient times to 1989, the South African mines produced more than 40% of all the gold that had ever been mined. In 1970 South African gold production was 1000 tonnes, then more than 70% of the output of the non-Communist world. South Africa is still the world's largest producer, by far. It has the world's deepest mine, 3585 m below surface at the East Rand mine. The Freegold mine, owned by Anglo American, was until recently the world's most productive gold mine at 115 tonnes a year; and Driefontein Consolidated has produced more than any other gold mine, at 2292 tonnes.

On this day in 1964: South Africa banned from Olympic Games because of apartheid policies

Start:	Aug 18, '09
Location:	South Africa and USA

And the Republican National Convention in New Orleans selected Bush-Quayle for its presidential ticket in 1988.

Potatoe, ehrrr, potato.

American Prisoner In Myanmar, Freed With Help From Jim Webb

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/15/yettaw-american-prisoner-_n_260313.html
Diplomacy still works.