Tuesday, August 29, 2006

August 29 in History

Here is a mild coincidence of things that have interested me in my life. At one time I intended to be an archeologist, and South America was the area which interested me most. I was fascinated by the story of Atahualpa when I was in high school. I am also a fan of the Beatles. On this date in history:
1533
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The last Incan king, Atahualpa, was murdered on orders of Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro used the Spanish law to justify declaring war on the Inca, steal their gold and silver, and bring their lands into the Spanish Empire: Atahualpa had refused to convert to Christianity. And here we are again, with a leader who is determined on empire, using an excuse to attack another country, take control of its oil, and remove the leader, who just happens not to be Christian. Once again, a more technological nation defeats one with inferior armaments.


1966
Some things you wish wouldn't have changed.

The Beatles performed at Candle Stick Park in San Francisco, their last public concert. I won tickets by calling in to a radio station and identifying Elinor Rigby the day after it was released. Went with friends who brought green brownies. (Luckily the driver didn't eat any, since on the way back it seemed to me that the Golden Gate Bridge was dancing like a python and turning all sorts of colors. Not frightening, but it might have made driving difficult.) The audience was shouting so loud that we couldn't hear any of the music -- and it later turned out that the Beatles had learned not to waste effort on American concert audiences, and were not actually bothering to sing.

6 comments:

J said...

Also Cherry's birthday, the one year anniversary of Katrina (UGH), and my dad's wedding anniversary. Busy day throughout history!

Maya's Granny said...

Better for your dad and Cherry than for Atahualpa and New Orleans!

Not sure about where the Beatles concert stands -- good that I got to go and see them, bad that they didn't sing because no one could have heard them, bad that it was the last.

kenju said...

What? You mean they were lip-synching?

LauraHinNJ said...

I haven't been reminded of Atahualpa since college (I was a Spanish major).

I like the Beatles too, but never got to see them.

;-)

Maya's Granny said...

Kenju,
Is it lip synching when there are no vocals to hear? I don't know. They were playing and all that, and their mouths were going, but since no one could hear them, they weren't trying to get the words out. It was fun anyway. To know that I had been there.

Mary Lou said...

I never was a Beatles fan! I was not the typical 60's kid either. I was such a goodie-twoshoes! now My SISTER on the other hand....