7 February, 1974 - 48 years ago today, in Grenada
After a century of French occupation, followed by 201 years as a Caribbean territory of the British empire, the tiny island nation of Grenada finally gains it's independence. It was not a celebratory day, however, as it was rocked with violence, strikes, and widespread opposition against the county’s first elected Prime Minister, Eric Gairy.
Gairy’s was a short-lived government. Marxist revolutionaries supported by Cuba & Nicaragua overthrew the him just five years later. Escalating instability and a takeover by hardliners after the execution of their second PM Maurice Bishop finally led to a full scale invasion by the U.S. in 1983.
Everybody's homeland has been somebody's strategic playground at some point in time, whether foreign powers or opportunistic domestic insiders.
Especially tiny little dots in the ocean.
Curiosity Corner:
What made Grenada's first prime minister so controversial that the country couldn't celebrate it’s long desired independence for just one day?
How has Grenada recovered since the U.S. invasion in 1983?
Has the Caribbean island found political and economic stability?
Who are Grenada's closest neighbors?
Why is it often called the Spice Isle?
Get curious:
Grenada: History, Background, Culture, and Food on The Foreign Fork.
Independence in Grenada on Caribbean Elections.
How Grenada came to be called the Spice Isle on Caribbean Authority.
Grenada Invasion: History and Significance on ThoughtCo.
What else makes February 7th special around the world?
Today is Periodic Table Day, and what would Periodic Table Day be without a groan-worthy pun to really put you in your element?
Chemists never die, they only stop reacting, but sometimes oxidants happen, so occasionally if we can’t Helium or Curium, we just Barium alive.
Don’t forget the favored breakfast of chemists today: Barium(Ba), Cobalt(Co), and Nitrogen(N). 🥓
I’d tell you more chemistry jokes, but all the good ones Argon.
The 24th Winter Olympics continue today in Beijing, China.
Famous births on February 7th, under the sign of Aquarius
American manufacturer John Deere (1804-1886),
English author Charles Dickens (1812-1870),
American country singer Garth Brooks (1962-),
American actor/comedian Chris Rock (1965-),
and American author Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957),
“The 'Little House' books are stories of long ago. Today our way of living and our schools are much different; so many things have made living and learning easier. But the real things haven't changed.
It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with the simple pleasures; and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong.”
—Laura Ingalls Wilder
What wonderfully relevant words, even in 2022!
Today is the 38th day of the year on the Gregorian calendar. 327 days remaining.
It is 13.0.9.4.15 on the Mayan long count calendar.
It is day 11 - Eagle, in the 13 day cycle of the Snake, in the solar year of the Rabbit on the Aztec calendar.
It is 6 Adar I, 5782 on the Jewish calendar.