June 13, 2005

Today's a notable day in history:

First, in 1971 the New York Times began publishing the Pentagon Papers, a secret study by the Pentagon of America's involvement in Southeast Asia. The papers exploded the notion that America was on the verge of winning the war on Vietnam - and cast doubt on the idea that the war in Vietnam had ever been winnable.

Second, in 1966, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ernesto Miranda, affirming the right of citizens not to incriminate themselves even under police interrogation. The "Miranda Warning" ("You have the right to remain silent...") resulted from this ruling.

Third, and going a bit further back in time, Alexander the Great died in Babylon in 323 B.C. Another great power is currently bogged down in Babylon, of course, but Alexander's conquests and death can be somewhat more directly linked to current political affairs. By extending Greek culture all the way to India, but especially across what's now the Middle East, Alexander created the conditions that, almost a millennium later, allowed the new Islamic societies to adopt and preserve Greek learning. Hellenism, in combination with other characteristics of these societies (including an attractive religious faith and, of course, raw military and political power), became the basis of Islam's golden age - a historical moment which many modern-day Muslims compare to the current weakness of their societies and which many would like to recreate.

And less significantly, it's also Paavo Nurmi's birthday. Hyvää syntymäpäivää, Paavo!