Art, oppression, and Saint Patrick’s Day! Yay!

1998

The United States beats Canada for the gold medal in the first ever Women’s Ice Hockey final in the Olympics. Yeah Cammi Granato! Anybody? Nothing? This is what I get for growing up in Minnesota. It was a big deal, I swear.

1969

Golda Meir becomes Israel’s fourth Prime Minister. Which is cool, except for that whole “denying that Palestinians exist” thing.

1961

South Africa leaves the British Commonwealth. Usually I’d be all, “Yeah! Boo colonialism,” except South Africa was really more like “Yo, we passed a whites-only referendum, peace out England, nonwhite people had no say in this decision because they are not real citizens, also, our government is now run by an even scarier nationalist party,” so there’s that. Boo Apartheid.

1959

The Dalai Lama flees Tibet for India. See? Boo illegal military occupations!

1941

The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. opens. You want 17th century Flemish still lifes? You can bet your bonnet they’ve got 17th century Flemish still lifes. And then some.

1921

Dr. Marie Stopes opens Britain’s first birth control clinic in London. Yay reproductive rights!

1836

Texas abolishes slavery. Who woulda thunk it?

1766

Britain repeals the Stamp Act. Yeah, okay, whatever.

1762

The first New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place. Because America was a wonderful, welcoming place for the Irish. Oh wait.

Let them eat (birthday) cake!

1967 Bald person/Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan

1964 Brat pack actor Rob Lowe

1955 Green Party presidential candidate/crazy person Cynthia McKinney

1951 Actor/Goldie Hawn almost-spouse Kurt Russell

1944 Too-short actor Danny DeVito