Today is Independence Day in Lebanon.
Lebanon was a part of the Ottoman Empire for many years. After World War I, despite the promises that had been made, the Middle East was partitioned into British and French sectors with Lebanon going to the French. During World War II, the Vichy government troops in Lebanon were defeated by the Free French and British troops in the area and on November 26, 1941, a representative of the Free French Government under de Gaulle proclaimed Lebanese independence.
The French didn’t leave, however, and continued exercising authority under their ‘mandate’. On 8 November, 1943, newly-elected local ministers announced that the ‘mandate’ was ended. The French promptly threw them in jail. The incident united the Christians and Muslims against the mandate, led to international pressure on France and massive street protests.
Finally France yielded and released the prisoners on November 23, 1943 and since then this date has been celebrated as Lebanon Independence Day.
Today is the birthday, in 1950, of American musician and actor Steven Van Zandt, (Little Steven or Miami Steve), guitarist with South Side Johnny, then Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul. Created music-industry activist group Artists United Against Apartheid as an action against the Sun City resort in South Africa, Springsteen, U2, Bob Dylan and Run DMC, collaborated on ‘Sun City’. He starred as Silvio Dante in the TV Series The Sopranos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBTL4IwOTaU
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