May 7, 2006: A Day To Live For

Browsing Wikipedia very early this morning, I found three articles that immediately lifted my spirits:

1) The president of Sudan has signed a peace accord with the leader of the foremost Darfurian rebellion faction. In theory, this should be a major step towards the resolution of the horrible civil war that has consumed the lives (in more ways than one) of so many in that region. Any step taken to better the quality and perceived value of life in Africa is a glorious thing, but I wouldn't even begin to doubt that interest in these negotiations by the global community is influenced by al-Zarqawi's and bin Laden's proposed cooperation with the warring factions.

2) The newly-composed Nepalese Cabinet declared a cease-fire with the Maoist revolutionaries. I can't be truly happy here, as this is more of a matter of principle with me, and I'm very wary of what is going to happen in this situation in the near future concerning China's possible involvement and the ultimate objective of the Cabinet itself, which was begrudgingly established last week in response by the Prime Minister to massive civil unrest.

3) Today is the 61st anniversary of V-E day. Well, the anniversary of Jodl's unconditional surrender, that is--if I were to say 'symbolic' or 'true' anniversary, then someone would be a firebrand and call up Hitler's suicide. At 2:41 Central European Time on May 7, 1945, the so-called "President Of Germany", or Reichsprasident (as Hitler deemed him in his last will and testament), Alfred Jodl signed an unconditional surrender to the Allied forces (chief among them the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R., who had effectively segregated the whole of Germany) in Rheims, France. The next day was declared V-E Day, as Jodl declared that all German military action was to cease completely by then. The ol' Hammer n' Sickle was raised over the empty shell of the Reichstag, and civilization effectively traded one of its last great tyrants for its tears.

What a great day, eh?