29 December 2013

rapprochement

[rap-rohsh-mahn; French ra-prawsh-mahn]

noun

– an establishment or reestablishment of harmonious relations: a rapprochement reached between warring factions.

Origin:
1800–10; < French, equivalent to rapproche ( r ) to bring near, bring together ( r ( e )- re- + approcher; see approach) + -ment -ment

Synonyms
reconciliation, understanding, accommodation.

Anagram

rematch prep on
cane her prompt

Today’s aphorism

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.

– Nelson Mandela

On this day

29 December 1890 – Massacre at Wounded Knee. The last battle of the American Indian Wars was fought at Wounded Knee Creek, on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian reservation, South Dakota. The US 7th Cavalry Regiment opened fire on the Reservation, massacring around 300 people, including 200 women and children, and wounding 51. Twenty-five US soldiers died, most from friendly fire.

29 December 1998 – Six people die in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race as huge waves swamp the vessels during the 1167km race.

29 December 1998 – Former Khmer Rouge leaders apologise for the Pol Pot led genocide in Kampuchea (now known as Cambodia), which killed 1 million people between 1975 and 1979.