What if a cat ran your town? That’s not a joke. It really happened. In a small Alaskan town called Talkeetna , the people once elected a cat—yes, a real cat—as their mayor. No political platform, no speeches, no promises. Just a yellow tabby named Stubbs , and a whole lot of people who were fed up with traditional politics. It started with a protest vote The year was 1997 , and local elections were approaching in Talkeetna. This wasn’t a formal city with an official government—it was an unincorporated town with no legal need for a mayor. Still, symbolic elections were held. But that year, the official candidates disappointed the locals. As a joke—or perhaps as a statement of frustration—residents rallied around a kitten from Nagley’s General Store . They wrote in "Stubbs" on the ballot. He won. Just like that, Mayor Stubbs became a thing. What began as satire turned into a 20-year-long story. Talkeetna in the late 1990s Snowy rural streets, wood-paneled shops...
That day, there were two people who were afraid but never gave up.
They are none other than Korea’s Kim Gu and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela.
🌿 What Happened on This Day?
📅 March 14
For us, it's an ordinary day.
But for these two heroes, it was a day of fighting for a better world — even through pain and fear.
👉 Kim Gu of Korea and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
🇰🇷 Kim Gu: A Lifelong Fight for His Country
Even after losing his country to Japanese colonization, Kim Gu never gave up his dream of freedom.
- In 1910, Korea was colonized by Japan, but Kim Gu continued fighting for independence.
- He built the Korean Provisional Government and formed the Korean Liberation Army, leading the independence movement.
"Our independence will surely be achieved!"
Finally, on March 14, 1947, Kim Gu returned to Korea after years of exile.
However, returning home was not the end of his struggle.
In the midst of division and turmoil, he fought for a united and independent Korea until the very end.
"Although Korea could not fully achieve unification on its own, thanks to Kim Gu’s tireless efforts, we are living in a free Republic of Korea today."
 |
| (Source: National Archives of Korea, Public Domain) |
📷 Image of Kim Gu Returning to Korea
🌍 Nelson Mandela: Courage Against Racial Discrimination
Far away in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was also fighting.
The story began on March 14, 1907, with the announcement of the Apartheid laws, enforcing brutal racial discrimination.
"Because of this law, Black people could not sit in the same buses, restaurants, or schools as White people, and were denied equal rights."
Mandela stood up against this injustice.
His fight led to 27 long years in prison, isolated from family and friends.
"On March 14, perhaps Mandela was fighting alone in prison to keep hope alive."
Eventually, Mandela was released and became the first Black president of South Africa, creating a country where everyone is equal.
"If Mandela had given up, South African children might still be living under discrimination today."
 |
| (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain) |
📷 Image: Mandela Voting in South Africa's
First Democratic Election (1994)
✊ The Words They Shouted Together
Kim Gu and Mandela:
"We want freedom!"
"We want equality!"
Although their countries and situations were different, both never stopped fighting despite fear.
"If they hadn't fought, what kind of world would we be living in today?"
❓ Let's Think Together (Quiz)
Q. Why did Kim Gu and Mandela fight despite their fears?
- To gain more land
- To gain power
- For freedom and equality
(Take 5 seconds to think!)
✅ Correct Answer: 3. For freedom and equality!
"Both became symbols of courage, fighting for the weak."
🌈 The Freedom We Enjoy Today
Because of their courage,
we can think freely, speak freely, and love freely today.
💡 History is not far from us.
Their story still sends an important message to us all.
"If I don’t give up now, maybe I can change the world too."
🔑 Final Message
"That day, they were afraid, but they never gave up.
That's why we are living freely today."
🏷 Hashtags
#TodayInHistory #March14 #KimGu #NelsonMandela #IndependenceMovement #HumanRights #KoreanLiberationArmy #ProvisionalGovernment #FreedomAndEquality #WorldHistory #DisnamHistory #Disnam #HistoryEducation #ChildrenHistory #BraveHeroes #Apartheid
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