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TIL the original pledge of allegiance was completely secular. It was only in 1954, 12 years after its formal adoption, that a group of right-wing religious elements pushed for the phrase “under God” to be added, claiming it was “definitive factor in the American way of life.”

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ADXyx TIL on 9-11 immediately after US airspace was closed, Canada implemented "Op Yellow Ribbon" & landed 250 US bound flights with 45k passengers in 14 smaller airports across the country. Canadians in communities such Gander (10k) also welcomed up to 6,000 stranded passengers into their homes.
v1OJ4 TIL that $1 coins exists but have not gained popularity due to it weighing more than a $1 bill. Adoption would save taxpayers $4.4 billion due to its durability over paper/cotton bills.
LkerZ TIL that the Latin word for left hand is "sinister". This prejudice against left-handed people eventually made the word sinister mean evil and threatening.
Y7kBr TIL In 1985 the American military got into standoff with the Italian military over an Egyptian plane containing Palestinian boat hijackers. The event ended without major incident.
LkdLV TIL that the Masamune, a sword appearing in many JRPG's was a real sword. The Honjō Masamune represented the Togukawa Shogunate and was a Japanese National Treasure. In 1946, all swords were confiscated, and an American called "Sgt. Coldy Biltmore" took the sword. The sword is still missing today.