Try make on listener for the $('#dates li').click
event.
Try:
$('#dates li').click(function () {
$('#dates a').removeClass('selected');
$(this).children().addClass('selected');
var selectedYear = getSelectedYear();
if (selectedYear == "year1943") {
alert('The year is 1943');
}
});
function getSelectedYear() {
return $("#dates a.selected").parent().attr('id');
}
DEMO (click on the 1943 - 1953)