The biggest problem with landmines is that the people who place them usually never pick them back up again and don't leave maps with detailed instructions of where to find them. Think about some kid in Bosnia playing soccer, stepping on the wrong part of the field and blowing himself up.
Great thread. I may have just missed it, but what about the U.S. Government shipping innocent Japanese Americans to camps during the height of WWII? The sad part is, these people were discriminated because of their look, whereas German Americans were left untouched. Sure, it wasn't the holocaust, and the United States admitted their fault in the manner, but the whole idea of sending their own citizens to Internment camps should be considered a disgrace to American History. Unlike the American Indians, this happened only half a century ago...
1. Slavery (and everything it caused) 2. 9/11 3. Pearl Harbor 4. Treatment of the Native Americans 5. The Great Depression 6. Japanese camps during WWII 7. McCarthyism 8. JFK Assasination 9. Civil Rights Assasinations (maybe part of the first one) 10. Lincoln Assasination
I have had 20 arguments with people who believe this lie publicized by Maxine Waters. Sorry to seem so harsh- I thought you were serious.
I guess you're one of those people that thinks we deserved 9/11 and maybe bin ladan ain't such a bad guy after all, right? No, wait. Bin laden didn't do anything, it was just a conspiracy by the US government so they could pass the Patriot Act! You guys and your tired boring slogans just never quit.
Branch Davidian Fire Exxon Valdez oil spill Challenger/ Columbia Great Texas City explosion Unrestricted logging events leading to development of Indian Reservations 1964 9.2 Alaskan Earthquake Three Mile Island 1994 Great Mississippi Flood The Mississippi Valley Earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 (left off many that already had multiple posts)
I guess your wrong. See what happens when you assume. I said in the original post I didn't agree with all of the things there. The one that I thought might deserve to be on the list was the car bombing. I was in favor of the U.S. military action in Afhganistan and the effort bring in Bin Laden. So before you address 'You guys' you should know who you're talking too, and ask what my view points are rather than assume that you know.
ya know, it is difficult to pick just 10.... the whole thread is subjective, 10 things YOU think are the worst moments in American History, there's no definate answer and your political views will obviously sway your choices... it's just interesting to see peoples replies and the way others get all worked up and ultimately to see the thread go off topic...
the whole thread is subjective, 10 things YOU think are the worst moments in American History Well that is what this thread has morphed into. The original question was "What were the worst moments in American history, not in terms of number of deaths, nor even in terms of actual damage to our way of life, but in terms of public perception, at the time, of complete tragedy." What quickly jumped to my mind was a set of historic Houston Chronicle front pages (that I picked up at some event in my youth). The headlines included the Titantic sinking, Kenedy's assassination, the Hindenberg crash, Pearl Habor and the Texas City explosion. Newspaper headlines restrict "moments" to being unexpected, horrific events that occurred in a day or less. Momemts excluded from headlines, simply because they took time to play out, include the Lindberg baby kidnapping and subsequent trial ("the trial of the century") and the Watergate investigation which lead to Nixon's resignation. Taking a liberal definition of the word moment, historic periods could also be included like the Civil War period, which imho is the worst American moment. Someone above asked why the Simpson trail was considered while slavery was not. The original question was couched in terms of public perception at the time. Slavery, genocide of the Native Americans, Japanese internment camps and McCarthism do not fit the criteria, albeit given a historic perspective all are considered low points in American history.
Oh, I know...I was just throwing out another bad moment that I didn't see mentioned anywhere else. Personally, I don't think it would rank <i>that</i> high, because it was just two messed up kids, but I think it is that tragedy that kind of highlights the overall trend in violence in America.
First, slavery is the single most regrettable event in this country's history. The rift this has caused has hurt many generations of Americans. Repercussions of this event has been felt throughout our history with the Civil War, segregation, civil rights and the Jim Crow laws. 2. Indian Removal Act of 1830 3. 9-11 4. Great Depression 5. Cold War 6. Pearl Harbor 7. Abe Lincoln Assasination 8. Vietnam 9. Bobby/John Kennedy Assasinations 10. Somalia EddieWasSnubbed, has a point. I have made the case for the death penalty before because I do understand why people feel it is an acceptable form of punishment for the guilty. I am not totally aware of the statistics but the millions of our dollars that are used to enforce capital punishment is absurd. I believe MacBeth is absolutely correct. The final sentence is very true. Crime usually is commited in passion. If we are to resort to the same rage in the pursuit of "justice" we are just as guilty of being bloodthirsty. For the most part I don't believe criminals are capable of comprehending the hurt they dish out. These people are about satisfying their needs and by doing it the best way they can. Now I know I'm going to get flamed for this one but Jesus taught forgiveness. When Jesus was being crucified in his final breaths he said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do". I know these sorts of things are very emotional but sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice of forgiveness goes a long way in defining your character - whatever you believe in.
Just kidding jh. 1. Slavery(all of its effects) 2. Stock Market Crash 3. Pearl Harbor/The Japanese internment camps 4. The immigration laws towards Asians 5. Watergate 6. Vietnam 7. Clinton's lying under oath 8. Jetliner Hijackings/Pulling out Afganisatan after Soviets turned the country to ruins 9. Hatred towards French 10. Giving weapons to Israel Poke fun at it if you want but that's my opinion
This is stunning. Especially #'s 3 and 7. JohnHeath, I didn't know you had it in you to criticize the government.
One moment I haven't seen is the 1900 hurricane disaster in Galveston. Between 6000 and 8000 people were killed in a single night and the island was pretty much wiped out. Galveston never really recovered.
