Blogtrek

Worst events in American history

Yesterday I read an editorial by Kathleen Parker in which she says that the worst event in our history ought to have a better name than 9/11. I came up with a name and sent it into her. However, I don't agree with her statement that 9/11 was the worst moment (meaning day) in American history. Except for the war on terror and a recession, things are pretty much the same as in premillennium days. But not so with some of the other events in our history. Here is my ranking:

10. Assassination of John F. Kennedy, 1963. This one event ended "Camelot" and signaled a change of mood in this country (see http://www.fourthturning.com - it was the beginning of a Second Turning).
9. Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 1865. Undoubtedly the worst event in our history was the Civil War, which took four years. It was Lincoln who brought the North to victory in this war, so it was a sudden jolt when the bullet came flying into his brain scarcely a week after the war ended. The result was endless bickering between a Republican Congress and President Andrew Johnson.
8. Defeat of South Vietnam, 1975. The think tank people thought they could win this one. But the most we could muster is a stalemate, and we questioned our need to be in Vietnam. When we pulled out, the enemy gathered forces and overran South Vietnam in two years.
7. Black Monday, 1929. There have been many stock market crashes, in 1873, 1987, 2000 and other years. But the one in 1929 heralded a long period in which nothing seemed to go right with the US economy as bread lines built, labor unrest increased, and rich people suddenly found themselves begging for dimes.
6. The Terrorist Attacks of 2001 September 11. I feel that the attacks, which killed 3,056 people, fit in the number 6 spot. True, it was a horrifying event, and it came from overseas. But it so far has not caused the kind of pain that wrenches the entire country, the sort that events 1-5 did. Note that this is the worst event of our country for anyone aged 57 or less. Maybe the reason why we think it is the worst in history is that we have not gotten an appreciation for what happened before we were born. So let's go on...
5. D-Day, 1944 June 6. This was a planned event, and it was the start of the turn of World War II in our favor. But it was a horrible event, as anyone who has seen "Saving Private Ryan" can appreciate. Many, many of our loved ones overseas died in those days that we started to reclaim France from the Germans.
4. First Battle of Bull Run, 1861. Three of the top four come from the Civil War, the worst thing that has happened to this country. This battle was noteworthy in that the South won it, and it made the US realize that this war was not going to be easy; it was going to be several brutal years.
3. Pearl Harbor attack, 1941. From out of the blue it came, just as on 2001 September 11, and it killed thousands. Unlike last year's attacks, however, this attack came from a powerful enemy nation. It therefore led to four long years of fighting World War II, with its heavy toll on our people.
2. Battle of Gettysburg, 1863. This was the turning point of the Civil War. But it was one of the bloodiest days in our history. The death toll was in five digits, but at least we won this battle. Not so with number 1:
1. Battle of Antietam, 1862. This is the worst event in our history. Like Gettysburg, it killed five-digit numbers of people. Unlike Gettysburg, it was a win for the Confederates, who were already in Union territory in Maryland. From here they could invade Pennsylvania and turn around and threaten Washington. Although it looked like the Confederates were losing out west, this battle was another reminder that this war was going to be long and bloody.

This is my quick estimation of the worst events in our history. I may have missed something (Korean War?). if so I will revise the list later. Tomorrow I will try to find something happier to talk about.