Remember When?
November 6, 2009
There’s an application on Facebook that asks people what they think are the five most significant dates of the 2000s. The keyword here is “date.” I took some time to think it over, coming up with the criteria that the dates had to be ones where everyone stopped whatever it is they were doing and headed for the nearest television, radio or computer to learn more about the event unfolding.
These dates had to have a worldwide impact that didn’t last just hours or days, but months or even years. This was a difficult choice to make. I left a few important events off the list I submitted–the 2000 election, the tsunami that rocked southeast Asia, Pope John Paul II’s death and the naming of Pope Benedict XVI as his successor, even the biggest story around here in a while–the Flood of 2008.
I ask that you remember this is merely an opinion. You will probably agree with some things on the list, but not others. There are no right or wrong answers, outside of maybe my top choice. I’ll try to provide some rationale for the events I have decided on. Here goes:
5. June 25, 2009 (Death of Michael Jackson)
4. Aug. 29, 2005 (Hurricane Katrina)
3. March 20, 2003 (U.S. Declares War on Iraq)
2. Nov. 4, 2008 (Barack Obama elected President)
1. Sept. 11, 2001 (Terrorist Attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon)
Of these five, Michael Jackson’s death is probably the most controversial. After all, some consider the Gloved One to be no more than an eccentric singer who was embroiled in legal and financial problems.
That said, it’s hard to overlook that news of his passing caused websites to crash, not to mention the audience of one billion who watched his memorial service and the top box office ranking the movie about his planned concerts has.
The newsworthiness may be questionable, but there’s no denying its social impact. Jackson’s death is one of those things people will remember where they were when they heard about it.
We still have two months left in the decade, and who knows what will happen in that timeframe. Depending on what else transpires, the list could change. But for now, those are my top five significant dates of the decade.
