The Five Greatest American Tragedies of the Past Half Century!

In the adult life of the author, if one were to judge what the five greatest American tragedies have been, whether man made or natural disasters, they would be the following in ranked order:

1. September 11, 2001–The worst tragedy in American history as 3,000 Americans were killed at the World Trade Center in New York City, along with deaths at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and the bringing down of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, preventing the possible attack on and destruction of the US Capitol Building or the White House in Washington, DC by Muslim terrorists.

2. Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 and the days after, which caused the flooding of New Orleans, coastal Mississippi, and the death of more than 1,300 people , with a very slow response by federal, state and local officials.

3. The truck bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building by Timothy McVeigh on April 19, 1995, causing the death of about 168 people, and the wounding of 680 other victims, the greatest terrorist act on American soil until September 11, 2001.

4. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963.

5. The killing of seven astronauts in the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster on January 28, 1986, including the first teacher to go into space, Christa McAuliffe.

This list could be much longer, as we have experienced other disasters, but these five will always be remembered as the top of the list of tragedies!

9 comments on “The Five Greatest American Tragedies of the Past Half Century!

  1. Johnny Atkins November 20, 2012 10:26 am

    I agree with your list but there are so many more that need to be added by extending out the years. Removal of prayer from schools, Pearl Harbor, Indianapolis Sinking, San Francisco Earthquake, Election of Obama as President, Vietnam, Reconstruction of Health System by Obama Administration, Civil War, Loss of Flight 19, Hurricane Andrew, no matter how you list these events the lose of one life can’t be placed ahead of another . They are all important and relevant to someone. There are more but it would take a bigger block. Thanks.

  2. Richard March 16, 2013 1:23 am

    @Johnny Atkins
    I’m sorry, but your opinion of “The election of Obama as president” should not be included. If any president should have been selected, it should of been Bush. Worst president in U.S history. Don’t say Obama has been, because that’s just Rubbish.

  3. James April 18, 2013 1:50 am

    I agree, Obama is by far the worst Pres. EVER Richard … Bush wasn’t the best or brightest, but was at least for God & America!!! Remember that Richard

  4. Jeremey April 18, 2013 1:46 pm

    President Obama? Are you joking? Just because you disagree with something doesn’t make it a tragedy.

    – A definition of the word tragedy: “An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.”
    – A definition of the word opinion: “A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.”

    Your OPINION about President Obama (which I most likely agree with to some extent) is simply that – an opinion. You’re either stupid or ignorant if you think it belongs on a list of tragic events. Give me a break.

  5. jamoe July 21, 2013 10:40 am

    Racist fools… you are a tragedy… 🙁

  6. Shaun July 29, 2013 6:17 pm

    I hope the same people saying that Obama is the worst president and he is an American tragedy is saying the same thing about Bush!! You for one can’t blame the president for everything….Let somebody give you crap and see if you can turn it into gold!! We were already in a recession or heading that way before he even came in to office. I think most of you that are downing Obama just hate to see somebody of color even in the white house. Stop being narrow minded and take your racist views and opinions of him and shove it. Its not going to change a damn thing so stop pointing the finger.

  7. Jon Altonen September 12, 2013 10:19 am

    My liberal, Progressive friends. YOU are a fool if you believe that those who oppose Obama are racist. That is the furthest comment from the truth that you can make. Those of us oppose Obama because of his Socialist agenda and how he is bringing America down to a second rate nation. If we were racist, why would we back Dr. Ben Carson, Col. Alan West and the number of other black Conservative leaders that we feel would be a better choice. If one of them was President of the USA, would you be the racist, because you disagree with their agenda and policy? I have friends that do not agree with my politics, but I doubt they would call me a racist.

  8. Chris Bourne September 14, 2013 7:09 pm

    “Removal of prayer from schools” shouldn’t be in a list on national tragedies, even if it was true. Mandatory prayer has been removed from school for the purpose of religious equality. People can still pray in schools. Removing prayer together would be along the lines of suspending students or expelling students for prayer, which doesn’t happen.

    Anyway, even if that was true, that’s not a national tragedy. That’s not something we put on the same level as 9/11 or Pearl Harbor where people are killed and families are destroyed.

  9. Ronald September 15, 2013 12:35 am

    I am in total agreement with you, Chris, and welcome to the blog!

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