Biggest historical event(s) of the 21st century (so far)

What is it/are they and why, IYO.

15 years into the 20th century we had things like man's first recorded flight, the discovery of the structure of the atom, the first truly global war, the automobile, the San Francisco earthquake, the assembly line, first transcontinental telephone call, the Panama Canal opened, the South Pole was reached, Machu Picchu discovered, etc.

What's the 21st century given us so far, good, bad, and ugly, thats going to be talked about/felt/lionized/celebrated a hundred years down the road?

By far, 911, marking the spectacular, open-warfare start of WW3: the Terror War, which will dominate at least the entire first half of the 21st century. This will include (it's yet to happen) someone getting nuked.

Other notables off the top of my head...

- Politics: the fiasco of the Bush/Gore presidential election ("hanging chads"😉; first black man elected president; Republican party's identity crisis in the face of a more diversified voting public; most dysfunctional Congress in US history.
- Science: Pluto demoted to dwarf planet; landing on a comet; detection of gravitational waves; detection of the Higgs boson.
- Society: smartphones and social media; celebration of noncelebrities; reality tv hitting its stride; evolving definition of marriage/family.
- The nixing of Superman's red undies.

Kanye West putting Taylor Swift in her place on national television. 👆

Originally posted by Mindship
By far, 911, marking the spectacular, open-warfare start of WW3: the Terror War, which will dominate at least the entire first half of the 21st century. This will include (it's yet to happen) someone getting nuked.

Other notables off the top of my head...

- Politics: the fiasco of the Bush/Gore presidential election ("hanging chads"😉; first black man elected president; Republican party's identity crisis in the face of a more diversified voting public; most dysfunctional Congress in US history.
- Science: Pluto demoted to dwarf planet; landing on a comet; detection of gravitational waves; detection of the Higgs boson.
- Society: smartphones and social media; celebration of noncelebrities; reality tv hitting its stride; evolving definition of marriage/family.
- The nixing of Superman's red undies.

Technically 2000 was still the 20th century, so the Bush/Gore thing doesn't count.

But, on topic: 9/11 in terms of single events, the advent of social media in terms of processes (maybe you could put a single date on it by counting the launch of MySpace in 2003).

Depending on if we ever get universal healthcare, for American history the start of Obamacare might become a major landmark on par with the New Deal. If not, it will just be seen as a failed experiment.

Cool. Not trying to focus on America, just to be clear.
More like world events, regardless of what country the originate in.

Originally posted by riv6672
Cool. Not trying to focus on America, just to be clear.
More like world events, regardless of what country the originate in.

Another example of Riv trying to lead the discussion to where he wants it, and not letting the topic evolve.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
Technically 2000 was still the 20th century, so the Bush/Gore thing doesn't count.

Actually, I wish I could remember who said it, but it goes something like this: "On September 11, 2001, three things began: the 21st century, George Bush's presidency, and World War III."

Originally posted by Mindship
Well, it did lead to Dubya being sworn in on January 2001. So there, 😛

Actually, I wish I could remember who said it, but it goes something like this: "On September 11, 2001, three things began: the 21st century, George Bush's presidency, and World War III."

Originally posted by Omega Vision
But none of those things are correct.

Accurate or not, a memorable statement. Have to look up the author.

This thread is high up on the list.

Dick transplant.

Drone warfare is something new and not covered much. Wait until the USA gets drone sneak attacked. And then we will get a good understanding of what Pakistan and Yeman have been going through.

Originally posted by Mindship
I think it was meant more as symbolism than for historical accuracy.

Breaking Bad?

the red wedding.

Originally posted by Nephthys
Breaking Bad?

...

The day Riv's mom told him was adopted.

The Fappening.