One of the most notable things about 2016 is the large number of notable deaths. By some accounts, mostly people's memories, this is the worst year for notable deaths. Other accounts say it is the worst in a decade. Let's look back at all of the notable deaths, from the worlds of entertainment, literature, sports, politics, and more, in 2016.
Addendum: As if 2016 had not claimed enough famous individuals, at approximately 8:30 p.m. (Eastern Time, U.S.), with just 3 1/2 hours remaining in the year, it claimed William Christopher. He was known around the world as the kind Fr. Mulcahy on the long-running TV series 'M*A*S*H'.
Tonight is the beginning of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. It is also Christmas Eve. Both have lights as part of their observance -- candles and electric lights. A recent article from the Washington Post by Petula Dvorak brings together the symbolism in response to the year (just about) gone by in a powerful way, and I'm sharing it with you today. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays!
War is a catastrophe. The war in Syria is no different and the city of Aleppo is the severest example of this. The killing of its civilians and the sheer destruction of the city are hard to comprehend. Let's look at the history and complicated nature of this war first.
In addition to the death and destruction, hospitals throughout the city of Aleppo have been destroyed. Some reports say that all hospitals have been destroyed. Other reports say that very few hospitals remain, but people are too scared to go to them out of fear of being killed. It is a case of having no medical assistance if your sick or hurt or you are too afraid to go to the help you need. Many residents of Aleppo are worried about genocide. It appears that is what is happening.with cease fires not being honored and people being murdered in their homes. Let's take a before-and-after look in these two videos:
We've seen images of two young children, Omran and Ayah (who was injured in the Syrian town of Homs) earlier this year.
Recently, a video with several Aleppo children who are now orphans has surfaced.
And this is what a cease fire ends up looking like...
It is now being reported that Aleppo has fallen.
The world has not responded to this crisis as it should have, and that includes the United States. As the video above asks "What's next for Syria?", the fact is that what has already happened is nothing short of a human tragedy. The world community needs to get involved to stop this immediately. The lack of involvement from the world community is disgraceful.
Today, December 7, 2016, marks the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. "A date," as President Franklin Roosevelt called it, "which will live in infamy." The attack resulted in the death of 2,400 persons, and the destruction of 300 aircraft and eighteen ships. Today, we remember all those killed, including civilians, and all those who survived with physical and emotional scars. The documentary below, titled 'Tora Tora Tora: The True Story of Pearl Harbor', is a production of the History Channel from 2000. The 90-minute film gives a thorough account of the events leading up to the attack, the attack itself, and the aftermath.
It was announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not be granting an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline that would have allowed the pipeline to be built under Lake Oahe in southern North Dakota. THEBLACKSNAKEHASBEENSTOPPED!
