Grand Historia Photography: Six Powerful and Emotional Acts of Disaster and Death
The shock heard round the world. Have you heard that line before in your lifetime? If you haven’t, you may want to crack open a book and educate your self.
I remember a time back in elementary school when some of the astronauts from Challenger came to my school before the initial flight. As a child, it was easy to see these figures as inspirational and a symbol of what our country stood for.
It remains a mystery to me how the bravery of some of the most amazing individuals can affect an entire countries sense of honor.
However, when nature takes full control, the most unexpected events occur. Things that are unexpected that rock you to your core and make you question everything you ever believed as good and honorable.
To create a mood and to show you how the mood of the music can affect your every sense of being, I introduce you to “Fanfare for the Common Man“. A true fact that the feelings of reverence within the music can make you feel an emotion you may need to release.
A Shock Heard Round the World
I was in fifth grade at the time Challenger fell out of sky and as a child, it was easy to express emotion after we had met a few of the astronauts not long before it happened. It was the first time in my life that I had experienced a tragedy and the tears were overcoming. At 31 years of age, I can still picture what I was doing and where I was. I think many people can relate.
September 11th Faces in the Smoke
This was such a shock to the entire world that when I first heard of the news I didn’t believe it. It was as though someone was playing a prank or it was a taped happening like “War of the Worlds” in 1938, which drew people to insanity thinking the world was ending and aliens would be taking over. I took time to reflect since I had lost a dear friend I went to school with that was working in the tower. Til this day, it still seems like a bad dream or a major motion picture filled with excellent special affects.
Vietnam
To this day no one really knows why we were there.
The US initially entered the war to prevent communism in South Vietnam, so they say. In the 1960’s drones of us soldiers deployed to a country that was a walking land mine and hundreds upon thousands died for a reason unknown to the world. From a perspective of a US soldier, this was his interpretation” Let them be and let them destroy themselves. Who are we to stop them!”. This was of course the view of Vietnam in the 60’s, especially for any counter culture youth at the time.
Holocaust
Over 6 million human beings were murdered in cold blood by a country that still to this day turns their heads in vain to a happening they still don’t believe ever happened. The truth is in the pictures and in the stories told by people that lived through these gruesome happenings.
Titanic
With close to 1800 people that went into the freezing Arctic waters, the tales of Titanic are passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately, the captain ignored early warnings of icebergs and foggy weather with the high hopes of reaching America earlier than expected. One decision steered this boat of death into the deep abyss and the bottom of the ocean is now a murky grave for passengers.
Hindenburg
This major Airship disaster of the German Zepplin caught fire and crashed in to the “dock of the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Manchester, New Jersey in 1937″. The cause of this disasterous event is still unknown and the remains of that day caused the use of airships to be a thing of the past.
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User Comments
Glynis Smy
On November 25, 2008 at 8:59 am
I remember seeing the air disaster, so sad. This is an article to remind us not to take life for granted. Interesting and very emotional work.
Christy Tuller
On November 25, 2008 at 10:30 am
I remember Challenger, 9-11 and learning about the others in school. After 9-11 I had to stop watching t.v. completely because I was waking my husband up in the middle of the night talking in my sleep about what had happened. It affected me so much that my young kids were affected as well even though they were too young to know what was going on. Sad times but I agree with Glynis’ statement above. Great photos too.
Michele Cameron Drew
On November 25, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Very nice article, Lauren, very emotionally charged. So many of these events have taken place within or just before my lifetime. Tumultuous times, that’s for sure. I hope our world will now take a turn for the better.
-M
goodselfme
On November 25, 2008 at 1:01 pm
so well composed and presented. a great reminder.
Sotiris
On November 25, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Great article
MJPatrick
On November 25, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Catastrophic events thats shows the evil side of some humans. So sad to remember. Great post!
Moses Ingram
On November 25, 2008 at 3:06 pm
A very well written article.
C Jordan
On November 25, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Very well put together but subduing article.
James DeVere
On November 25, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Wonderful. I would have found the visit of the Challenger crew very traumatic if I had seen what was to become of them.
When September 11th occurred the Australian Broadcasting Commission was airing the Mohammed Ali Documentary about his visit to Zaire, in the sixties. It was one of the first “real life,” films made. The news of the Twin Towers cut into the broadcast ( 10pm Australian time ) One historical image replaced by another.
You really excell, Lauren, when you compose this work.
Keep Writing. j
CHAN LEE PENG
On November 25, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Very well done, my friend! Take care!
BC Doan
On November 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm
These are all sad events. The 9-1-1 is most memorable to me since I saw it on tv and thought that it was a movie or something..couldn’t believe it!
valli
On November 25, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Very sad incidents.
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas
On November 25, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I agree with valli…those were all sad incidents, thanks for this reminder, Lauren.
Amit Goyal
On November 25, 2008 at 9:39 pm
The holocaust one left a shiver down my spine..
Extremely well written.
HatedNation
On November 26, 2008 at 12:19 am
Great job, Lauren, I see my comments are not working either…??
Juancav
On November 26, 2008 at 8:37 am
Sad facts of recently history .Wouldn´t be a warning of a more serious coming fact? If we think of materialism in the world, that bounces in crime, family breakdown, drug addiction, etc..
Lost in Arizona
On November 26, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Well done article. All you have to do is mention Challenger and 911, and I can still remember the time and place of where I was when it occurred. It’s amazing how after all these years, such events can still strike a cord. My father fought 2 tours in Vietnam, and although I can’t even understand what took place there, his pain still moves me. At times one has to wonder why such events occur; whether they’re a testament to the human will, or that tragedy makes us fallible. I still shudder when I think of the human suffering of the Holocaust. Powerful article.
BoJack454
On November 26, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I just sent a comment but it didn’t show up.Triond problem?
I’m still very new at this.These were sad things for sure,As a child I watched Vietnam on TV with Walter Cronkite every day after school,didn’t know it was real.I cried on 9/11.Turned on the TV right before 2nd plane hit,had no idea it was for real,then I thought we’d finally done it,thought it was the beginning of WWIII.Wanted to tell you to go to my Triond site and read “Proud to be an American’ think you will like ie
Darlene McFarlane
On November 28, 2008 at 9:48 am
This is my second attempt to submit a comment for this article. Unfortunately I lost the first one so this will be the shorter version.
I remember some of the events you have listed above and the magnitude of shock they caused though out the world. This article is powerfully written and presented in such a manner that the feeling of tragedy and catastrophe are relived by merely reading it. A very sobering piece of work.
Great job, Lauren!
Melissa Joyce
On November 28, 2008 at 9:51 am
These are all important and painful events that have changed many lives. We should never forget.
nobert soloria bermosa
On November 28, 2008 at 4:03 pm
tragic and sad events,
Joanna Maharis
On November 29, 2008 at 10:02 am
This article and the videos are powerful and deeply moving.
Take Care,
Joanna Maharis
Hein Marais
On December 1, 2008 at 4:44 am
These are all events people will be writing about for the next 100 years and more.
Virginia Wolfe
On December 14, 2008 at 4:35 pm
all of us children were gathered to the gym to watch the challenger take off. i didnt think i was ever gonna stop crying.
thestickman
On December 5, 2009 at 9:22 am
I remember the exact spot where my feet were planted when the news was told to me about Challenger…
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