If 9-11 never happened, what would be the signature moment of this generation? I guess we can extend this to, say, 1980 up until now.

The 60s had the JFK Assasination, a man on the moon, Woodstock, etc ...
The 70s had the Nixon scandal, the end of the Vietnam war, the Kent State shootings ...

What event(s) stick out from 1980 till now? A few:

*The Challenger shuttle explosion
*Hurricane Katrina
*The Ethiopia Hunger crisis/USA for Africa
*Gulf War
*Obama election win (regardless of your opinion of the man, it was a moment in history)

I am sure I am missing some huge ones, just thought of this quick ... thoughts?

OJ's white Bronco.

damn, how could I forget OJ? Good one

Hands Across Muthafukin America!

LeBron going to Miami.

Even without 9/11 I'm thinking we still would've invaded Iraq in '03 lookin' for those darned WMD's

I really don't see how it could be anything other than Obama's election to the Presidency. As much as race shouldn't be a factor in today's United States, it obviously is. I don't care for the man, but the election of our nations first African American President is a huge moment in this countries history.

How about the fall of Communism? Single most game changing moment between 1980 - 9/11 hands down!

Tiernan;429120 wrote:How about the fall of Communism? Single most game changing moment between 1980 - 9/11 hands down!

This.

Challenger
OJ
(in that order)

Nothing else is even close.

how about billions and billions of barrells of oil in the Gulf.

we may not yet know the ramifications of that.

killdeer I agree that could be up there depending on what happens with that.

Indeed, but I couldn't tell you where I was when the oil disaster happened.

I can tell you EXACTLY where I was when the Challenger explosion was reported.

I can tell you EXACTLY where I was when the Juice and Al took off in the white Bronco, and when the verdict was announced.

Obama's election was historic, but not particularly memorable IMO.

Tiernan;429120 wrote:How about the fall of Communism? Single most game changing moment between 1980 - 9/11 hands down!

Very good point ..... Only because I was thinking the same thing

killdeer;429136 wrote:how about billions and billions of barrells of oil in the Gulf.

we may not yet know the ramifications of that.

It's been done before. Environment is pretty adaptable...I'm sure it will turn out alright (in the long run, of course).

US soccer advancing in this year's World Cup.

THE4RINGZ;429192 wrote:US soccer advancing in this year's World Cup.

lol

THE4RINGZ;429192 wrote:US soccer advancing in this year's World Cup.

Taylor Hicks winning American Idol.

LeBron leaving Cleveland.

"ZOMG HE'S A RINGCHASING SIDEKICK!"

I can't think of anything that changed the world more than this.

Tiernan;429120 wrote:How about the fall of Communism? Single most game changing moment between 1980 - 9/11 hands down!

That's such a tough question to answer... I think it might have been the 1st Gulf War

OJ Simpson's murder trail was a signature moment? LMAO

From 1980 until now...My Top 15:

1. 9-11. This generation's Pearl Harbor which finally drove home the real threat of radical Islam.
2. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. It amazes me how the younger Chatters don't even remember the intensity of the Cold War.
3. The Reagan presidency. After Viet Nam, Watergate, and a crap economy in the 70's the Great Communicator restored the idea that it is OK to feel good about being American again.
4. The Gulf War. Saddam Hussein's insane decision to invade Kuwait helped demonstrate U.S. military might and established a long-term U.S. presence in the Middle East.
5. The economic boom of the 80's and 90's.
6. The Great Recession and the Sub-prime Mortgage Meltdown. Generation X-ers and children of the 80's and 90's (born and raised on rampant materialism) get a taste of economic realities.
7. Technology. The growth and widespread expansion of computer technology coupled with the Internet make instant information available to the masses.
8. The Challenger disaster illustrated the real dangers of manned space flight.
9. Hurricane Katrina. Despite the unnecessary politicizing of the natural disaster, it showed the world how this country takes care of its own when our backs are against the wall.
10. The sleaze of the Clinton presidency. While Slick Willy initially held promise as a centrist Democrat president who even laid claim to a budget surplus with the help of a Republican-controlled Congress, his incessant lying to the American public and inability to keep his fly up around interns tainted (and stained) the Oval Office.
11. The Republican take-over of both houses of Congress in 1992 after decades of Capitol Hill dominance by the Democrats. While the Contract with America held promise of reduced Big Government, the Republicans soon demonstrated that they were as beholden to special interests and intent on spending taxpayer dollars as Democrats.
12. Acute polarization of the American political scene. The rivalry between left-wing and right-wing politics is nothing new, but the political divide in this country has not been this intense since the Civil War.
13. The Bush II presidency. While "W" made good on his promise to not allow another 9-11 to occur on his watch, his questionable invasion of Iraq, the lack of a clear cut withdrawal plan, and his perceived ineptitude created Bush Fatigue and ushered in a political climate that would enable the Democrats to retake Congress and make it possible for a black man to become POTUS.
14. The election of Barrack Hussein Obama. While upsetting the coronation of Queen Hillary by promising the anti-war left that he'd withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, and with the troubling assistance of the mainstream media, BHO becomes the first black President of the United States.
15. The growth of Big Government under Nancy Pelosi, harry Reid, and Barrack Hussein Obama. Faced with rising unemployment caused by the mortgage meltdown, the Big Government Trio immediately ramrods a controversial $879 Billion stimulus bill allegedly designed to prevent unemployment from rising above 8%. The trio also spearhead government-controlled health care with more outrageous spending looming with cap & trade. These policies coupled with 2 wars waged by the Bush Administration have helped the U.S. amass trillion dollar deficits bankrolled largely by the Communist Peoples Republic of China.

"OJ Simpson's murder trail was a signature moment? LMAO"

For young people it was huge. It was an indication that wealth and politically favored status trumps justice. Here's a guy that is obviously guilty (to the point he tried to run away) that got by, literally, with murder.

I was in college at the time, classes pretty much halted when the verdict was read.

The collapse of JJHuddle. I'll never forget where I was when i heard they were charging cash. I was at my computer. Gives me chills....