Yet another year is now put under our belts. So much has happened in 2017 that it would difficult to pinpoint what made it what it was. There are some good things and of course some bad things, but let’s take a step back and recall some major events that happened in the United States.
Donald Trump Presidency
– On Jan. 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated . Till this day, his win and presidency has sparked many controversies and skepticism. According to Google Trends, Donald Trump peaked global interest from Jan. 22, 2017 to Jan. 28, 2017. His name seems unavoidable since other television programs such as Saturday Night Live have been incorporating political content in their shows.
The Hurricanes
– In late August, Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico were hit with major storms causing billions of dollars worth of damage and leaving many missing, injured, and/or dead. Texas fell victim to the category four storm Hurricane Harvey and Florida fell to the a category five storm Hurricane Irma. While Puerto Rico was affected greatly by Hurricane Irma, they also faced major damage another category five hurricane called Hurricane Maria immediately after. According to the Weather’s website, the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season is now among the top-10 most active seasons. Thirteen named storms, eight hurricanes, and five major hurricanes in total formed during the season.
#MeToo Movement
– The #Metoo hashtag became viral in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein accusations during October 2017 according to the Washington Post. The #MeToo movement was created by Tarana Burke in 2006 to help people, particularly young women that have been a victim of sexual violence, find their path to healing and to let survivors know they are not alone. For more information on the movement, visit metoomvmt.org
#TakeAKnee Protest
– The #TakeAKnee protest was started by San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick back in 2016 when he first sat down during the National Anthem then started kneeling instead. The protest is against the systematic oppression black people and people of color struggle with. This soon spread across multiple NFL teams and players during 2017. With the stage and public eye Kaepernick holds, there has been a mixed response to his protest. Some completely agree with him and know what he is doing is right, while some interpret his protest is disrespectful to the flag. President Donald Trump publicly expressed his distaste for the #TakeAKnee movement and said it is “a total disrespect of our heritage.”
The Solar Eclipse
– On Aug. 21, 2017, a total eclipse of the sun was shown to all of North America. The solar eclipse is when the moon covers the sun, while leaving a subtle glow around the edges. It covers the sun for up to three hours from beginning to end depending on where you are when it happens. To view the eclipse, one would have to purchase special eyewear to protect your eyes from damage done by the sun. For more information and details on the solar eclipse, visit eclipse2017.nasa.gov.
