Historic Events You Lived Through? ~ Looking Back and (Trying to) Move Forward

BORN IN THE USA and LIVING IN AMERICA.  What my life has been like as an American citizen, through the years.  Pivotal moments.

AI art created using DreamUp, a free tool

I have a Tumblr account, and it's easy to tell the Tumblr community has a lot of young people. I stumbled across a post where the person said they were very upset to be living through a historic event RIGHT NOW. It was a reference to our 2024 presidential elections.  That made me think.  How many historic events have I lived through?

1950s and 1990s

1. Two (2) New Technologies: Television and Internet — I lived through the introduction of new technology: Television (50s) and Internet (90s). In the 1950s, television brought the world into living rooms for the first time, and by the 1990s, the Internet suddenly connected those living rooms to everyone else on Earth.

1960s

2. Three (3) Assassinations — The assassinations of John F. Kennedy (1963), Martin Luther King Jr. (1968), and Robert F. Kennedy (1968) shattered a generation’s sense of safety and hope in public leadership.  We The People truly mourned.

3. Civil Rights Act — The 1964 Civil Rights Act marked a seismic shift as the nation finally codified equality that had been denied for centuries.

4. Moon Landing — In 1969, seeing Neil Armstrong step onto the lunar surface made the impossible suddenly feel breathtakingly real.  Even though some of the old folks said it was a government plot, it didn't really happen.  Why would the government lie?

5. Richard Speck Case — The 1966 Richard Speck murders were a chilling introduction to the idea that one person could commit unimaginable violence.

6. Vietnam and Flower Power — Through the 1960s and early 1970s, the Vietnam War collided with a cultural revolution of peace, protest, and youthful defiance at home.

7. UT Mass Shooting — Although I lived in Florida at the time, the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting marked the beginning of a tragic pattern in America that would grow over the decades.

1970s

8. Presidential Impeachments — Watching Nixon’s impeachment process in the 1970s, Clinton’s in the 1990s, and Trump’s two impeachments in the late 2010s–early 2020s underscored how contested American political accountability can be.

9. Yom Kippur Wars — The 1973 Yom Kippur War and its haunting 2023 echo showed how unresolved tensions can repeat across generations on the very same sacred day.  50 years later, Hamas did it again! October 7, 2023.

1980s

10. Iran-Contra Affair — The mid-1980s Iran-Contra scandal revealed how secret operations and political maneuvering could shake trust in the highest levels of government.

11. Another Mass Shooting? — The 1984 San Ysidro McDonald’s massacre underscored how mass shootings were becoming more frequent and devastating. At the Golden Arches???

12. Fall of the Berlin Wall — In 1989, watching the Berlin Wall crumble felt like witnessing freedom physically break through decades of division.

1990s

13. Oklahoma City Bombing — The 1995 bombing was a devastating reminder that terrorism can come from within our own borders.

14. Two (2) More Mass Shootings in America — The 1991 Luby’s massacre and the 1999 Columbine high school shooting showed how mass violence has continued to escalate into a national crisis. NATIONAL, not international. Other countries don't appear to be having this crisis.

15. WORLD WIDE WEB - Internet Era — Mentioned previously but bears repeating because the Internet was a serious game changer. By the 1990s, the Internet suddenly connected those living rooms to everyone else on Earth.

Image generated by ChatGPT

2001

16. September 11 Attacks — On September 11, 2001, the world froze in disbelief as the unimaginable unfolded live on television. And We The People thought December 7, 1941, was the only day that would live in infamy. (O.o)

2011

17. Death of Osama bin Laden — The 2011 announcement of bin Laden’s death felt like a long-awaited turning point in the fight against extremist violence. Some people were dancing in the streets. It took a decade, but Obama took out Osama. It had a nice historical ring to it.

2010s–2020s

18. COVID-19 Pandemic — Beginning in 2020, the pandemic abruptly rewrote daily life, exposing both our global vulnerability and our capacity for adaptation.

19. Presidential Impeachments — Trump’s two impeachments in 2019 and 2021 underscored how polarized and contentious American politics had become.

20. Roe v. Wade Decisions — From the original 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling to its 2022 overturning, the shifting legal landscape revealed how deeply personal rights can hinge on political change.

21. Mass Shootings in America are a Regular Occurrence— By the 2020s, the US started maintaining database tracking reality—mass shootings evolved from rare tragedies to a national crisis. And the politicians continue to offer bereaved and angry parents their “thoughts and prayers”.

2021

22. January 6 Capitol Riot — The 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol was a stark and unsettling moment that tested the nation’s democratic resilience.

WOW! What a difference twenty (2o) years makes. In 2001, We The People got attacked by The Enemy. In 2021, We The People BECAME The Enemy. Thank you, Donald J. Trump.

2025 To Date

As unbelievable as it sounds, Donald J. Trump (with the help of tech giant Elon Musk) got elected as the 47^th President of the United States. Would you like what he has done in his efforts to put America First AND make America great again? Here are a few of my social media posts. I don't mind telling you that it is grueling and tiresome to try to keep up. Maybe Trump can have the luxury of “sleeping,” but I'M WIDE AWAKE! Follow me on BlueSky and also on Tumblr.

POP QUIZ! Is America a Democracy, Autocracy, or Kakistocracy? Tomorrow, when #WeThePeople wake up, will America be a Democracy, Autocracy, or Kakistocracy? It's just 2 easy questions. Use it for both an IQ and EQ test. OR for a Gold Card test. #POTUS #Trump🐐🟠 - How many gold cards have you sold?

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-03-06T22:07:33.889Z

WAKE UP AMERICA! ALL OF US IS NIGGAS NOW! Canada, Greenland – WISE UP! Our #POTUS trying to make y'all niggas too! #DoYouSeeWhatISee👀 #TheEVOLUTIONIsBeingTelevised📺 Yeah, yeah. Need to watch what I say, huh? I'm a leftist, liberal, radical, WOKE ... eh! pick a label. Just don't call me TRUTHFUL.

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-01-27T21:02:56.072Z

People sometimes like to review their old year whenever the new year comes around. I went through some of my old posts on Threads. This post is dated October 2025. It's 2026, and NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Let me rephrase that. NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER! #POTUS #Trump – Agree or disagree.

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-01-02T20:03:57.550Z

MY list was first published via discussion on ForumCoin. It needed updating.

Did a Secret Society Shape American History?

What do a president, a Supreme Court justice, and a media titan have in common? A windowless tomb at Yale University — and membership in one of America’s most mysterious collegiate societies.

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Source Spotlight

This fascinating piece, “6 Famous Members of the Skull and Bones Secret Society,”published via History Facts.  The article explores prominent figures who belonged to Skull and Bones, the elite and notoriously secretive society founded in 1832 at Yale.

Tony Dunnell. “6 Famous Members of the Skull and Bones Secret Society.” History Facts, 10 Oct. 2024, https://historyfacts.com/famous-figures/article/6-famous-members-of-the-skull-and-bones-secret-society/. 

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The article highlights six influential members of Skull and Bones, including:

• George H. W. Bush – 41st U.S. President

• George W. Bush – 43rd U.S. President

• William Howard Taft – The only American to serve as both President and Chief Justice

• Henry Luce – Founder of Time magazine

• John Kerry – Former Secretary of State

• John C. Calhoun – Former Vice President

The piece dives into how this invitation-only society has long been associated with power, prestige, and political influence — fueling conspiracy theories and cultural fascination for nearly two centuries.

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A Little Historical (and Lifestyle) Context

Secret societies like Skull and Bones emerged during a time when elite institutions used ritual, exclusivity, and symbolism to strengthen networks among future leaders.

Collegiate societies in the 19th century often centered their gatherings around formal dinners and ritualized banquets — where food symbolized status, tradition, and belonging. According to historian Diana B. Turk in "Bound by a Mighty Vow: Sisterhood and Women’s Fraternities, 1870–1920", fraternal rituals and shared meals played a powerful role in shaping male collegiate identity in America (Turk 45).

Food and ritual have long gone hand-in-hand — from Ivy League “tomb” meetings to European guild feasts and Masonic banquets. Even today, power networks often form over shared tables rather than formal boardrooms.

It’s a reminder that behind institutions and influence are traditions — and often, dinner plates.

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BLOGGER'S COMMENTS:

The article is quick but intriguing and revealing and ... kind of sad.

Do We the People NEED elite networks and secret societies to shape a great nation?  WHO SAYS?

📘 #Reading Alert!
Fascinated by #Americanhistory & #secretsocieties?
~ Skull and Bones: The History & Mystery of Yale University’s Notorious Secret Society ...one of the most talked‑about shadowy groups in U.S. academic history.#books @AmazonKindle - https://t.co/t9O8FTxmss pic.twitter.com/M9zd1B7lS1

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2026

Opinions and Perspectives ~ What are Some Historic Events You Lived Through?

NOTE:  Donald J. Trump was elected as the 47th president of the United States.  I decided this blog post could use some major edits and revisions.  So I published a brand new post.  Click here.

I am an old lady with a Tumblr account, and I can tell the Tumblr community has a lot of young people. I stumbled across a post, and the person was saying they were very upset about living through a historic event RIGHT NOW. It was a reference to our 2024 presidential elections.  Trump won!

But then I thought to myself:  How many historic events have I lived through?

At the time, those events were also upsetting.

Let me think. I've lived through:

1. Introduction of new technology: Television (50s) and Internet (90s)
2. 3 assassinations – John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
3. 3 POTUS Impeachments – Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (impeached twice)
4. The passage of the Civil Rights Act
5. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon
6. Richard Speck - 1st serial killer or mass murderer I knew about
7. The Vietnam War and “Flower Power”
8. Iran-Contra Affair
9. Fall of the Berlin Wall
10. Oklahoma City Bombing
11. Sept 11th Attack
12. Death of Osama bin Laden and several other high-profile terrorists
13. COVID-19 Pandemic
14. January 6 Capitol Riot
15. Yom Kippur War in 1973 & 50 years later same conflict, same people, on Yom Kippur AGAIN!
16. Several Landmark Supreme Court Decisions from Roe v. Wade to the overturning of Roe V Wade
17. MASS SHOOTINGS – 1960s at the University of Texas; 1980s at a McDonald's in California; 1990s at Luby's Cafeteria in Texas and at Columbine High School … It's 2024, and NOW there are so many mass shootings that we maintain a database of the incidents.

There are more. On my various social media accounts (Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) [**], etc.), I have "marked" other historic events after Trump took office. It's grueling and tiresome.

These events are memorable. But so far, I lived through them.

Original source

 [**] [NOTE: My X account is set for my posts to be publicly visible for public viewing. But for some reason, people who aren’t signed in to the platform can NOT see my account activity. The appropriate box in MY privacy and security settings is unchecked, which means the posts should be publicly visible, But they are not! If you are not signed in and you visit my profile page, it shows “@cmoneypinner hasn't posted”. THAT'S A BIG OLD LIE! I post plenty! Anyway! It's a free social media account. Elon Musk, the owner of X, who claims he promotes and protects free speech, can likely blame technology for not allowing MY public posts to reach a public audience.]

American History: Really Cool History About American Presidents

In my lifetime, I have lived through the administrations of presidents of the United States from Eisenhower to Obama. They left their “footprints” in America's historical records for future generations of citizens. Let's hope the country is still standing for those generations.

From my childhood to the present date, I can remember the following presidents of the United States:

• Dwight Eisenhower (1953 – 1961)
• John F. Kennedy (1961 – Nov 22, 1963)
• Lyndon Johnson (1963 – 1969)
• Richard Nixon (1969 – 1974)
• Gerald Ford (1974 – 1977)
• Jimmy Carter (1977 – 1981)
• Ronald Reagan (1981 – 1989)
• George Bush Sr. (1989 – 1993)
• William J. Clinton (1993 – 2001)
• George Bush Jr. (2001 – 2009)
• Barack Obama (2009 – 2017)

Donald Trump (2017 – 2021 )

• Joe Biden (2021 - 2024)

At the time of this writing, it is March 2020*. We are in the midst of the presidential campaign process. Somebody has to be nominated as the Democratic candidate. That person will run for the highest office in this country and whoever he or she is, they hope “We the People” will vote for them and unseat our current Republican president, Donald Trump. Whenever this time in American history comes around, i.e. the political process of choosing a new fearless leader, I am always thankful.

• I’m thankful Americans have the right to VOTE.
• I’m thankful our POTUS is not a despicable king or queen who can’t be dethroned or worse a ruthless dictator who nobody can get rid of.
• I’m thankful the U.S. Constitution limits the president’s term in office to 4 years and that the president can only serve for 2 terms.
• I’m thankful I have survived all of the presidents as far back as I can remember and that our country is still standing.
• I’m thankful that I’m living and American.

I found some really cool tweets that reflect interesting moments in time. The history covered in tweets is during the timeline from Eisenhower to Johnson. When Nixon took office I was attending university and I became discouraged, dissatisfied, and disinterested in American politics. I’ve never really quite regained my enthusiasm and interest. But I didn’t bury my head in the sand either. America is still the land that I love. God Bless America.

Cool Tweets About American Presidents

*Original content source:  Virily.com, March 5, 2020

Tuesday, 

November 3

Election Day (US) 2020 in United States

To ALL Americans who VOTE (and those who don't):

Remember this country's history.  Recall the aspirations and ideals of our Founding Fathers.  Remember those who shed blood for this land.  Not just those who fought as soldiers in the military, but including the original natives and those who were slaves.  America exists because of their sweat, blood, and tears.

Understand this.  You can not rely solely on a leader to make America a great nation.  Building this country is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.  The leader you choose does not carry this weight on his or her shoulders all alone.  The leader is an ordinary citizen, just like you and me, who should be humbled and honored to SERVE "We the People".  The elected leader should respect the oath of office and approach the duties of the office of the presidency with gravity and sincerity and a genuine heart FOR THE COUNTRY AND FOR THE PEOPLE. 

Know this.  A country is nothing without dutiful, loyal, patriotic citizens who love their country, live peacefully in their country, and work TOGETHER to build their country.

Think about this when you vote.
Think about this even if you don't vote.

Original content source: Medium.com

Charting the Course of History (Interesting Quotes or Misquotes(?))

When charting the course of history or human events, communication is critical.  Miscommunication, misunderstandings, errors in translations could result in the masses believing that earth is being invaded by aliens.

"One of the extraordinary things about human events is that the unthinkable becomes thinkable.”  - - Salman Rushdie quotes (Indian born British Writer, b.1947)

The link below is to a Cracked article will really give you pause and make you think long and hard, and choose your words carefully; especially when you are not speaking in your native tongue. These errors – misunderstandings – “mistranslations” - literally changed the course of human events.

6 Mistranslations That Changed The World

Here is a quick summary of 4 of the 6 mistranslations.

• Someone misunderstood an astronomer's reference to “channels”, and next thing we knew there were Martians. Even though the “lost in mistranslation” mistake was finally explained, it was too late. People had bought into the idea of life on planet Mars. No turning back.
• Nikita Khrushchev uttered a statement that was not properly interpreted by the Americans. The USA took it as a threat and before anyone could misspell the name “Nikita”, the United States and Russia were in a race for space!
• The incident about President Carter's Polish interpreter will make your side hurt from laughing so hard.
• But the mistranslation that caused two atoms bombs to be dropped on Japan? It's not funny!

There were two more mistranslations left, but couldn't finish reading the article. After reading the part about President Harry Truman's reaction to Japan's response as to whether or not they would surrender, my jaw dropped.

Could this possibly be the real historical record?  

Remembering September 11, ... Years Later: My Remembrances

Remembering September 11, ... Years Later?  
This is what I remember.

There are no words to express my sorrow for the memory of what happened in America on September 11, 2001.  I can remember where I was on that day.  At work at the Austin State Hospital in Texas.  I remember running into the work lunchroom area where I knew there was a television.  I remember watching a tragedy on television and thinking that my eyes ere playing tricks on me.  I remember seeing a news report showing the exact location where former President George Bush Jr. was on that day.  I remember the sober, somber, stunned look on his face when someone whispered in his ear what had just happened while he was at a school visiting young children.  It wasn't a horrific mass shooting at a school.  Instead, it was a horrific terrorist attack on American soil and thousands of people - not just Americans citizens - were killed or injured.  I was not alive on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day.  I remember thinking this day will be the "day that will live in infamy" for this generation.  As of today, September 11, 2019, I am remembering that on that day and on this day I was and I still am hoping and praying that we never have another day like September 11, 2001.

What do you remember?

Is It Our White House or the President's Palace? CHOOSE!

MY REACTION TO TRUMP’S POTUS NOMINATION ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AT THE RNC2020

I didn’t listen. I did tune in. But I saw an audience full of people sitting close together and not wearing masks. I saw the POTUS with a spotlight shining on him as if he were an awesome superstar and he was laughing and grinning so much that the lights were bouncing off of his pearly whites

Then I thought about all the people dying from COVID-19 and remembered that the POTUS casually remarked at another rally that he told “his people” to slow down the testing. “His people”???? Are they different from “We the People”?

I thought about protesters against police brutality that have taken to the streets, regardless of the possibility of the very real possibility of being infected because … Hey! Choose! Catch a virus and die OR get choked to death, get shot in the back 7 times, or get shot while sleeping in your bed 8 times? Choose what? What choice? They don’t see the difference.

I thought to myself? He’s the President. How can he laugh at a time like this? Does he really not understand the gravity of the situation? Does he even care? 

So I turned the channel and tuned him out! I don’t think I missed out on anything historic other than the fact that he accepted the presidential nomination directly from the White House. WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE!!

♦♦♦

Trump’s America. 

His people and 

evidently it’s his White House.

Eh! What do I know? I’m just an AAC (average American citizen).

God Bless America.  God Save America.