When you think about it, a whole lot of major stuff happened during 2011. Nothing like 1968–the monster of all eventful years–but more eventful than 2010 and 2004, which I wrote about previously. For 2011, I give you:
Internationally: the Arab World
- The uprising in Tunisia, with a dictator toppled. (January)
- The uprising in Egypt, with a dictator toppled. (February)
- The uprising in Libya, with a dictator toppled and killed. (February)
- Protests occur in Yemen and Bahrain. (January)
- Demonstrations in Algeria. (February)
- The uprising in Syria, with continued bloodshed. (March)
- Dictator overthrown in Ivory Coast. (April)
- Two American hikers finally released from Iran. (September)
- Saudi Arabia grants women the right to vote (sort of). (September)
- Renewed protests in Egypt’s Tahrir Square. (November)
- Big earthquake in Turkey. (October)
- Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit released after 5 years in Palestinian captivity.
Internationally: Elsewhere:
- The Japanese tsumani, and the threat of nuclear reactor meltdown. (March)
- The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. (April)
- South Sudan becomes a nation. (July)
- A gunman in Norway kills 68 campers and personal friends. (July)
- Phone hacking scandal rocks the Rupert Murdoch media empire. (July)
- World population passes 7 billion. (October)
- Rioting in Greece. (October)
- Silvio Berlusconi finally resigns as Italy’s premier. (November)
- Hillary Clinton’s ground-breaking visit to Myanmar. (December)
- Huge protests in Russia against Vladimir Putin. (December)
On the Military Front:
- The death of Osama bin Laden. (May)
- 22 Navy SEALS killed in shot-down helicopter. (August)
- Military don’t ask, don’t tell policy is repealed. (September)
- The capture and execution of Ghaddafi. (October)
- The US military’s final withdrawal from Iraq. (December)
Politically:
- The shooting of Gabriel Giffords (January)
- Protests against the Republican governor in Wisconsin. (February)
- Obama releases birth certificate. (April)
- Donald Trump plays hard-to-get as a presidential candidate. (Spring)
- The debt ceiling talks. (Summer)
- Congressman Anthony Weiner resigns after scandal. (June)
- New York legalizes same-sex marriage. (June)
- The Occupy Wall Street movement. (September)
- The failed Super Committee. (October)
- The rise and fall of Herm Caine. (October)
- The endless debates and ups-and-downs of the Republican primary season. (Fall)
In Sports:
- The scandals at Ohio State, Penn State, and Syracuse. (November)
- Both the NFL and NBA get off to a late start because of contract negotiations. (summer and fall)
- Tebow-mania. (Fall)
Pop Culture:
- Verizon begins selling the iPhone. (February)
- The Oprah Winfrey show ends. (May)
- Amy Winehouse is found dead. (July)
- The Casey Anthony trial finally comes to an end. (July)
- Arnold Schwarzenegger admits fathering a child with a housekeeper. Maria Shriver ends their 25-year marriage. (July)
- Soap “All My Children” cancelled after 41 years (September)
- Amanda Knox freed in Italian court. (October)
- The death of Steve Jobs. (October)
- Michael Jackson’s doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter. (November)
- Regis leaves his program. (November)
- Keith Olberman canned by MSNBC (January) and Glenn Beck canned by FoxNews (June).
Not to Mention:
- The tornadoes in Alabama. (April)
- Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the IMF, arrested for raping a hotel maid. (May)
- The tornado in Joplin, Missouri. (May)
- World doesn’t end, as Harold Camping predicted. (May)
- The last Space Shuttle flight. (July)
- 10th anniversary of 9/11. (September)
- Standard & Poor’s lowers the US credit rating for the first time ever. (August)
- Wind gust toppled stage at Indiana State Fair, killing 7. (August)
- Virginia earthquake causes cracks in the Washington Monument.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial dedicated in Washington, DC. (October)