What Was the First Historical Event That Left a Deep Impression on You as a Kid? (Russian, Americans)

[Mikestone8]

Originally Posted by Ernest_"Chuck"_Guevara

The Suez Crisis. I was about seven years old and everyone seemed quite excited about it. Didn't know why then, and (deeply ashamed to admit) don't know why now...

About the same for me. I was a year or two older, but Suez and Hungary were the first things I followed in the papers. Before that, I think the troubles in Cyprus and Kenya had also vaguely registered, but made far less impact. I recall hearing on tv about some group of terrorists (Mau Mau?) who used to drink their victims' eyeball fluid, which fascinated me in a horrible sort of way

[BuffaloTransplant]

Watching Alan Shepard go into space when I was in grade school. Changed your entire outlook on how big the world was

[gizmo980]

For me, it would have to be the Challenger explosion... I was only 9 (going on 10) years old, in elementary school at the time. We were sitting in class as usual, when a teacher came running in to whisper something in our teacher's ear. She immediately shuffled us into another room, where they had us sit on the floor in front of a television - we watched the news footage, and they explained what was happening and why. I remember that day so clearly, and the sadness we all felt watching the shuttle explode.

I've since experienced "bigger" events, such as the Berlin Wall being torn down, the fall of the Soviet Union, 9/11, Gulf Wars, and the 1989 Loma Prieta quake... I was like 20 miles from the epicenter for the quake, so that left a HUGE impact on me! But the Challenger explosion is the first major event I recall, so it will definitely remain a strong memory forever.

[Merovee]

I was also in elementary for the Challenger explosion. NASA = Need Another Seven Astronauts and one blue this way and one blue that way. Remember a regular school teacher was on that flight so you always think it could have been your own teacher.

This also ties into CNN and the beginning of continuous and live coverage as a news trend.

For me the first historical event that left a deep impression was Princess Diana's Marriage live on television. I still remember exactly where I was at when watching it, I was playing really, ignored most of it, but it was the first incident that got me thinking about a lot of things including the concept of royalty.

My second was the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut. The media coverage on television was non-stop.

[pamelaBeurman]

Originally Posted by BuffaloTransplant

Watching Alan Shepard go into space when I was in grade school. Changed your entire outlook on how big the world was

I remember my dad taking me to the Cape to watch the first moon mission take off. He was in the Air Force and as such we had access to places that civilian's didn't. It was the last time we spent together before his death.

When the Challenger exploded, I had taken my daughter outside to see the take off. It didn't sink in that we were watching far more until we went inside and saw the news reports. At the time it just seemed unreal.

[Chango]

I still remember my elementary school teacher crying in front of the class when the Challenge blew up.

[Fullback32]

The 1973 Wounded Knee incident. I was in 5th grade at the time, but as a young Comanche boy, it made me realize that not all was well in Indian Country and our relationship with the United States. As I grew, that incident made me pay more attention to what was going on, not only with my tribe, but with Native/US relations as a whole. It was the spark that made me get involved in Native issues as I got older.

[AnnieA]

Is it okay for a past event to be the most seminal moment in your life ? I grew up in the late 40's and 50's. We were very poor but my parents were from good stock that had fallen on hard times. They bought a set of Comptons Pictured Encyclopedias when I was about 7 yrs old. We read those encyclopedias like novels and the most profound event for me was the Civil War. For me, it was a fresh as though it were yesterday and held a lifelong interest for me.

I saw the Challenger break apart in Vero Beach, Florida. That was one you don't forget. And, I saw the twin towers fall as it happened.

[Nighteyes]

I remember Gulf War I with extreme clarity.

At the time I was employed by a major defense electronics/ordnance firm. A large percentage of the images displayed in the daily briefings, and explained by Gen. Schwartzkopf and Nigel (whats-his-name), were captured through our technology. Those that weren't ours were captured through the technology of firms we knew very well.

In many respects, Gulf War I was a "Demonstration War" that showcased quite a few of our nation's more advanced products.

[Nighteyes]

Originally Posted by Fullback32

The 1973 Wounded Knee incident. I was in 5th grade at the time, but as a young Comanche boy, it made me realize that not all was well in Indian Country and our relationship with the United States. As I grew, that incident made me pay more attention to what was going on, not only with my tribe, but with Native/US relations as a whole. It was the spark that made me get involved in Native issues as I got older.

As a halfblood Mississippi Choctaw, I'm embarrassed to say that I completely missed this one. In my own defense, I can only say that I was contending with many extremely personal issues at the time.

I remember, with extreme clarity, meeting Russell Means (a player in the Wounded Knee incident) many years later during an effort to support a much-maligned American Indian who was employed in the entertainment industry.

I have actively supported the effort to free Leonard Peltier.