January 30, 2018
This year was filled with events that demanded media attention, many making bold new headlines. 2017 was a year to remember, whether bad or good the events that conspired will determine how we act in 2018. There were headlines in politics, natural events and disasters, social movements, and the war on terror.
Photo Credit: Photo via Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons License
Addressing the Audience Donald Trump makes his inauguration speech after becoming the President of the United States.
Donald John Trump is the 45th and current President of the United States, elected into office on January 20, 2017. Prior to his inauguration, and following into his presidency, President Trump has faced a never-ending flow of media attention. His presidency is an extremely controversial one. Many American citizens love him and hope he will bring America out of debt, and end the war on terror. Other citizens, and majority of Hollywood and the media industry, cannot see past his personality. The president is criticized for every move he makes, both political and personal. He has made multiple mistakes that affect the way people view him, especially his twitter account.
One of the biggest debates of his campaign and presidency is fake news, which he says strongly effects the public and shines a negative light upon him. Many people believe in the last election they were voting for the lesser of two evils. So the new President was apparently just that. They also believe he should be given a chance, there is nothing that can be done at this point, people need to stop protesting long enough to see they are not embarrassing him, they are embarrassing themselves and America as a country. Others demand his impeachment. Whether you like him or not, he is not a waste of space, even though many people believe that to be true. Nine Accomplishments made by President Trump in 2017 include
President Trump had a total of 12 federal appellate court nominees, making him the only president in United States history to have more than 11 appellate appointments during his first year in office.
The president signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Dec. 22. It featured the largest tax cuts since 1986.
Through tax reform, Trump fulfilled another key campaign promise: repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate.
During his campaign, Trump promised to do away with two existing regulations for each new one his administration enacts. This year, as officials canceled or delayed more than 1,500 regulations in the first 11 months of Trump’s presidency. The administration has said Trump ultimately cut 22 regulations for each new one enacted this year. Saving taxpayers billions of dollars over the coming years. Trump has repeatedly credited his deregulation push with the economic growth that has flourished during his first year in office.
Three months into his presidency, President Trump issued an executive order directing every federal agency to determine “where money is being wasted [and] how services can be improved.”
Despite initially attracting criticism from across the political spectrum for its botched rollout. Trump’s so-called travel ban scored a major victory later this year when the Supreme Court ruled to allow the entire policy to take effect.
Defeating the Islamic State
The Trump administration made a series of strategic decisions this year. Decisions that supporters say made the difference in the years-long battle against the extremist group in Iraq and Syria. The terror organizations saw its numbers and territorial holdings decrease this year.
Recognition of Jerusalem
Despite pressure to keep a status quo that his predecessors had left untouched for decades in Israel, Trump made waves on the international stage this month when he formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He announced plans to move the U.S. embassy there from its present location in Tel Aviv.
Withdrawal from Paris climate agreement
Trump ultimately followed through on a campaign promise to withdraw from the agreement despite objections from several of his closest advisers.
To conclude, whether the public agrees or disagrees with his actions, he followed through on many campaign promises, even when met with criticism. It can be argued, are these all actual accomplishments? But that decision is up to the reader and their own political and personal opinion.
Photo Credit: Photo via Pixabay under Creative Commons License
The #MeToo Movement was spawned from the outbreak of sexual harassment stories exposed in Hollywood and the media industry. Sexual Harassment and Rape is a problem that has affected millions of girls and boys, men and women, young and old. The movement represents frustration with society as well as hope for a change. It encourages people to come out with their stories. To unmask their abusers, and allow victims to know they are not alone.
The movement saw a rise in attention when numerous Hollywood actresses came out against their abusers. Additionally, victims nationwide spoke up and made a difference. The movement attacked people like Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer and many others. At this year’s Golden Globe Awards, woman attending wore black to show their unity in support of the #Metoo movement.
Photo Credit: Photo via Wikipedia under Creative Commons License
Crossing the Atlantic ocean Hurricane Maria directly affects Dominica and Puerto Rico
The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was a hyperactive, deadly, and extremely destructive season, featuring 17 named storms. The year ranking alongside 1936 as the fifth-most active season since records began in 1851. The three most devastating storms that directly affected North America were hurricane Harvey, hurricane Irma, and hurricane Maria. Hurricane Harvey was the costliest tropical cyclone on record, inflicting approximately $190 billion in damage, primarily from widespread flooding in the Houston metropolitan area. Then Hurricane Irma was the strongest storm on record to exist in the open Atlantic region and was the fifth costliest hurricane on record. Hurricane Maria directly hit Dominica and Puerto Rico. It is considered the worst natural disaster in the history of the region. The Hurricane season of 2017 affected millions of people and created immeasurable damage. But through the mayhem, millions of people came to the aid of those in need.
Only a month apart from one another, two devastating massacres occurred in Las Vegas and Rural Texas.
On Sunday, October 1, 2017, gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire into a crowd of concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Firing over 1,100 rounds he left 58 people dead and 851 injured. Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock was obsessed with his status when it came to being one of the city’s elite, but when he started losing large amounts of cash, that popularity was quickly replaced with depression—which investigators say might be one of the primary reasons behind his attack on October 1. Google search history shows Paddock researched other large-scale venues. He booked hotel rooms overlooking Lollapalooza in Chicago. But the report reflects inquiries dating back to May 18, 2017. He choose to commit his crime in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017 taking the lives of 58 innocent people.
On Sunday, November 5th, between 10:05 and 10:15 p.m. shooter Devin Kelley entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and brutally murdered 26 people and 20 people injured. It is the deadliest church shooting in modern U.S. history. Mothers, Children, Men, Women, Grandparents and unborn babies were all killed. The Texas shooter Devin Patrick Kelley’s troubled past emerged and his past displayed a pattern of violent and disturbing behavior. Two heroes emerged in the chaos Stephen Willeford, and Johnnie Langendorff. Stephen Willeford, who lives near the church, grabbed his own gun and ran out of the house barefoot to confront the gunman, shortly after he spotted Johnnie Langendorff’s truck across the street and hailed him down. The two perused gunman Devin Kelley exchanged gun fire and tracked him down, they led the police to him even when he was out of their sights.
Both Gunmen committed suicide shortly after they took the lives of multiple innocent people. The devastated nation came together in support of the victims and their families of both Texas and Las Vegas.
Photo Credit: Photo via Wikipedia under Creative Commons License
Darkening the Sky and image of the solar eclipse was taken on August 21, 2017
A total solar eclipse occurs when the new Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and totally blocks out the Sun. It’s been more than three decades since the total solar eclipse of Feb. 26, 1979, which crossed through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, before heading north to Canada, according to NASA. That’s the last time the contiguous U.S. has seen a total solar eclipse, until the one on Aug. 21, 2017. The Total Solar Eclipse was a worldwide celebration.
Before the eclipse, people were warned to not look directly at the eclipse to avoid eye damage. Thus, people went out of their way to buy glasses and make their own out of cereal boxes and foil. “Solar eclipse parties” were held in spots where the eclipse would be most visible, and others got together with their glasses to watch this historical event. The entire country prepared for this natural event only for it to last about 5 seconds.
One of the reasons this event was so noteworthy is the fact that this is the first eclipse that occurred during a social media era. There were so many ways to document this like none other before. There won’t be another total solar eclipse until April 2024, a whole 8 years away.
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