I should probably start out by saying that what you're about to read will only make you sad and will not uplift you in any way. This is not satire, it's just me listing some awful facts that happened in 2016. The purpose of this list is to reflect on what has happened and leave it all in 2016. A lot of these events can and might continue on into future years, but with a new year comes new opportunities, events, and hopes for success. It is not listed but should be noted that a lot of great things happened in 2016. That's the thing about life, while bad things will always happen, good things will, too. They're just not in this article...
1. Zika
The mosquito-transmitted Zika virus caused global alarm this summer and threatened the lives of pregnant mothers and their unborn children.
2. The Orlando nightclub shooting
The country's largest mass shooting occurred on June 12, 2016 in "Pulse", a gay nightclub. News of the attack shook the LGBTQA+ community especially since June is "Pride Month."
3. The 2016 Election
A s**** show regardless of who you voted for. At times, it brought out the worst in people.
4. Brexit
AKA the U.K breaking up with the European Union.
5. Terrorist attacks
There were over 1,800 terrorist attacks worldwide in 2016. Among these were the attacks in Brussels, Istanbul, Syria, and Orlando.
6. The Dallas Police Shooting![]()
Five Dallas police officers were shot and killed on July 7, 2016.
7. North Korea
North Korea claimed to have successfully tested multiple nuclear weapons.
8. The War in Syria
The War in Syria has been going on since 2011, but this is a reminder that things still aren't looking up. The events in Aleppo, Syria will definitely continue on into 2017 so I guess this won't be left in the past.
9. The death of celebrities such as Prince, David Bowie, George Michael, Alan Rickman, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds to name a few
Celebrity pop icons Prince, David Bowie, and George Michael all passed away in 2016 and deeply saddened the music community. Actor Alan Rickman who played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series passed away in early 2016. Actresses Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds died less than 24 hours apart from each other. They were best known for their roles in "Star Wars" and "Singing in the Rain", respectively.
10. Harambe
The death of the gorilla, Harambe at the Cincinnati Zoo sparked an uproar of internet memes. The online joke was even taken so far that claims were made that some voters put him on the presidential ballot.
We'll just have to see what 2017 has in store. Maybe I'll have a positive article this time next year.
