Here are some of the top stories for 2019 (in no particular order):
- Several churches became the targets for jihadists, white supremacists, leftists, or mentally unstable individuals in several countries, including the United States, France, Germany, and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was the site of the worst attack, in which jihadists carried out attacks on three churches, as well as two hotels and zoo, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Meanwhile, the Cathedral of Notre Dame was damaged by fire. Although the cause of the fire is said to be accidental, some speculate it may actually be arson (and possibly caused by jihadists).
- Donald Trump becomes the third American President to be impeached over allegations that he abused his authority by pressuring the Ukrainian authorities to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter regarding business deals they conducted in that nation and that Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in the 2016 presidential election. This impeachment process (not doubt being politically motivated) will in all likelihood result in an acquittal when the Republican-held Senate conducts its trial.
- The United States Space Force, formerly United States Space Command as part of the Air Force, will be the newest branch of America’s Armed Forces.
- Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani (an aviation student from Saudi Arabia) carries out an act of jihad at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, killing three people and wounding eight others before being killed by law enforcement.
- A series of mass shootings took place in the United States in 2019, including Texas, Ohio, and Virginia. Needless to say, the shootings prompted calls for gun control, and (in addition to Michael Bloomberg funding various Democratic candidates) have resulted in the Democrats taking control of the Virginia General Assembly. Stricter gun control laws have been passed, but are being countered by the local governments in Virginia (i.e. being gun sanctuaries).
- Meghan Markle (the Duchess of Sussex) gave birth to a son- Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. He will be seventh in line to the British throne.
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker premiered in theaters on December 20, bringing in $724.8 million at the box office.
- Greta Thunberg entered the spotlight in her crusade against climate change, and became Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came up with the Green New Deal (among other leftist ideas) aimed at combating global warming.
- The following people died in 2019: Gene Okerlund (a.k.a. Mean Gene), King Kong Bundy, Luke Perry, Peter Mayhew, Doris Day, Ashley Massaro, Bart Starr, Billy Drago, Lee Iacocca, Ross Perot, Rip Torn, Rutger Hauer, Harley Race, Toni Morrison, Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Fonda, Robert Mugabe, Jacques Chirac, Rene Auberjonois, Danny Aiello, and Claudine Auger.
And that wraps it up for 2019. Happy New Year, and may 2020 bring fortune and prosperity to all.
