Tragedy

Tragedy by today’s terms is quite different from the tragedies of decades and centuries past. Although the simple definition of tragedy is an event that causes great sadness, the term tragedy has taken on a much deeper meaning throughout the centuries. In past centuries and/or decades, tragedy may have fallen on an entire group of people or on one individual or family. However, a large portion of the population felt the sadness whether it was a country, church congregation, village, or smaller community. Today’s tragedies may be experienced by many thousands of people or an individual or family, but the sadness tends to remain there. In the past, even minor events were felt deeply by all in the community. Today, the event almost needs to be catastrophic in nature to invoke the feelings of an entire community either on the local level or world level.

Past tragedies which effected large populations included the Potato famine, the first nuclear bomb, the Holocaust, volcano eruptions, world wars, polio --- to name a few. As example of a smaller community tragedy could be seen during the American’s movement into the west. Families would leave the comfort and luxury of their eastern homes to explore and settle west. The tragedies they suffered included harsh winters, starvation, sickness, loss of a child or other family member, lack of resources, wildlife and clashes with Native Americans. When a family suffered such tragedy, word spread throughout the country and many mourned.

Recent tragedies include the terrorist attack of 911, the tsunamis, Aids, cancer, the War on Terrorism, to name a few. Of course, these events have effect people worldwide. However, tragedies considered major in the past --- a miscarriage, a minor flood, loss of a job --- are felt by those directly involved rather than an entire community. Having said that, there are still events that occur that seems to pull in an entire community, nation or the world. Some events still occur that are so horrific that people can’t help but be changed by it.

Tragedy hit me personally about a year and a half ago. Between Christmas and New Year’s of that year, a childhood friend of mine was “tragically” killed in a car accident. Aside from the fact that he died, the circumstances of how that accident came to be are just as tragic. My friend, 16, and his brother, 18 went to a party where parents were not present. There was alcohol served at the party and his brother