Now You Sefira, Now You Don't

I have always been dissatisfied with the reasons given for the period of sefira being one of mourning. 12,000 pairs of R. Akiva students died somehow just doesn't seem to cut it. There are many cases of plagues, death and destruction. And the reason for their deaths is even more perplexing - that they didn't honor each other enough. Now that hardly seems like a case deserving of divine capital punishment. Now if you like to justify that logic see this link.

However, if this rational seems somewhat disconcerting see this link to the best understanding I have ever heard. It's an address by Rabbi Sacks for Yom Hazikaron/Yom Haatzmaut that explains sefira from a historical perspective. It is absolutely worth your 15 minutes of time. I can't believe I have lived this long and never had such a basic understanding. (Way to go, yeshiva ed). Sorry there will be no spoiler here- listen to it!

Ok enough time has past so I'll give a condensed answer here:

Igeret Shreera Gaan says they died not of plague but shmadah- persecution.
Gemara often refers to unbearable tragedy and terrible occurrences by alluding obliquely (and always conscious of Roman censors). In Yevamot 62B The death of the students are really referring to crushing of bar kochba rebellion by Hadrian. This was the worst tragedy ever up to that time- even worse than destruction of temples. Roman historian Dodio(?) says 580,000 Jews were killed directly and 985 cities, villages destroyed. This was a holocaust. The mourning during this period is an oblique mourning for that holocaust.

Lesson Jews learned was that twice (great rebellion in 66 leading to temple destruction 70 and 135 bar kochba)- when faced with insurmountable superior force it doesn't pay to fight and lead our people to destruction. Armed resistance lead to disaster. Baba Kama gemara says from day evil (Hadrian) govt arose, by rights they should decree no Jew get married and have children. So much was the despair.

The lose of 12000 pairs of students represent the devastation and almost destruction of Judaism and our people. We mourn their holocaust at this time.