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February 16, 2006
Threshold
I have this thrilling sensation that I am living in a historically significant time. As a historian, it has always been a question for me whether people who lived during the Renaissance ever realized that they live in a historically definitive moment.
But right now, I have exactly the same feeling. The world seems to be going crazy and haywire. Many achievements of the last 400 years of human history are now easily ignored and seemingly established laws and norms are violated. Many other things seem to be hitting a dead-end. I have the nagging feeling that this is the time on which much ink will be spilled later.
We should all remember these days, so when our grandchildren ask us about it, we don’t have to answer that we did not pay attention. It should not be the same as the 1960’s and its “if you lived during the 60’s, you don’t remember it”.
Posted by Khodadad at February 16, 2006 11:58 PM
Comments
I actually did live during part of the 60's. Although I was a small boy then, I do remember some of it. ;)
I wonder if people in every generation reach a certain age and then start thinking, "Hey, I am living in really interesting (or maybe scary) times!"? I think perhaps that as we mature, out awareness of the present and our concern for the future are heightened. Perhaps it has something to do with being of child bearing or child rearing age. We instinctively want our environment to be stable, our future secure, and the world to be a safe place for the next generation.
It does indeed seem that many things are hanging in the balance right now. But, it must have seemed the same for the Cold War generation, or the WWII generation, the Civil War generation, etc., and ad infinitum (well, maybe not quite that far ;) ) into the past. It is the uncertainty of the future that heightens the feelings of excitement or anxiety.
Posted by: David at February 17, 2006 12:43 PM
There seem to be strong similarities between the Boer War and America's agenda in Irak. One could, indeed wonder wether this does'nt herald the advent of the long awaited decline of the US. Embroiled in costly conflicts, isolated, and faced with the lacklustre prospects of the emergence of new powers. The beginning of the (long) way out of supremacy?
Posted by: will at February 24, 2006 03:46 AM