Humankind

Will mankind ever really change? We like to think we live in an enlightened age. We understand so much more now, about so many things. Yet, you look at the news around the world and you see hatred and strife, violence everywhere. Since 9/11 we see even more terror, manifesting itself in ever-changing ways.

But don't you think that everyone always thought they lived in an enlightened age? Having the hindsight of history as their guide, mankind has always looked back to see people much less enlightened (and intelligent). Ah, the arrogance of the present. I am sure we will all look quite barbaric to future generations.

Growing up in the sixties and seventies we thought that the great evil of our age (and all time) had been vanquished, and we just had to wait for the world to become even better. Vietnam was only a small distraction, compared to the two world wars. Hitler and the horrors of the holocaust were the worst of the worst that man had ever seen. The Nuremberg trials showed us that the world had vanquished evil and that we survived. Boy were we wrong.

I know we all just want to feel safe. I used to think if I retired to Europe and I bought a home in the country, that I could leave this messy world behind. Now I can't think of anywhere in the world where I might stay and just watch the world go by (while living in relative safety). Bird flu, terrorism, Republicans, all ever-threatening and striking fear in the hearts of right-minded people.

Maybe I can found the land of Homoslavia, where non-violent (and oh-so-tasteful) people could go and live in peace and harmony??? Where your biggest worry would be what to wear, or what to make for dinner. I am sure it would be a very neat and tidy place.

If people living a thousand years from now look back on us, what will they see? The dark ages, an age of change, an age of enlightenment, boring times? It is so hard to get any kind of perspective while living in an age of uncertainty.