Era of Peace
The thing many of us forget in the age of the 24 hour news cycle where the phrase "if it bleeds it leads" seems to be a dogma and historical perspective is lost is that by any measurement we live in one of the most peaceful eras in human history. In the USA violent crimes and sexual crimes have been dropping every year and are at the lowest point since the FBI started measuring them (back in the era when lynching wasn't exactly punished). We are at one of the most peaceful eras as well. There are fewer wars, fewer riots and fewer dictatorships then at any point in recorded history.
Are there problems? Yes, clearly there are violent groups, terrorists, psychopaths, government agents willing to abuse their power, corporate agents seeking short term profit on the back of long term pain, tensions all over the world. No one could claim there isn't a great deal of work to be done. Justice remains a commodity in short supply, respect is hard to garner, and equality for all people is a concept we must constantly struggle with.
However, in any objective perspective humanity has done a lot to improve where it was and no one group can truly take credit. We have all played a part in creating and sustaining a healthier, happier, and more peaceful world. I think back to the famous Kennedy speech when Kennedy took the nomination of the Democratic Party in 1960. The New Frontier speech as it has been called where he talked about a new land of undiscovered potential, thought, and innovation. He called for the young at heart regardless of age to be pioneers on that new frontier and despite the tragedies, the calamities, the pain, the foolishness and everything else since that speech to me it speaks to the higher goals. We are moving forward and I believe there is every chance that this new frontier will continue to inspire us towards greater opportunities.
Are there problems? Yes, clearly there are violent groups, terrorists, psychopaths, government agents willing to abuse their power, corporate agents seeking short term profit on the back of long term pain, tensions all over the world. No one could claim there isn't a great deal of work to be done. Justice remains a commodity in short supply, respect is hard to garner, and equality for all people is a concept we must constantly struggle with.
However, in any objective perspective humanity has done a lot to improve where it was and no one group can truly take credit. We have all played a part in creating and sustaining a healthier, happier, and more peaceful world. I think back to the famous Kennedy speech when Kennedy took the nomination of the Democratic Party in 1960. The New Frontier speech as it has been called where he talked about a new land of undiscovered potential, thought, and innovation. He called for the young at heart regardless of age to be pioneers on that new frontier and despite the tragedies, the calamities, the pain, the foolishness and everything else since that speech to me it speaks to the higher goals. We are moving forward and I believe there is every chance that this new frontier will continue to inspire us towards greater opportunities.