Buildings Tumble

On the 9th of November 1989, the 20th century ended in rubble as the Berlin Wall came down, taking with it the conflict of superpowers and ideologies whose roots stretched back to the First World War. Francis Fukuyama questioned whether it could be "the end of history". But of course, he hadn't reckoned with the dedicated way in which each generation sows the seeds for the conflicts the next generation will fight.

Just as 19th century imperialism inexorably led to trenches, barbed wire and the rise of totalitarian ideology, the Western democracies of the late 20th century should probably have kept an eye on where their own policies were taking them. Were they really naive enough to believe that the Soviet Union was the last enemy they'd ever face? That the people they trained to help them fight that threat would forever remain their friends?

Regardless of what they thought, the 21st century began ten years ago today in a storm of fire and metal. As always, it was innocent people who lost their lives, and amidst the shock and trauma of that day, the rest of us looked into the future with an apprehension we hadn't felt since the days of Cold War nuclear showdowns. My most vivid memory of the day remains hearing a co-worker's daughter asking her mother what she should do if everyone else in the world got killed, and she was the only one left.

Some terrible things have happened in the years since, and a lot more innocent folks around the world have lost their lives. But I'm still here, and if you're reading this, then I suppose you are as well. Whatever happens in the next ten years, we should do our best to stay that way. The world needs sane people in it, now more than ever.

Take care.