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Charles Jaco has written opinion and commentary pieces for dozens of magazines and newspapers. Each week, read and comment on a fresh on-line version. The discussion page enables you to share your view points world wide. If you would like to make a comment go to the " Join the discussion" link below. If you would like to view past editorials visit the Editorial Archive. Editorial: 12/17/99
As we close what's been called The American Century, what better way to celebrate
than with the most American of ideas--listing the winners and losers of the past hundred
years, and past thousand years. Feel free to add your own ideas in the discussion
section. But remember, in the event of disagreement, the decision of the judge (that's
me) is subjective, personal, and final.
PERSON OF THE MILLENNIUM--Johann Gutenberg. After he perfected movable type,
nothing was ever the same. From the 15th Century onward, books and pamphlets and
newspapers were available to the common person, not just the select few. He spread the
most precious thing, knowledge, like seeds in a fertile field.
PERSON OF THE CENTURY--Adolf Hitler. Yeah, I don't like it either. But again,
nothing was ever the same after Hitler. We realized that the horrors men do live after
them. Millions died in his wake, and we decided never again. Communism spread in his
ashes, and finally fell. The face of the planet changed forever.
GROUP OF THE MILLENNIUM--the Explorers. From Columbus to Neil Armstrong, they
widened our world and our universe.
GROUP OF THE CENTURY--the average American. He fought and died in two World Wars.
She campaigned for equal rights. He spread the ideals of democracy. She discovered cures
for diseases. The average American man and woman are the crowning acheivements of this
imperfect experiment in democracy.
GOOD IDEA OF THE MILLENNIUM--challenging conventional wisdom. The Magna Carta
expanded rights. Gallileo proved the earth is not the center of the universe. Martin
Luther King showed that equal rights made sense. Columbus proved there was more out
there than we thought. The rebels and thinkers and malcontents made the period from
Y1K until now the most exciting in human history.
GOOD IDEA OF THE CENTURY--democracy. And it just keeps spreading.
BAD IDEA OF THE MILLENNIUM--religious fanaticism. From Jihad and terrorism in the
name of Allah, to the Inquisition and forced conversion of Indians and Jews in the name
of Christ, to slaughter of Christians and Muslims in the name of Shiva, we as a species
have managed to create the Almighty in our image. And it ain't been pretty.
BAD IDEA OF THE CENTURY--ethnic hatred. Wipe out the Jews in the Holocaust.
Murder Albanian and Kurd women and children. Kill the Hutus. Kill the Tutsis.
Slaughter the Bosnians and Kosovars. Take revenge on the Serbs. Hate the white
devils. Hate the blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Caucasians, Christians, Jews, Athiests,
Hindus, Buddhists, and everybody else who doesn't look, talk, or think the way you do.
BEST HOPE FOR THE FUTURE--that we've learned from our mistakes.
WORST FEAR FOR THE FUTURE--that we haven't.
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