The Positive Thread
Posted: May 4th, 2009, 3:10 pm
So, I'll start. The 20th - and now the 21st - century, its advancements in technology and culture (I would argue the single greatest leap in both since the Renaissance), has made now the greatest time period in which to live. Here are a few reasons, without qualification, why:
Both of my grandmothers are still alive and well into their 80s. Having none of the "good genes" that many folks in the Mediterranean do, they're still alive today because of the progresses made in medicine and medicinal technology. Combined, they have survived leukemia, breast cancer, skin cancer and throat cancer. Just last year, my grandmother on my mother's side survived a horrific heart-attack. This was thanks to a team of incredibly well-trained paramedics, a team of doctors that knew they couldn't handle the situation and made the call to airlift her to the best heart treatment hospital in the region, the helicopter pilot who got her there, the team of doctors and nurses that were ready and waiting and the advances made in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Living to be 80-something as is stands as a remarkable testament to the progress medicine has made all on its own - surviving terrible disease at that age is yet another.
Music, film, and reading are celebrated more today than they ever have been before. Every city in the world has an orchestra, a cinema and a library. Now, more than ever, arts are truly in the hands of the people. From creation to distribution to retail, every facet of the various industries is completely under the control of the creator. Moreover, access to all of these various forms of art and entertainment is easier, more widespread and more celebrated than ever.
The explosive growth in popular music, beginning in the late 1800s and gaining momentum that is unbroken today, is unrivaled. Never before had so many styles of music been pioneered independently of one another. Never before had so many styles of music fed off each other and gave rise to something so completely different that it, too, was new. All because of our emerging global culture. This culminated with the birth and subsequent mutations of rock and roll. Beethoven was the first rock star and even he would have been absolutely amazed by the 20th century.
There are many, many, many more things I could list. Such as how tolerance and understanding reached a pinnacle in the 20th century and the fact that they owe a great deal to our progress technologically and culturally. Also, call me naive, but I still think rock and roll can save the world. Perhaps it all ready did. It is the voice of the people, after all.
What has the 20th century done for you?
Both of my grandmothers are still alive and well into their 80s. Having none of the "good genes" that many folks in the Mediterranean do, they're still alive today because of the progresses made in medicine and medicinal technology. Combined, they have survived leukemia, breast cancer, skin cancer and throat cancer. Just last year, my grandmother on my mother's side survived a horrific heart-attack. This was thanks to a team of incredibly well-trained paramedics, a team of doctors that knew they couldn't handle the situation and made the call to airlift her to the best heart treatment hospital in the region, the helicopter pilot who got her there, the team of doctors and nurses that were ready and waiting and the advances made in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Living to be 80-something as is stands as a remarkable testament to the progress medicine has made all on its own - surviving terrible disease at that age is yet another.
Music, film, and reading are celebrated more today than they ever have been before. Every city in the world has an orchestra, a cinema and a library. Now, more than ever, arts are truly in the hands of the people. From creation to distribution to retail, every facet of the various industries is completely under the control of the creator. Moreover, access to all of these various forms of art and entertainment is easier, more widespread and more celebrated than ever.
The explosive growth in popular music, beginning in the late 1800s and gaining momentum that is unbroken today, is unrivaled. Never before had so many styles of music been pioneered independently of one another. Never before had so many styles of music fed off each other and gave rise to something so completely different that it, too, was new. All because of our emerging global culture. This culminated with the birth and subsequent mutations of rock and roll. Beethoven was the first rock star and even he would have been absolutely amazed by the 20th century.
There are many, many, many more things I could list. Such as how tolerance and understanding reached a pinnacle in the 20th century and the fact that they owe a great deal to our progress technologically and culturally. Also, call me naive, but I still think rock and roll can save the world. Perhaps it all ready did. It is the voice of the people, after all.
What has the 20th century done for you?