The 21st Century Commenced When...

"No century begins with the flip of a calendar page. Some would contend that the 20th century began with World War I and the invention of modern warfare. Others point to 1908 and the introduction of the mass-produced automobile. We ourselves have occasionally asserted that it was as late as 1933 that the century kicked in, the year in which both Hitler and Roosevelt assumed power, two events among many that put us on the path to World War II, the cataclysm that eventually created the modern United States of America and the American Century." (David Granger, Esquire, September 17, 2008)

As you read over my personal reviews of the last ten years below, ask yourself when the new millennium really began. Was it January 1, 2000 (midnight news coverage) or September 11, 2001 (24-hour news media)? December 12, 2000 ("Election-gate") or November 4, 2008 (Obama's election)? For me, it was February 2000, but you can read more about that nine posts down from this one. I'll just mention a theory of mine here that your adulthood is your childhood and your adolescence making peace with each other. Adolescence is spent trying to shake the childhood that seemingly holds you back from adulthood, but then you realize that there is maturity in not outgrowing your childish dreams and ideals, as far as fulfilling them might better the whole of humanity, both young and old. You could take this a step further (and probably over the top) and ask if the modern world has made peace with ancient history, or perhaps learned nothing at all.