How Bad is it, Really?

Every generation thinks they're having the toughest time in history and yearns to look back at the "good old days" when everything was fine, we all got along, and problems were fewer.

We lament the latest disasters, like the Japanese earthquake and the nuclear reactor explosions and think it is a horrible disaster, which it is. However, 66 years ago two atomic bombs exploded over Japan, killing hundreds of thousands of people, ending one of the most destructive wars in history.

We lament fighting two wars and losing some American soldiers. Yet the same 66 years ago a worldwide war ended with many millions of people dead and a wide swath of destruction, both physical and economic.

We complain about the quality of our schools and yes they have their problems. However, 150 years ago most children had no opportunity at all to attend school and many spent their entire lives unable to read or write.

We complain that politics is divisive yet 150 years ago we were in the middle of a horrendous civil war that almost split this country in half and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children.

We complain about immigration yet one hundred years ago a far higher percentage of our population consisted of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Eastern Europe, Germany and Scandinavia. Their descendants are among our most productive citizens.

We complain that we have too much information. Yet 150 years ago almost nobody had any information at all. News took days if not weeks to make its way around the world and never reached many places at all.

We complain about a weak Arab world and its destabilizing problems. Yet 500 years ago, Europe was surrounded by Arab and Muslim states and the armies of the Turkish sultan were threatening the gates of Vienna and controlled all of the Balkan countries.

We complain that medicine is ineffective yet 500 years ago most children did not live beyond the age of 2 or 3 and most adults were aged or dead in their 50s.

We complain about repressive regimes yet we have more democracy in the world than at any time in its history.

We complain about disputes among our churches yet less than 400 years ago almost one-third of the population of Germany died because of religious conflicts.

The next time you decide to complain about a situation, whether political, personal, or religious, just remember that however bad we have it today, it's been worse, far worse, not that many years ago. Instead of complaining, give thanks for what we do have, for the leaders we have and for the technology that has allowed most of us to live in ways the emperors of 500 years ago would have thought impossible.

Our world is more peaceful that at any time in its history, more people are more educated, have better jobs, live longer, have more medical attention and have more control over their lives, both economic and political, than ever before.

And we should celebrate that.