The pithy commentator George Will had a great column this week in the Washington Post (reprinted in the Denver Post).
The premise was simple: Would you rather live today, or live like John D. Rockefeller in 1916? Now, most people would quickly respond, “Rockefeller.” But a true answer requires more thought.
Many years ago, I visited the medieval Chillon Castle, located on the banks of Lake Geneva with gorgeous views (on a clear day) of the Alps. Like any medieval castle it has its dungeons (where Lord Byron set his famous poem, “The Prisoner of Chillon”), but the aristocrat residents there were living the good life — for the Middle Ages. One of the rooms on the tour was the latrines. When I saw those facilities, it hit me: I’m living better than medieval royalty, simply because I have running water.
Will’s column set out more of a challenge because 1916 was only a century ago — not several centuries ago. Yet, a century ago, we did not have antibiotics. That’s just one factor Will presents to demonstrate just how much better off we are today. In 1916, we also had no joint replacements, computers, air travel or air conditioning.
As a Jewish woman, I’ve often thought that I am incredibly blessed to be living when I am. There’s no other point in history when I would have been better off.
It doesn’t mean the world is a perfect place. But perhaps we should take a moment to appreciate what we do have, and really ask ourselves: “Is there any better time to be alive?”
Shana Goldberg may be reached at [email protected].
