Buried deep within an understandably war-heavy issue of TIME this week is 80 Days That Changed the World, a look back at four scores of impactful moments in the 80 years since the magazine published its initial issue, dated March 3, 1923 and picturing Joseph G. Cannon.
Looking back on those moments — from Hitler's practice power grab in 1923 to the return of Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 to the ascension of Osama bin Laden as the leader of jihad in 1989 — it's amazing we're here at all, especially considering the volatile state of the world right now.
But a little history and a lot of perspective, which is the focus of the brief and mostly "I was there" essays on each event, are what helped me get through 9/11. Reading about Hiroshima reminds me of how small we are, how war is so apocalyptic that killing 350,000 instantly can actually be considered an act of saving lives — and yet we still made it to the near-perfect days of the late '90s. The major-league debut of Jackie Robinson proves how big we can be, how one man can inspire millions — and yet hate continues to breed, with terrorists killing civilians across the globe.
And life goes on. If you're lucky enough.
A few highlights from the 80 moments (see complete list):
• Finding the King's Fortune (March 3, 1938) — The story behind the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia that "would emerge as a crucial factor in Middle East politics and the bargaining over global energy supplies"
• The Night Hope Shattered (Nov. 9, 1938) — A German Jew recounts the night when Nazi hatred took on a public face. He writes, "the Nazis did not openly incite the whole population to kill publicly. Before, people were killed secretly and individually..."
• What I Saw at Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941) — A young Hawaiian of Japanese descent witnesses the attack, then joins the fight to defend his country, America.
• The Infamous Day in Dallas (Nov. 22, 1963) — Longtime TIME White House correspondent Hugh Sidey recounts the assassination of JFK, from the blood on Jackie's dress to the argument over payment for the casket.
• Good Night, Vietnam (April 30, 1975) — A sad day to end one of the darkest periods in American history. Thousands of South Vietnamese tried in vain to flee with the Americans as the last helicopter departed Saigon.
• Color Us Divided on O.J. (Oct. 3, 1995) — Yes, the trial was a circus, but the racial division of support is not to be taken lightly. Think the L.A. riots can't happen again? I've never met a semi-intelligent person who didn't think O.J. did it.
(Another interesting feature of the project is the new TIME magazine cover search, where you can view such subject-related collections as sports, Internet, World War II or whatever keywords you select.)
You've been reading the comments I leave on other sites about thoroughness, haven't you?
Posted by Da Goddess at March 26, 2003 1:27 AM