We humans, unlikely to live a century or more, tend to measure recent history by the decade, often identifying each by its social characteristics: the placid Fifties, the turbulent Sixties, etc. Those of us born at the beginning of a decade are perhaps most inclined to make these associations.
Of course, the historical decades are of no natural significance, having been established by religious and political decree. Nevertheless, we tend to measure human life by the decade, often defining youth, middle age and old age by using that unit of time and referring to one's age as "mid thirties, late eighties, etc."
So now we begin another decade of human history; some of us are in the early decades of our life while others are nearing the end. Entering the 2020s and facing political threats to our environment, to human rights and to American democracy itself, one wonders how the next ten years will unfold. The first clue will be unveiled next November.
Of course, the historical decades are of no natural significance, having been established by religious and political decree. Nevertheless, we tend to measure human life by the decade, often defining youth, middle age and old age by using that unit of time and referring to one's age as "mid thirties, late eighties, etc."
So now we begin another decade of human history; some of us are in the early decades of our life while others are nearing the end. Entering the 2020s and facing political threats to our environment, to human rights and to American democracy itself, one wonders how the next ten years will unfold. The first clue will be unveiled next November.
