Wednesday, April 10, 2013

150 Years From Now, April 10, 2163

A hundred and fifty hears ago was the midpoint of the American Civil War. Nobody knew it at the time, but from my future perspective, looking back 150 years ago, it's easy to say, "Yup. Halfway through." You might, if you are into that sort of thing, check out the book, "April 10, 1863."

What will today be seen as halfway through when peered back at by historians from 2163? There doesn't seem to be a way for us to tell. Even looking into the future like this, there doesn't seem to be a way to then turn around and look back into the past. The half-way point for Kim Jung Un? Who? Some minor tyrant in a little country, from my new perspective that puts today exactly 150 years into the past. In 2163, who but a student of missile crises will remember our present international missile crisis? In 2013, who but a student of the Asian dynasties remembers that about 150 years ago King Cheoljong left no heir and Gojong became final king of the Joseon Dynasty which ended when the Korean Empire was terminated by Japan in 1910?

Not me, that's for sure. I had to look it all up on Wikipedia.