One of my history profs was fond of reminding us not to pass judgement on past generations. They weren't stupid after all, nor evil. They were simply the product of a different age.

I struggled with that somewhat, especially in studying the middle ages. They often engaged in activities we'd consider unforgivably cruel. I won't recount any of them here, but I couldn't help but wonder: how could any human being not understand how brutal and awful those things were?

I think when future generations look at our time--the late 20th and early 21st centuries--I bet many of them will similarly struggle...how, they may ask, could those people have sat on their hands while watching the climate change? And now, we can add to that question: how could those idiots have handed the keys to the kingdom to such an ignorant, petty narcissist?

We will not be remembered kindly.

Edit: with time comes perspective, and my thoughts about medieval cruelty have morphed. The modern era has seen no reduction of our ability to visit hardship and cruelty on each other, making the past look pastoral and quaint in comparison. Would that the medieval mind could regard the 20th century, it would probably be aghast.