Why we should be glad we live in the modern world

Quite a few people complain about the current times. People behave immorally, families are not as they used to be, and the world should have been a healthier place. But the reverse is also true: we should be glad that we are alive today.

Better Medicine and Health Care
For most people, basic health care is something they take for granted, but it wasn\’t always the case. The discovery of immunization, which has since saved countless lives, was made in the late 18th century. Since then, more and more inoculations against more and more diseases have been discovered. It was not until the 20th century that the first antibiotics were discovered. And still for incurable diseases, there are many means to at least slow their progression or at least alleviate their symptoms.
Social Welfare and Equality
Pensions and unemployment benefits are not always available. Losing one\’s job is certainly not a pleasant experience nowadays, but it used to be a problem for the whole family. Elderly people depended heavily on their offspring when their own condition was no longer as good as it used to be. If it is not easy for single mothers today, imagine what it used to be.
Travel and long-distance communication
Even traveling the world is a privilege in our society. With enough income and savings, one can go almost anywhere. The borders of most countries are not an issue. Even communicating with friends who are away for work or family is much easier today. The regular cell phone that everyone now has is a thing of the last few years. Not to mention the Internet and social networks.

Let\’s cherish those prosperous and (almost) war-free times
Today, in Central Europe, people live freely, with plenty of food and clean water. There are no military conflicts, the country is relatively safe, and there are no deadly disease epidemics. Many people do not realize how fortunate they are; 80 years ago, or in any other part of the world, living here would have meant the opposite. For that we should be very grateful. We should strive to maintain that status and help the less fortunate in the poorer parts of the world and in countries with armed conflicts as much as we can.

Quite a few people complain about the current times. People behave immorally, families are not as they used to be, and the world should have been a healthier place. But the reverse is also true: we should be glad that we are alive today.

Better Medicine and Health Care
For most people, basic health care is something they take for granted, but it wasn\’t always the case. The discovery of immunization, which has since saved countless lives, was made in the late 18th century. Since then, more and more inoculations against more and more diseases have been discovered. It was not until the 20th century that the first antibiotics were discovered. And still for incurable diseases, there are many means to at least slow their progression or at least alleviate their symptoms.
Social Welfare and Equality
Pensions and unemployment benefits are not always available. Losing one\’s job is certainly not a pleasant experience nowadays, but it used to be a problem for the whole family. Elderly people depended heavily on their offspring when their own condition was no longer as good as it used to be. If it is not easy for single mothers today, imagine what it used to be.
Travel and long-distance communication
Even traveling the world is a privilege in our society. With enough income and savings, one can go almost anywhere. The borders of most countries are not an issue. Even communicating with friends who are away for work or family is much easier today. The regular cell phone that everyone now has is a thing of the last few years. Not to mention the Internet and social networks.

Let\’s cherish those prosperous and (almost) war-free times
Today, in Central Europe, people live freely, with plenty of food and clean water. There are no military conflicts, the country is relatively safe, and there are no deadly disease epidemics. Many people do not realize how fortunate they are; 80 years ago, or in any other part of the world, living here would have meant the opposite. For that we should be very grateful. We should strive to maintain that status and help the less fortunate in the poorer parts of the world and in countries with armed conflicts as much as we can.