Home  Editorials Editorial The decade that wasn't
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It is common practice in the media that when the year or the decade comes to a close, we all look back and try to analyze the important events of the decade. For a change, let’s analyze how different the decade could have been if only some of events that that changed the world had not occurred.
Some important event in history like the killing of JFK or Indira Gandhi is still vivid in the minds of those who were around during the time. Some even remember what they were doing at the time when they heard the news. One of those memorable events that changed the world is the attack on the World Trade Towers. So, how would the world have been today if only it had not occurred? 9/11 shook not only America but changed the course of world history. But if the event had not occurred, we would not see harassed passengers at airports, hotels and what have you. Flying would still be safe without the fear of being blowing apart mid-air. The world would not have been that alert and movement would have been free. For decades India has been warning the world of fostering terrorism in its neighboring countries but none, including the number of US presidents who came and went, paid heed. Late Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi sent reminders and sought help in dealing with terrorism around the country's soil but got none and fell prey to one such activity. However, 9/11 jolted America and the world out of its slumber and prompted action.
Perhaps, Saddam Hussein would be alive today and still ruling the people of Iraq with an iron hand. Former US president George Bush perhaps would not have had such an ignominious exit and Barak Obama might not be the President. Canada would not have had to send troops to Afghanistan and all those close to 150 Canada soldiers who died would still have been with their families. Ditto for the families of British or American soldiers who would have been planning to buy their sweethearts Valentine gifts this time of the year. Christmas would not bring memories of their loved ones lost in a futile war.
If only Auditor General Shiela Fraser not revealed in 2004 that Chretien government's sponsorship program in Quebec reeked of corruption, Canada would not have lost its innocence. Immigrants from countries like China, India or Pakistan decided to move here with the impression that Canada is free from corruption, the likes of those are prevalent in their countries. Canada became like any other country with people out to make money in any which way they can, in their minds. Perhaps the Liberals would still be at Ottawa and Stephen Harper’s conservative party would still be the back benchers in Parliament.
At the start of the decade everyone was worried about the change in dates and that a super bug would crash all computers. Well, nothing happened but then the bubble of dot.com companies burst too early in its flight. The price of oil which in the 1990s was really cheap, went nuts raising prices of essential commodities around the world. If only the prices had remained stagnant, there would not have been the great recession resulting in businesses being closed rendering millions unemployed round the world. Fortunately, India is one of the few countries which were able to hold its head above the economic decline.
And oh! If only the Blackberry was not invented! We would be leading normal lives without carrying office work home and without the boss tracking you every minute of the day. Only if social networking sites like Facebook had not been invented, our children would be out playing soccer and not twittering! But only if……….
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