In the years between now and 1913, Europe has risen from literally centuries of war, China has lifted more people out of poverty than I can fathom, the USA has made great strides towards equality and we have made the first steps towards being a spacefairing civilisation. Medical technology has advanced a hundredfold, or even a thousandfold.

We still have quite a way to go, but we should not kid ourselves into thinking we have not come a long way already lest we begin to slip back again.