The present seems like the best time ever to be a human and to walk the earth. Science, technology and humanitarian advances have transformed the planet to such an extend that an 18th century human would be totally lost in the modern world. A great many of these advances have been the result of some single minded individuals, for whom we all owe a great debt and gratitude. However, many to not fully appreciate just how indebted we must be to some of the great giants of the past.

If you lived only 200 years ago and were African, you stood a great risk of being sold into slavery. We should be grateful that this vile practice is now considered reprehensible and illegal in most societies

If you lived only 400 years ago in Europe, only on suspicion of witchcraft you could be burned at the stake or lynched. Thankfully, in more rationalistic societies witchcraft is no longer seen as a threat. Unfortunately, in many parts of Africa witchcraft is still taken serious with the effect that many people are exploited of lose their lives.

If you lived 200 years ago and required a surgical operation, you would have had to endure the operation without the benefit of anaesthesia, and would have been really lucky if your surgeon had washed their hands.

If you lived 2000 years ago, any form of illness would have been attributable to demonic forces, with the result that you almost certainly would not have been given the proper treatment.

I could go on and on, but you get my drift. The present generation owes a great debt of gratitude to our forebears for the great work they have done to make our lives so bearable today.

What are you grateful for from the past generation? What do you think succeeding generations will be grateful for from our present generation?