My 2008

So as 2008 winds down, I'm left wondering, how will it be remembered? In some ways it was monumental, in others, not a lot happened.

It will most certainly be remembered for the election. A huge pivotal point for the world, whose new most powerful person would have been not even allowed to vote a few generations ago, and could have even been owned as property a few generations before that. This may be the first time in millennia that the most powerful person in the world was black, and it was all decided in 2008 (though the transition won't happen for a few weeks). I still remember watching the returns from the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary like it was yesterday (January 3rd and 8th, 2008).

2008 will also be remembered for China's reemergence. After centuries of diminishing self-imposed isolation, China finally pulled back a curtain--not an iron one, but a cultural one at least--and hosted the world this summer when they put on the Olympic games. The opening ceremony was a beautiful work of art of unprecedented magnitude, and as much as HALF the world's population saw at least some part of it. China and the world welcomed each other back as billions of people participated in some small way.

To me, and to many current and former Philadelphians, 2008 will be remembered as the year our city once again became a world champion, as the Philadelphia Phillies won baseball's World Series. Ending a city-wide drought of 100 consecutive major sports seasons without a championship, in a way our city too stepped back onto the world stage (or at least the national one). Pride of Philadelphians grew in many forms this year, as 2008 was also the first year of Mayor Michael Nutter's first term. In a city in constant need of a miracle, this year may be seen the same way Rendell's first term was seen: the beginning of an answer to collective prayers. Already half the battle may have been won, as even in the face of a hobbled economy and potentially crippling deficits on the horizon, Philadelphians are certainly more hopeful and optimistic than they were a year ago.

Surely 2008 will be remembered for the collapse of the financial system and the havoc created by short-sighted, short-term incentives. Entire schools of economic thought may grow out of the events of this year (which one could argue started in August of 2007). It would be nice if the crisis were remembered as a footnote to the Age of Obama, but I think it will unfortunately stand on its own in the eyes of history.

What else will 2008 be remembered for?

(If you were planning on making history worthy of the list, you've got 15 hours. Good luck.)