The worst idea of the 20th century:
Choosing the seminal event of the century is difficult. The proof of Einstein's theory of relativity during the eclipse of May 29, 1919, changed the basis of science. D-Day, June 6, 1944, was the largest military assault in history and permanently changed the geopolitical course of the world. Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon on July 20, 1969, realized the dreams of centuries.
Choosing the seminal invention of the century is easier: the long-term consequences of the microchip are and will be profound. The new technologies it has spawned have changed the way the world works.
An easy call
But choosing the seminal idea of the century is easiest of all: Communism was the dominant international public-policy idea for almost three-quarters of the century. The twisted Communist vision of terror and the triumph of collectivism over individuality haunted the world, polarizing governments, philosophies and intellectuals. The individualism spawned by the new information technologies is just now lifting communism?s long collectivist shadow. The corrosive life and the lingering death of communism is the great story of the 20th century.
The Communism Army
It was, in the words of The Black Book of Communism, ?the most colossal case of political carnage in history.? Its virulent evil destroyed hope, opportunity and life itself for nearly 100 million people in a dozen nations, from Russia to China, Cuba and Cambodia and Korea. It destroyed individuals, families, customs and entire societies. Its enemies were individualism and freedom. Its methods were terror, slaughter, famine and slave labor; its weapons were machine guns and bullets to the back of the head.
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