• 57 Asians
• 21 Europeans
• 14 from the Americas
•   8 Africans
• 52 women
• 48 men
• 30 racially whites
• 70 racially of color
• 30 Christians
• 70 of other religions
• 11 homosexuals
• 89 heterosexuals
• 6 who control 59 percent of total wealth
• 80 without minimallly adequate housing
• 50  undernourished
•  1 with a computer
•  1 with a university education
   
• If you have food in a refrigerator, clothing and a structure to sleep in, you are richer than 75 percent of the world's population.
• If you have some money in a bank and a little in your pocket, you are among 8 percent of the richest people on earth.
• If you can attend the church of your choice without fear of persecution, you are not among the 3 billion people in the world who do not enjoy this same privilege.
• If you live under a truly democratic system of government, you should understand just how exceptional you are.
• The mere fact that you can read these words gives you an enormous advantage over 70 percent of the people now living on this earth who do not know how to read or write any language.

                                                   COMMENTARY

   Where was the world one hundred years ago and where is it today? How far, to what extent has

the world advanced in all aspects of our life? Has the progress been for better or worse? According

to political philosopher Francis Fukuyama we are at the End of History, others like Samuel P. 

Huntington also a political philosopher would say we are at the point of Clash of Civilizations. According

to many religious groups, the coming of the messiah is more near than far. All of these opinions or versions

have validity to those that believe in them. However what is most eminent is the fact that progress in all

aspects of our daily life has evolved substantially throughout the world during the past one hundred years.

Technology is by far so advanced it is virtually ahead of our time and society has yet to discover how they 

will morally and ethically deal with these issues like cloning, robotics, genetics just to name a few. Francis

Fukuyama's point of view centered on globalization, capitalism, and free trade. He believed that capitalism had

won over other forms of economies and that globalization was the final encounter for the entire world. Perhaps

 that is the reason today the Middle East is so resistant to American hegemony. They do not want to be part of

this free trade they feel is property or doing of the western nations. Samuel P. Huntington, on the other hand, 

believes that the conflicts of the 20th Century began as being territorial, about land and power acquisition and

that the new conflicts such as those encountered today in the Middle East are not about power or gaining land; 

rather they are about differences in cultures. To that context, conflicts will be eminent. Technology has been 

one of the main factors contributing one hundred percent to the 20th century, and it continues to shape our

future. Events and developments in NASA, military arsenals and machinery, advanced capability satellites, 

biological and medical advances, vaccines that has allowed for many children around the world to survive and 

live a longer life. Other advances around the world have been potable drinking water, electricity, and food 

advances in agriculture. Today's societies must face the facts and find real solutions to ensure a better quality 

of life for all. Ecologically speaking we have many species that are at the point of extinction. Areas that were 

once wet are now dry. Places where it was safe to live are now flooded, washing away many homes and devasting

 surrounding areas. The effects of volcanoes and other environmental factors continue to jeopardize our human 

existence. Technology has shaped our future, but people are still the main ingredient. Without people there is no 

world. Civilizations have come a long way in one hundred years. Most cultures have retained their religious and 

cultural beliefs despite western influences and consumerism. In many western countries the effect of progress 

has been detrimental to family life and values. The family nucleus has evolved from the traditional family of Dad, 

Mom and children to single family homes and homosexual family compositions. Even religion has taken a turn, not 

too long ago the Catholic Church had a more philosophical or humanistic approach to the concept of hell.  

Metaphysics has worked itself into the religious arena while other more traditional religions have grown, such as 

converted Muslims throughout western nations. Economically speaking, many nations went from industrial to 

service economies, while others in Asia have grown industrially and overwhelmingly rich, such as Taiwan, China, 

Korea. World growth or progressed can be measured in many forms, however. illiteracy is as low as one percent 

or less of the whole population. Another indicator of progress across the globe is life expectancy, which has 

increased substantially around the world.  In some more advanced countries the age is higher than third world 

countries. Another indicator of growth in the economic spectrum is per capita income. This too has gone up 

considerably throughout the continents; yet, poverty prevails in many countries. Peace is a word widely used. 

However, the likelihood of achieving it seems to be far but very far away.