Every generation has its own desease

The collapse of the Soviet Union, 9/11, the rise of China are veritable historical changes. But did they the way we live in the West? The way the world wars, the Great Depression changed everyday life (if you were lucky enough to actually survive that mess)? As we see the financial crisis unfold and fears of a globak economic meltdown rise, I am wondering if we are prepared for such a shock? A generation that worries about the disappearance of their favorite childhood ice cream, are we ready for changes so fundamental that they crumble our entire life? Can we actually imagine the world as we know it could disappear? Only two generations ago, only two flight hours away today, the world as we know it becomes a faint possibility. How come we take it for granted?