A lot can happen in 116 years

1896. That's a long time ago, right? Well believe it or not there's still someone living who was born in that year: Mrs. Besse Cooper. She even lives in the state of Georgia. I approve.

I was looking at some posts about her on facebook and an article on msn.com and wondered how much has changed in her time here on earth. Let's explore together. (Also, I am getting all my facts from Wikipedia so if something seems wrong, that's why. If you want to see more go to en.wikipedia/wiki/[YEAR you want here])

In 1896...

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens
John Philip Sousa composed "Stars and Stripes Forever"
William McKinley became President of the United States

In 1900...

New century
Hawaii became a U.S. Territory
Max Planck sparked the birth of Quantum Physics
Mr. Hershey introduced America to the wonderful Hershey's bar
Oscar Wilde, a popular writer, born

In 1914...

World War I began
Woodrow Wilson is President
Ford company continues to grow

In 1929...

Martin Luther King, Jr. born.

In 1930s...

Great Depression

In 1939...

World War II began
Manhattan Project goes underway
Batman appears in a comic book

In 1948...

Israel becomes its own country
Harry S. Truman becomes President

In 1954...

Civil Rights Movement begins to stir in the United States
Dwight D. Eisenhower is President
The first Burger King opens

In 1963...

Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his famous "I Have a Dream" speech

I'm going to stop here with the dates cause I think you get the point and I'm frankly tired of looking them up. At least I'm honest, right?
You get the idea. Women get rights. Colored people get rights. We go through many technological changes that I am sure I don't have to remind you of: computers, CD players, mp3 players, smart phones, tablets, etc. In addition, more tragedy has come upon us such as 9/11 and Katrina.

This woman has lived to see all that - the good and the bad.

Today is August 28th, 2012. 116 years from today is August 28th, 2128.

Imagine a child born today. Say they live 116 years and 8/28/2128 the world is celebrating their birthday. Imagine what changes and what all that person would have seen: good and bad. What are you doing to do to affect what that person knows and remembers when they are 116? How are you going to affect the world?

Oh, and Happy Birthday Miss Cooper.