During our lives, each of us lives through "historical" events. They are the events that "change a nation" or "change the way that we..."

Some might say that the Clinton crisis is one such event. I can see the possibilities, but I also think that since the beginning of the 20th century, many American events have been more important in shaping the United States as a nation.

A brief history of important American events:

nOct. 1, 1908, the Ford Motor Company introduces the first Model T. It becomes the most popular car ever produced. It also introduces the assembly line, cheap labor and even more environmental problems.

n1914, World War I begins. Approximately 120,144 American soldiers will die, more than half from disease.

nApril 6, 1917, America declares war against Germany. America learns it can't stay out of international affairs.

nAug. 26, 1920, The 19th Amendment is ratified, granting women's suffrage. It's the beginning of a new era for women.

nJune 4, 1923, the Supreme Court rules that a Nebraska law forbidding the teaching of a foreign language in public schools is unconstitutional. ÁViva diversidad!

nJuly 10, 1925, the so-called Monkey Trial begins. The debate of evolution versus creation really heats up ... and up ... and up...

n1929-1939, the Great Depression. Many economic reforms and practices take shape during this 10-year period.

nAug. 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act. Social Security will go bankrupt around the year 2026 or so.

nDec. 8, 1941, Congress declares war on Japan. Again, America learns it cannot stay out of international problems. Hitler becomes representative of all that is evil and Jews suffer more than many can imagine. Some people refuse to believe the Jews ever suffered at all. As more World War II veterans and Holocaust survivors die, more and more people believe less in their suffering, an international tragedy.

nAug. 6, 1945, the atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima. Man can now kill himself, his neighbor and everyone else in the world.

nFeb. 26, 1951, the 22nd Amendment is adopted. It limits a president to two terms in office.

nNov. 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy is assassinated. America loses a president with great possibilities. Rumors about him and his sexcapades continue. But he's dead, he can't defend himself; people keep the rumors going anyway.

n1965-1975 Vietnam War. More than 2.75 million Americans served in the Vietnam War. The war cost the United States an estimated $165 billion. More than half a million Americans suffer lasting effects from the war.

nApril 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The African-American community loses a great leader again.

nAug. 9, 1974, Nixon is the first president to resign from the office. The American presidency appears tarnished.

nJan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger explodes. School teacher Christina McAuliffe dies. A true role model is lost.

n1991, The Gulf War. A new generation learns about what war really is. President Bush is accused of not getting the job finished. Saddam Hussein is still in power to this day and causing problems.

nOct. 11, 1991, Anita Hill testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sexual harassment becomes a household term. Clarence Thomas is still confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

nApril 29, 1992, the verdict in the Rodney King case leads to Los Angeles riots. America learns that we haven't come as far as we had hoped since the Civil War.

nApril 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing. America learns that we are susceptible to terrorism in our own country.

The 20th century will be remembered for all those dates and issues and more. What will come in the 21st century for the United States will be determined if the United States can learn from those historical moments and go forward.

The future of the United States will be determined on what is going on now, too.

What future wars will the United States participate in? What amendments to the Constitution will be added? Will the Constitution remain?

Will America suffer the loss of more presidents, great civic leaders and teachers? Will terrorism rise, decline or stay the same in the United States?

We must ask these questions to proceed. We must reflect on these questions along with history to move on.

If we don't, we will repeat them. We'll let another Hitler take over countries. We'll end up with dead presidents or other dead leaders.

We may all end up dead after an atomic bomb explosion.

We can only guess. We can only imagine. But it can be imagined.

When George Orwell wrote 1984, he was closer to truth than he could have ever imagined. Technology changes by the minute. Government becomes corrupt by the minute. Businesses become 24-hour jobs.

The possibilities are scary. The impossibilities are lessening daily.

We are living and we are living in history.

Let's avoid mistakes we can never take back and change if at all possible. [[In-content Ad]]