ran 4.3 milesI’m going to defer on tackling the news of the day and jump back into history tonight. Something fun and interesting. It is one of many examples of historic global ironies, in which the humble, universal human element is blinded by pride and power.
On this day in history in 1958, the first world’s fair was held since before World War II in Brussels, Belgium. The theme was “A World View, A New Humanism”. Forty-two million people had visited from all over the world. The fair was intended to celebrate the common struggles of the human condition and to move forward with peace. Recently ripped apart by war, the idea of peace and equality was quite popular, yet the nations of the world were now in the grasps of the Cold War.
The United States and the Soviets, the two undisputed world powers at the time found opportunity, however, in exhibiting their own unique world views and inherent greatness. Both sides viewed this world’s fair as a competition with one another, a battle to be won. Located directly across from one another, their exhibits were clearly in direct competition for the approval of the world.
The Soviets focused on technological and scientific feats of their communist state. A full-scale model of Sputnik I, the unmanned satellite launched into orbit by the Soviets in 1957, was the headlining piece of their exhibition. America, on the other hand, depicted the common life of Americans. Voting booths, the latest fashions modeled by attractive women, modern furniture and flashy appliances were all in bulk. The centerpiece for the United States was the full-scale construction of an American “Main Street”.
Here is the irony. This face-off between these two world powers ended with a result of Czechoslavakia winning first place for the best exhibition.
836.3 miles to go.
Here is what happened one year ago on Day51.
On this day in history in 1958, the first world’s fair was held since before World War II in Brussels, Belgium. The theme was “A World View, A New Humanism”. Forty-two million people had visited from all over the world. The fair was intended to celebrate the common struggles of the human condition and to move forward with peace. Recently ripped apart by war, the idea of peace and equality was quite popular, yet the nations of the world were now in the grasps of the Cold War.
The United States and the Soviets, the two undisputed world powers at the time found opportunity, however, in exhibiting their own unique world views and inherent greatness. Both sides viewed this world’s fair as a competition with one another, a battle to be won. Located directly across from one another, their exhibits were clearly in direct competition for the approval of the world.
The Soviets focused on technological and scientific feats of their communist state. A full-scale model of Sputnik I, the unmanned satellite launched into orbit by the Soviets in 1957, was the headlining piece of their exhibition. America, on the other hand, depicted the common life of Americans. Voting booths, the latest fashions modeled by attractive women, modern furniture and flashy appliances were all in bulk. The centerpiece for the United States was the full-scale construction of an American “Main Street”.
Here is the irony. This face-off between these two world powers ended with a result of Czechoslavakia winning first place for the best exhibition.
836.3 miles to go.
Here is what happened one year ago on Day51.
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