The new twenties: goals, wishes, dreams

The clock strikes twelve. Champagne fills the glasses. Colourful fireworks can be admired in the sky.

The new decade could not come early enough for most people. Had one known what the beginning of the new decade would actually look like, one might have been somewhat more sceptical about it. After the threat of a third world war, fires in Australia and the global COVID-19 pandemic, one felt almost guilty for having wished for success in love or career for the new year. However, one should not allow oneself to be distracted from one's goals and dreams by the circumstances that this extremely frightening first year of the new twenties brings with it.

Expectations for the new twenties were certainly quite high for many. Especially if one has read works by authors like Fitzgerald, who glorify the golden twenties. So it is hardly surprising if these expectations are then disappointed. However, it should be noted that a hundred years ago, the twenties did not exactly start rosy either. A bomb attack on Wall Street, the Kapp Putsch, a mob-like lynching of three coloured men who were falsely accused of rape, and the founding of the NSDAP, which began its political rise in the twenties, were part of the first year of the "golden" twenties.

On the second of November 1921, presidential candidate Warren G. Harding took office as the 29th President of the United States of America. The 1920 elections were, regardless of the outcome, a true "game-changer", as these were the first elections in the USA in which women were also allowed to have their say. Perhaps this resulted in Harding moving into the White House with a clear lead. With his campaign slogan "A return to normalcy (Normality)" the candidate wanted to convince America to restore the status quo before the First World War. Funnily enough, some of the greatest upheavals in the history of the Western world were to take place over the next ten years. In addition to the introduction of women's suffrage, the golden twenties saw the invention of radio, sound film and even assembly line production, which in turn enabled mass production as we know it today. This created a true consumer society for the first time. This economic boom led to an increase in national and consequently international prosperity. Nowadays, almost everyone would probably claim that these developments proved to be quite positive.

What is normality anyway? Were the 1910s normal? The history of mankind is characterised by change. The world has always been in flux and will never not be in flux. With every person born and with every event that takes place, new possibilities open up for the world to develop further. As long as people have goals, dreams and wishes, the world will never stop changing.

Setting a goal inevitably means wanting to create change. Whether it is a change for the world or a change for oneself. The decisions we make have far-reaching effects on our surroundings and on the people around us. The goal of wanting to pursue a certain profession is definitely associated with change. A change in work ethic may, for example, have been necessary for many aspiring doctors. However, it is also important not to overlook what influence one's own goals can have on fellow human beings and their goals. A world-renowned artist like Van Gogh not only shaped museums and aspiring artists, but also significantly defined the era of his work. There are also goals over which we have no real influence. Many people believe they must adhere to social norms and lead a "normal" life. But how do you return to normality when normality itself brings about change somewhere?

The dream of returning to normality is like most dreams. An idea of something that sounds fundamentally nice, but is often quite difficult to realise. Even the dream of normality brings a certain change with it. One has the desire to turn an idea into reality and thereby achieve something. One wants to prove to oneself that one can accomplish what one sets out to do. One wants to build self-confidence in order to start the next day stronger, and one wants to use this strength to get through difficult times. One wants to experience days when one can be free and live one's life without worry. One wants to dream.

Yet despite the apparent impossibility of returning to normality, it is nevertheless unavoidable that mankind currently longs for the days when the world seemed more "normal". Understandable. It would be absurd to claim that these are easy times at the moment, but the desire to return to one's familiar everyday life is certainly less unrealistic than regaining complete normality. The hope that comes with new wishes for improvement ensures the improvement of human morale. If the desire for an improvement in circumstances is strong enough, it will certainly be possible to create a more pleasant time.

Will the world change? Yes. Will it be worse afterwards than it was before? Not necessarily! The golden twenties show us that every era brings good circumstances, but also bad ones. The decade may not have started the way many would have wished. Nevertheless, that does not mean that the further course of the 2020s must be equally problematic. Ultimately, it is people who change the world with their goals, dreams and wishes. Every wish awakens new hope. Every dream a new will and every goal shows us a new path into the future. It is up to us to restore the golden shine to the twenties!

Burak Sentürk, Olivia Rongisch