Facing this history of ceaseless turbulence,you can say it was not rich,plentiful,satisfying,tolerant,open or peaceful;evenso,it must amaze you with its glory andits dreams,its passion and dedication. Ithad all these things,despite the uglinessand sorrow it embodied,its hiddendecline and decay.The 20th century was not a slow-flowingglinting river. It was a turbulent,ragingtorrent; its unceasing roar still echoes inour ears.When all-powerful figures fade away,their history becomes a great legacybequeathed to us whole and intact.