Making of History? OR Unmaking of Our Society?

It seems there isn’t a news cycle which goes by without someone “making history” these days. Everyone and everything is making history everywhere at all times, apparently. It’s hard to pinpoint when this trend started, but the “historic” election of Barack Obama certainly brought the fascination with history-creation into vogue. Now it seems that a story isn’t worth covering unless some history has been made. What is behind this trend? Why the fascination with making history? Does the predictive power of potential importance really imply worth and meaning?

History was apparently made during two significant events recently. The first was Oregon becoming the 18th state to recognize so-called gay marriage. This change was achieved by adherence to the same playbook which has brought so-called gay marriage advocates success over the past year: they brought a case against the state, challenging the constitutionality of a so-called gay marriage ban, and found themselves arguing the case in front of a highly-sympathetic federal judge. Much like the judge who ruled on Proposition 8 in California, Judge Michael McShane found himself in a situation where he could grant a ruling from which he stood to reap the benefits. Judge McShane is himself in a same-sex relationship and could not resist the opportunity to make history by overturning the will of the people, as it had been expressed via the legislative process.