The Year 2000
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* As Peter Larsen and Don Edberg correctly observed (Letters, Jan. 9), the 21st Century and third millennium will begin on Jan. 1, 2001. This is the sort of pedantic observation historically informed people trumpet to the masses as each new century approaches.
But let’s be practical also. At least 95% of the people are going to find far more reason to celebrate changing all four digits of the year (from 1999 to 2000) than in the mere change of the last digit (from 2000 to 2001).
In the movies “Cavalcade” (1933), “King’s Row” (1942) and “The Time Machine” (1960), the 20th Century is considered to have begun on Jan. 1, 1900. Even filmmakers know it’s safer to be wrong and seem right than to be right and seem wrong.
D. RICHARD BAER
Director, Hollywood Film Archive
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