Looking out at the sea from the shores of a speck of an island (St. Eustatius) in the Caribbean, I think of the many ways life is improving. For the islanders. For us in America. For millions of good people around the world.

A tiny island like this is a miniature world. The wondrous improvements it experiences are so like those we all enjoy. Simpler perhaps, but the same in nature.

For example, the island suffered war many times. The Dutch and English and French and Spanish and early Americans slugged it out in the 1700’s and 1800’s. Islands like this one ñ the colonies - were often the punching bags. This one was invaded again and again. It changed its flag as often as some people change underwear.

Today, peace. Holland owns the island. Nobody has been duking it out with Holland for some time. They don’t dare. Fear of losing gouda cheese and tulip and daffodil bulbs is a mighty deterrent.

All those countries I listed are pretty much at peace. Ah, but the U.S. and Britain are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes. But these are tiny wars. Compared with the wars of old they are. Significant. But tiny. And if you say to me that the loss of even one soldier or one civilian is too much, I will agree. But isn’t it wonderful we have reached an era where we worry about a single life?