"Ours is the century of enforced travel of disappearances. The century of people helplessly seeing others, who were close to them, disappear over the horizon"

In this quote by John Berger, he reviews the period that he thinks is defined by two repeating themes: imposed travel and disappearances. The phrase "imposed travel" suggests that, in this century, people are forced to take a trip rather than doing so out of their own free will. This could be attributed to a range of aspects such as globalization, political unrest, or economic migration. Additionally, Berger points out that this century is also marked by the unhappiness and powerlessness people feel as they witness liked ones vanish into the distance. This speaks to the emotional toll and sense of loss experienced in a significantly transient world.