Stuff We Should Bring Back: How to refer to a year

I think anytime we refer to a calendar year of the 20th century, we should say it as, say, "19 and 45," instead of just "1945." It would be even better, of course, if we did so in a slightly world-weary but not unfriendly manner, with the clear implication that we've seen many other years besides that one and if you've got a few minutes, we'll just as likely tell you about those ones, too.

Why bring it back? It would give us all a bit more dignity and make us seem wiser or at least more thoughtful.